News: Merrillan Fire Dept (Updates - 1968)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bue, Reinart, Collins, Neumann

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 1/11/1968

Merrillan Fire Department (Updates - 1968)

Mahlon Bue has been re-elected chief of the Merrillan volunteer fire department. Also re-elected were Pete Reinart, assistant chief and William Collins, secretary and treasurer.

The department answered 12 calls last year, 10 of which were grass and chimney fires which caused only minor damage. One run was to Alma Center to assist in extinguishing a fire at the Lester Staffon farm, where a large hog house was destroyed. A run was also made to the Walter Neumann home, two miles west of the village where the department assisted the Alma Center department. The home and contents were completely destroyed.

During the last year the department has added a tank truck to help haul water to fires that are out of reach of the fire hydrants. Also several fire extinguishers, hose, and other small items have been added this past year.

There are eight fire phones in the homes of department members to assist in a better alert system.

A street dance is held on the Main Street each summer and proceeds are used to help defray expenses of the fire department.