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Valders Fire and Rescue

History

1918

Organization

The Valders Fire Department was organized in 1918 and started operations at this time with a hnd drawn chemical engine. The first truck was housed in the blacksmith shop on Washington Street, which was operated by Arthur Thiel, the fire chief. The first truck the Fire Department owned was a 1921 Ford Model T pumper truck.

1918
1928

Re-organization and Chief Arthur Thiel

In October 1928, the department was reorganized and headed by Arthur Thiel as fire chief. A new pumper truck was also purchased at this time. A universal Nott 400 gallon-per-minute pumper was purchased from the W.S. Nott Co. of Minneapolis, MN. Mr. Thiel served as chief until 1930.
1928
1930

Norman Torrison – Chief

In 1930, Norman Torrison was appointed fire chief. Under his leadership, a 1954 Ford-Melray 500 gpm pumper truck was purchased to replace the 1934 Ford-Pirsch, and in 1967, a Ford-Melray 750 gpm pumper truck was purchased to replace the 1928 Nott, which was retired to use as a parade vehicle. Also under his leadership, a used tanker truck was purchased to haul water for rural fire fighting, and in the early 1960’s radio equipment was installed to give the department complete radio communication and dispatching.
1930
1954

Valders Village Ownership

Sometime around 1954 the Valders Volunteer Fire Department started having difficulty raising funds to pay for equipment.  They approached the Valders Village Board about the village taking over the fire department. The fire department then went from a volunteer department to a municipality owned department.
1954
1959

Chief Erickson

Under the direction of Chief Erickson, the village purchased a 1959 Chevrolet station wagon which served as the first ambulance/police car. The women’s auxiliary ran the ambulance. In 1964 the 1959 station wagon was replaced with a 1964 Ford Station wagon. Chief Erickson served until his retirement in 1969.
1959
1969

Chief Wiegert – EMS Expansion

In 1969, William Wiegert was appointed fire chief. Under his direction the department expanded their EMS operations. In 1969 they purchased another Chevrolet station wagon, which replaced the 1964 Ford station wagon. It served as the ambulance/police car until 1974, when the department purchased a van-type ambulance, meeting all state and federal criteria.
1969
1975

New GMS Tanker Truck

In 1975, a new GMS tanker truck was purchased to replace the existing tanker.
1975
1977

Manitowoc County First Diesel Pump

In 1977, a new Ford-Pierce diesel-powered 1,000-gpm engine was purchased to replace the 1954 Ford Melray pumper, this being the first diesel-powered pumper in Manitowoc County.
1977
1978

Another Manitowoc County First

In 1978, the “Jaws of Life” hydraulic rescue tool was purchased, also a first for Manitowoc County.
1978
1981

Second Ambulance

In 1981, a second ambulance, a Ford-Horton modular type, was purchased, giving the department two ambulances to better service the surrounding community.
1981
1989

Engine Upgrade

In 1989, a new Pierce-Arrow 1,250 gpm engine was purchased to upgrade the department.
1989
1991

New Vehicles

In 1991, a new Ford-Lifeline ambulance was purchased to replace the 1974 van-type ambulance. Also in 1991, a GMC Suburban vehicle was purchased to be used a combination rescue and command vehicle.
1991
1994

Replacement of Ambulance

In 1994, a new Ford-Lifeline Ambulance was purchased to replace the 1981 Ford-Horton Ambulance.
1994
1999

Tanker and Suburban

to Expand

In 1999, a 1997 Freightliner tanker was purchased to expand the department and in 1999 a Ford-Marion F-450 was purchased to replace the Suburban to carry expanding rescue and extrication tools.
1999
2000

Chief Wiegert Retirement

Chief Wiegert retired in February of 2000
2000
2000

New Chief Daniel Esser

In 2000, Daniel Esser was appointed fire chief. Under his direction the Department purchased a 2000 Ford-Lifeline ambulance to replace the 1991 Ford-Lifeline.
2000
2005

Vehicle Upgrades

In 2005, the department purchased a 2005 Pierce Enforcer Engine, to retire the 1977 Pierce Engine, and a 2005 Ford Med Tech Ambulance was purchased to retire the 1994 ambulance unit.
2005
2013

New Fire Chief Chris Dallas

In 2013, Christopher Dallas was appointed fire chief after Dan Esser stepped down. Dan continues to be a vital part of the fire department, now in the roll of safety officer.
2013
2014

Impel PUC Rescue Pumper

In November 2014, the department put into service a 2014 Impel PUC Rescue Pumper.  This Rescue Engine replaced a 1987 Pierce Arrow Engine and a 1998 F-450 Light Rescue Truck. The new engine handles roughly 80 % of the fire departments call volume.  The engine is equipped to handle a vast variety of incidents such as EMS calls, vehicle accidents and extrications, confined space rescue, low angel rescue, water related events, and structure fire response.
2014
2015

F250 Utility Vehicle

In the fall of 2015, Utility 30 was added to the fleet. Utility 30 is a 2016 Ford F-250 pickup truck. This vehicle is used for a variety of situations including support vehicle at fire scenes, vehicle accidents, transportation to and from trainings, EMS assists, and yearly inspection of businesses within the Valders fire territory.
2015

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