History of the Savannah Volunteer Fire Company
Established in 1882The Savannah Volunteer Fire Company had an origin back in 1882 when the town council recommended the building of cisterns for fire purposes. This project was not completed until 1889 and then only one cistern and several wells were available. In 1894 a new engine, 150 ft of hose and 25 feet of suction hose was added. The first fire engine house was a brick building at the corner of South and East streets and was later moved to a brick building on West Street. The first Fire Chief in Savannah Volunteer Fire Company's history was Chief Barney Burns 1882-1886. Following Burns was the second chief Thomas Brown 1886. A large tin trumpet was used to call the fire volunteers to duty. In 1895 a fire triangle (300lbs) was purchased at a cost of $12.00 from the city of Mansfield. This served as the alarm for the next 10 years. The Large Triangle can be found in academy Park. In 1897 a new fire company was formed. Those in the first formed company were: Thomas Brown, R. N. Shaw, R. B. Masters, D. G. McFadden, Frank Friend, Dr. Alfred E. Ewing, A. L. Reiff and L. W. Bailey. In 1889 Milton and Martin Henderson and V. E. Rudy were appointed. In 1933 an agreement was made with the Ashland Community Fire Association. This was continued until 1952 when the Savannah Volunteer Fire Company became a corporation in accordance with the General Corporation Act of the State of Ohio on Feburary 21, 1952. The equipment at this time consisted of a fully equipped ambulance that was donated by the Lions Club, and two trucks. Another truck and pumper were added the following year. In 1961 the Clear Creek Township trustees built a new fire house next to the newly built Town hall.
At this time the equipment consisted of: 1957 GMC Pumper, 1946 Dodge Tanker, 1960 Ford Grass Fire Truck, and a 1957 Cadillac Ambulance. Sirens were placed on Moore's and Meek's Grocery stores. On January 12, 1969 the Savannah Ladies Auxiliary was organized by President - Pat Hunt; Vice President - Orpha Nelson; Secretary - Pat Bryan; Treasurer - Cynthia Dilgard as well as Sarah McBride, Charolette McConnell and Jean White. Their purpose was to help the Fire Department in any way they can. This continued for many years. In 1974 SVFC had 14 fires and 50 Squad runs; and in 1975 there were 26 fires and 42 squad runs. In 1978, a highlight for Savannah, there was the delivery of a baby girl by Emergency Medical Technicians Jean White and Mike White with Floyd (Chip) Poland as squad driver. The little girl was named Danielle Joy and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thomas III of West Main Street, Greenwich Ohio.
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In 1980 and 1981 $11,000 worth of new equipment was purchased including radio equipment for the emergency squad and a 2,200 gallon tanker. Savannah's first EMT-A's were Sarah McBride, Jean White and Mike White. Also receiving their ACLS certifications were Tom Workman, Dean Kauffman, Pat Couch, Mark Burgess, Chip Poland and Mick McPherran.
In 1990 they received a Community Block Grant for $30,000. With this they purchased a rescue tool, 2500 gallon tanker, 2 dump valves for the tankers, 2 exhaust fans, 1,600 feet of hose and other miscellaneous items. In 1999 a new fire station was built at the current address it sits now under the tenure of Chief Jim Dinsmore. The land was donated to the fire company by the Roger Shopbell family. Citizens mainly funded the project with an extensive amount of the labor being done by the volunteers themselves.
We now have a total of 29 Volunteers, cover 1 full township and parts of another with 2 ACLS Ambulances, 1 Engine, 1 Pumper/Tanker, 1 Tanker, 1 Brush Truck and average around 240 calls a year.
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List of all Savannah Chiefs: 1882 - Present
1882-1886 - Barney Burns
1886-1899 - Thomas Brown 1899-1905 - R.B. Masters 1905-1911 - R.S. Shaw 1911- 1926 - Clarence Camp 1926-1933 W.S. Henry 1933-1944 - Albert Wilkerson |
1944-1947 - Wesley Wickhiser
1947-1953 - Gerald Lindsay 1953-1960 - Harrison Fels 1960-1968 - Robert McBride 1968-1970 - Gail Bryan 1970-1986 - Paul White 1986-1989 - Jim Dinsmore |
1990-1993 - Chip Poland
1993-1995 Jim Dinsmore 1995-1997 - R. Tom Knowlton 1997-2011 - Jim Dinsmore 2011-2014 - Steve Dinsmore 2014-2015 - Bill Davidson 2016-Present - Steve Dinsmore |
Large Fires in Savannah Volunteer Fire Company History
The largest fire Savannah has ever had was on April 2, 1918 when a hardware store, two homes, the electric light plant, and the Community Hall Burned.
A few large fires were: The large elaborate Thomas Brown Home in 1893; houses: Eichelberger's, Clyde Tucker's, James Moller's, Frank Cuppy's; Barns: Carey Boyd's, John Predovic's, Robert's Dinsmore's, Glen Calhoun's, Robert Troxel's, Larry Kochenderfer's, Bud Miller's, Eugene Fast's, Warren Wichelberger's, Bill Ramsey's, James Emmons', and Calhoun Brothers. A foundry building at Warren Jordons also burned. There have been many more in edition to those listed. Most recent large fire for the Savannah Volunteer Fire Company was a chicken barn fire in 2016 on Township Road 608 where 22,200 layer chickens were lost, eight skids with 10,800 eggs on each were lost and the approximately $700,000 building was lost.
A few large fires were: The large elaborate Thomas Brown Home in 1893; houses: Eichelberger's, Clyde Tucker's, James Moller's, Frank Cuppy's; Barns: Carey Boyd's, John Predovic's, Robert's Dinsmore's, Glen Calhoun's, Robert Troxel's, Larry Kochenderfer's, Bud Miller's, Eugene Fast's, Warren Wichelberger's, Bill Ramsey's, James Emmons', and Calhoun Brothers. A foundry building at Warren Jordons also burned. There have been many more in edition to those listed. Most recent large fire for the Savannah Volunteer Fire Company was a chicken barn fire in 2016 on Township Road 608 where 22,200 layer chickens were lost, eight skids with 10,800 eggs on each were lost and the approximately $700,000 building was lost.
Savannah Volunteer Fire Company Current Board Officers
Board Treasurer
Jessie Cains Jessie has been a member of the Savannah Volunteer Fire Company for 7 years. During those 7 years he was the company's treasurer for 3 years making this his 4th year as the treasurer.
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Board Member At Large
Aaron Bauchman |