Continued from Home page
In 1879, the Babcock Engine Company was organized. Prior to this time the town had an engine (steamer), hose company and a hook and ladder company. In July 1880, the village council exchanged the first steam engine for a new one, paying the additional sum of $2500 which was dismantled and sold for junk for $815.
In June 1882, the Junior Hook and Ladder Company were admitted to the fire department with the same privileges and compensation as the other members. The membership was limited to 16 men, officer included. The junior hook and ladder won a prize at Ada in 1885 at the Firemen's Convention.
The Hook and Ladder and Hose Carts were used down through the years until 1921 when the village council purchased Upper Sandusky's first pumper truck. Residents of the community remembered in 1918 the big fire when the Opera House and Gottfried Block burned. Marion, Bucyrus, and Carey Fire Departments were called to assist in the fire. It was then the village realized that they needed a pumper engine. On April 16, 1921 the council purchased an American LaFrance 500 Gal. Pumper. This pumper served the Village of Upper Sandusky and Crane Township until June 15, 1929. Crane Township Trustees purchased a 500 gallon triple combination Prospect Engine to be used in the rural area outside to the village district.
The Fire Station on West Wyandot Avenue housed two engines until 1936 when they were moved to their present location in the city Municipal Building. This old site is now the Upper Sandusky Post Office.
In 1941, the village council purchased a Seagrave 750 gallon pumper in addition to the equipment already on hand.
In January 1955, the Crane Township trustees which included Gilbert Ellis, Robert Freely, Harvey Roszman and A.F. Leser "Clark" purchased a GMC Harry Sutphen truck to be delivered June 1, 1955 to replace the 500 gallon truck purchased in 1943. As the village has grown and progressed they purchased a Seagrave 750 gal. Pumper an American LaFrance 500 gallon Pumper with a 1,000 gallon water tank to serve the village of then 4,500 residents and a rural area of the township of some 1,400 residents.
In 1955 Upper Sandusky hosted the 80th Annual N.O.V.F.A. Convention. The department consisted of a chief appointed by the Mayor, two regular drivers, two relief drivers and 16 volunteer firemen appointed by the mayor and city council.
They met every fourth Tuesday of the month and have regular drills. The department still meets on this same schedule.
Members of the department built an International 1,000 gallon tanker. In 1968 the department purchased a Mack Pumper the city still owns. The city of Upper Sandusky constructed a public safety building to house the police and fire departments. They moved into the building May 7, 1978 and is still our current station.
On August 19, 1979 the department fought one of the largest fires. The Stephen Lumber Company caught fire and rapidly progressed, destroying the business. Many local departments were called to assist in the battle.
On June 19, 1981 the fire department took delivery of a $243,000 Pierce Aerial. The Aerial is the only one in the county and is called to assist surrounding towns within the county.
In May of 1982 the Crane Township Trustees purchased a 2700 gallon International tanker truck. The truck was an asset to rural fire fighting.
In 1988 Upper Sandusky City Council approved the purchase of a Sutphen Pumper at the cost of $184,118. The truck was put into service on February 9, 1990. In the same year the department complimented its fleet with a 1990 Chevrolet C. 1500 pick-up converted into a brush Truck for grass and field fires. In 1989, the department built its first equipment truck on a used Ford Chassis. This equipment truck was replaced by a 1994 Freightliner/ 3D Rescue Truck purchased used in 1995.
The department still is proud to own the first motorized fire truck of the city, a 1921 American LaFrance. Members spent many hours restoring the vehicle and now are proud taking it to parades and shows. The most recent addition was a 1995 Precision / Freightliner Pumper bought in 1995. The apparatus carries 1500 gallon of water and is the first line truck to respond to calls.
Upper Sandusky Fire Chiefs
| 1st Fire Chief | Jonathan Ayers | April 1866 to April 1868 April 1869 to April 1872 |
| 2nd Fire Chief | John L. Gross | April 1868 to April 1869 |
| 3rd Fire Chief | Levi Shultz | April 1872 to April 1874 |
| 4th Fire Chief | Milton C. Mealey | April 1874 to Nov. 1879 Mar.1881 to Dec. 1890 May 1892 to Dec. 1909 |
| 5th Fire Chief | Mewton S. Tirey | Nov. 1879 to Mar. 1881 |
| 6th Fire Chief | James A. Lime | Feb.1891 to May 1892 |
| 7th Fire Chief | William E. Strasser | May 1909 to July 1910 |
| 8th Fire Chief | Theodore Bolish | July 1910 to Jan. 1934 |
| 9th Fire Chief | Joseph Fulton | Jan. 1934 to Dec. 1935 |
| 10th Fire Chief | Clarence P. Beinbrich | Jan. 1936 to Mar. 1948 |
| 11th Fire Chief | Wallace P. Bringman | Mar. 1948 to Nov. 1966 |
| 12th Fire Chief | Vince Fox | Jan. 1967 to June 1980 |
| 13th Fire Chief | Rex Vent | Jan. 1980 to Mar. 1993 |
| 14th Fire Chief | John Curits | Mar. 1993 to 1994 |
| 15th Fire Chief | Tom Fox | 1994 to Oct. 2007 |
| 16th Fire Chief | William “Bill” Sturegeon | Nov. 2007 to current |