October 2011

Class of '70. 14 new fire fighters were hired in March, 1970 when the new airport fire station 7 opened on the east side of Decatur. The new hires were: Richard Hale, Bill Turner, Jim Witts, Jack Logue, Jim Farris, Larry McMillan, Guy Allen, Rusty Harding, Herb Younger, Jerry Taylor, Dave Rozanski, George Reid, Harold Traughber, and Mike Irby. Jim Gillen was hired a month later, and C Ray Powell, and Jim Summers were hired in October.In the 70's, the Decatur Fire Department added a new station, bought a new aerial ladder, and built the training tower . All the pictures came from Mike Irby's scrapbook. Anyone with more info, send it in. (Scroll down page for more pictures).

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The Class of 1970 experienced a lot of big fires. When a fire occurred during training, the new fire fighters were taken to the fire site for observation and assistance. Some of the fires in the '70s included the Stephen Decatur High School Fire, the Anna B Millikin Home fire, the Decatur Milling Co., Polar Ice Co., Lakeshore Nursing Home (85 evacuated), the Ace of Clubs tavern, the N & Western Explosion fire, and many others.

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Some of these photos show some of the Local 505 members in the 70s. Harry (the horse) Pridemore, Jerry Taylor and Lee Sturgis, Dick Allen, Dale Roney (on the ground), Longview, Dantes, Guy Allen with Steve Shepard , and Mike Irby (in an article about the caboose fire). Irby has a lot more pictures in his scrapbook. Thanks again Mike.

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Fire Prevention Week Activities with Tina, Justin, and Jason Pictures from Herald & Review/Jim Bowling See Herald & Review Article

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