History of Pine Island Fire DeaprtmentThe Pine Island Fire Department became an active member of the Minnesota State Fire Department Association in 1898. At that time the local fire crew consisted of a bucket brigade reaching out from a pump in the middle of Main Street or whatever water supply was the closest. In 1919, following the installation of water mains and fire hydrants, a horse cart was purchased which was either pulled by men or drawn by horses from a dray wagon. The present Pine Island City Hall was the fire barn and a clanging bell was used to alert the firemen. In 1923 a siren was installed where the present American Legion Club now stands. The year 1926 saw the purchase of the first fire truck, a Childs, which was used both in the city and surrounding country. In 1930, the Pine Island Community Club met and discussed the matter of purchasing a community fire truck so that the city would still be protected if the Childs happened to be on a farm call. It wasn't until 1941, however, that the Rural Fire Truck Association, with representatives from Oronoco, Pine Island, Milton, New Haven and Roscoe Townships met and purchased a new Chevrolet which is still in the current Fire Station today. A new G.M.C. was bought in 1952 by the Rural Fire Association, after the '41 was sold to the City of Pine Island. This practiced continued for many years, since the Rural Association needed the newest and fastest trucks.
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The Fire Department moved from City Hall to its present location in 1962. Shortly thereafter in 1964 the Rural Fire Association purchased a tanker for hauling water followed by a new G.M.C. pumper in 1970 and a Ford tanker in 1971. The first addition to the Fire Station was erected in 1974. Another tanker was added in the late 1970's and in 1984 the Rural Fire Truck Association replaced the '70 pumper with a new 4-wheel drive pumper. The current lead pumper was purchased in 2002 and contains many of the new advancements currently available on firefighting apparatus. New 1500 gal. Tankers replaced the older ones in 1990 and 1991. A heavy Rescue truck used for First Responder calls and other rescue duties was purchased in 1996. The latest addition to the Fire Station was completed in 1997 and gives us the room to maintain our Fire equipment to be ready whenever needed. We are committed to ever improving upon our Firefighting, Rescue and First Responder skills and equipment. The Department continues to upgrade all of their equipment and training to current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA) standards. The Departments' building and equipment exceed $1,500,000 in value. The Department currently has 26 firefighters under the leadership of Fire Chief Patrick Pike,Deputy Chief Tony Klennert, Assistant Chiefs Britt Bjugan, Clint Miller and Lonnie Sather as well as the First Responder Director Jamie Hitchcock.
From left to right:
Howard Klennert - 26 years-12 years as chief, Dave Butman - 23 years, Bob Owen - 29 years, Geno Jackson - 20 years, Dick Navratil - 27 years, Arnie Klingsportn - 23 years, Dick Wobig - 25 years, John Archer - 25 years-2 years as chief, Roger Krause - 20 years-2 years as chief, Bob Sather - 34 years-9 years as chief, Paul Gustine - 24 years, Craig Ritter - 20 years, Bill Hess - 28 years.
