The next meeting was held on March 13, 1945, where fifteen members elected L.D. Reed as the first Chief. Glenn Dawson became the Assistant Chief and John R. Dawson became Second Assistant Chief. The first fire truck was a 1 B Model Ford Chassis with a Darley portable pump.
In January 1946, the department approved the building site, donated by Mr. Richard Rice, where the station was completed by the members on new Years Day in 1947. This location is the current site of our station #1, and was built for slightly less than $9000. all monies collected via fund raisers and donation drives during this same time period were used for operating expenses and purchases of new equipment.
The department's first new fire truck, a I85 International 500 gallon pumper, was purchased in 1956. Also, in 1956, the membership voted to add a meeting room to the station. Over the years, the following renovation projects have been completed, resulting in our current station #1: a bingo hall and kitchen, a meeting room and crew kitchen, garage and hose tower, and two offices.
In April 1965, the Junior Fire Department was started, with Clarence and George Dawson being two of the first members. Before the 1960's were over, John and Tom Dawson also joined the department as junior members. In our sixtieth year, these four brothers are still important members of the department. Clarence Dawson was voted in as Chief in 1975 and is still leading the department in our 60th year.
Over the years, the department has had six fatal fires that tragically claimed eleven lives: November 1951 (3 Children, 1 Adult), April 1954 (1 Adult), December 1954 (1 Child), February 1981 (1 Adult), November 1982 (2 Adults), and December 1989 (2 Children). Thankfully, the department has not directly had a fatal fire since 1989, but we have had some noteworth calls: Flooding in Glasgow, January 1996 (Heavy Rain/Snow Melt), September 2004 (Remnants Hurricanes Ivan/Frances), January 2005 (Heavy Rains), two Christmas Eve fires (Presutti Apartments on Tuscarawas road in 1996 and a structure fire on Pleasantview Drive near Rice's Corner in 1998), assisted Brighton Township Volunteer Fire Department in January 1999 with a devastating fire at the Foodland Grocery store, responded to five drowning deaths in borough water ways, and a horse rescue from the mud on Pleasantview Drive. The furthest that the department has been requested to travel was to Gilford Lake to assist the Columbiana County Ohio Sheriff's office with a search.
In the last ten years, the department has undergone many changes. In 1998, we purchased a one-acre parcel valued a $10,500 from the Fairview Grange for $5,500. Ground was broken for station #2 in April 2001, and was placed in service in March of 2002. The majority of the cost of building the station (approximately $65,000) was funded with the many donations from the community and local businesses. Other notable donations include: $1000 from Seven Oaks, Chaffee Excavation for services, and wallboard from National Gypsum Corporation in Shippingport. The station was built mostly by department members and community residents. Brighton Township Volunteer Fire Department also donated the use of their ladder truck for the roof construction.
On June 24, 2002, the department started a new service of providing medical assistance to members of our community. This service was developed to help supplement emergency medical needs until one of the ambulance services arrives on scene. The Borough Council has budgeted monies to cover most of the costs associated with this service. The community is benefitting from this service by receiving life saving care and sometimes just a little comfort until an ambulance arrives. In may 2004, the department built a remote area transport trailer (in conjunction with an all terrain vehicle) to provide timely removal of patients from remote areas of the borough.
The department has purchased some equipment that was firsts in Beaver County. In November 1997, a Ford F350 Brush unit was placed in service with a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) installed. This skid mounted unit supplies water, air and foam to better attack fire and limit property damage. In March of 1998, the department purchased the first thermal imager in the county from Cairns Brothers(IRIS). In February 2003, the department received a 2002 Kenworth Pierce 1500 gallon per minute engine with Auto CAFS on board. This was the first full size pumper in Beaver County with the Auto CAFS installed. In addition to these "firsts" the department recently took delivery of a 2005 Pierce Heavy Rescue.
In the last decade, the department has secured numerous federal & state grants. These monies have totaled $106,196. These grants were used to purchase equipment for our rescue services, forestry gear, turn out gear, and complete change out of our self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Through the years, the department has grown from on truck and one station in 1945-46 to seven vehicles and two stations in 2005. We have expanded our services to include not only firefighting, but rescue, and medical as well. In the new millennium, we as fire fighters need to be prepared for any emergency from hazardous materials to terrorism events. Our main purpose, as it was in 1945, is to answer that call, whether it is in the middle of the day or three in the morning. Our training, self sacrifice and professionalism, we offer to the residents of Ohioville or wherever we may be called.