History of the Conesus Fire Dept.
The method of fire fighting in the early 1800's was done by bucket brigade. The water was drawn from a well or creeks, then passed from man to man. Many fires burned out of control because of this. On April 10, 1898 a fire started in the Town Hall. The fire consumed the entire building plus the building next door. This building housed the meat market, John Worden's Barber Shop and MacCabee Lodge Rooms. The fire then traveled to the harness shop and Peter White's Hotel. Following these fires a group of Conesus residents secured the purchase of a used 1849 Rumsey hand pumper. This piece of equipment was operated by eight men (four on each side). The steam of water the hand pumper could throw was quite an improvement from throwing water with the bucket. The hand pumper was stored in the basement of Bearss' store.
On February 28, 1933 fire destroyed almost all of the buildings on the east side of Main Street. These buildings included Walter Greene's hardware, A. A. Starke's Store, Charles Fiegert's barn, the Ice House, the Community Church, and a meat market owned by Fiegert and run by Hook Griswold. After several hours the fire was brought under control with the help of Livonia, Lakeville, Hemlock, Dansville, Geneseo and Springwater.
In 1934 Walter Bearss was instrumental in circulating a petition for taxpayers to consent to form a Fire District within the town. The Conesus Fire District was established and the Town Board appointed a Board of Fire Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners voted to purchase a new 1934 two and a half ton Dodge fire truck. In March of that year , the Conesus Volunteer Fire Department was organized. The commissioners purchased the site of the former Starke Store and the partially scorched meat market. This was moved just north of where it originally stood, was repaired , added onto, and thus served as the first Conesus Fire hall. The fire hall consisted of a meeting room and storage area for one truck. The firehouse was located in what is now the Conesus United Church parking lot.
The first fire chief was Lewis Morris who held the position for twelve years. Assistant chief was Will Coe, Secretary was George Penning and Hugh Barber was elected Treasurer. The truck drivers were Hugh Barber, Walter Greene, John Alger, Raymond Rodes, William Brisbane, and Walter Feathers. Charter members also included Franklin Foote, Kenneth Foote, George Penning, Ralph Cranmer, George Webster, Ed Mulvaney, George LaMont, Floyd Wester, Will Coe, John MacArthur, Gordon Alger, Mahlon Howitt, Augustus Stoltman, Dorr Howitt, Harold Hunt, Adolph Walkley, Eugene Krisher, Clarence Hyde, Raymond Rodes, Francis Griffin, Herman Penning, Walter Feathers, John Alger, James Conlon, Walter Bearss, Walter Holmes, Arch MacArthur, Arch Roming, Earl Joy, Fred Lowery, Bert Gould, James Parsons, Charles Taylor, Annis Webster, Harry Boylan, Marcus MacArthur, Walter Collar, Morris Griffin, and Marion Acker.
The Fire Commissioners purchased the former Trescott Store in May of 1942 for $500.00. The new Fire Hall was north of the Town Hall. The title of the property was held by the Fire Commissioners until a furnace and overhead doors were installed. The title was transferred on January 9, 1946 to the Fire Company. The Conesus Fire Department became incorporated in March 1946 by Livonia Attorney, John Carey. The Fire Department was reorganized to comply with prevailing legal requirements, new officers were elected. The President was Lewis Morris; Vice President was George McVicar; Secretary/Treasurer, John Seeley; Fire Chief, Hugh Barber; First Assistant Chief, Earl Joy; Second Assistant chief, William Greene, and Third Assistant chief, Archie MacArthur. The Directors were W.J. Rebholtz, Nathan Dale, and Albert Barber,John Seeley,William Greene, and Kenneth Foote. This was later changed to 1 chief, 2 assistant chiefs, 3 captains and 3 lieutenants. With the declining number of members this was again changed to 1 chief, 2 assistants, 2 captains and 1 lieutenant. The directors consist of the President, Secretary, Treasurer and 4 directors.
In 1945 another new truck was purchased. The truck was delivered in 1946. The new truck was a Chevy chassis, 450 gallon per minute front end mounted pump. Booster tank, and a 24 foot extension ladder. The department purchased government surplus items after World War II. These items were a pumper unit on skids, consisting of a Chrysler motor and twin pump with the capacity of 550 gallons per minute. Additional new equipment included 20 feet of suction hose, 200 feet of two and a half inch hose, 250 feet of one and a half inch hose, a 30 foot extension ladder, a 16 foot roof ladder. Electric lanterns, first aid kits, a pike pole, bars, fire axes, and hose connections. The total cost was $350.00 The items were installed on the 1934 Dodge. With the purchase of these new items and the truck the Conesus Volunteer Fire Department was now able to pump 1,100 gallons of water a minute, making the department competitive with the neighboring towns.
Renovations and remodeling were done on the fire hall in 1947 by Nathan Dale, George Wood, George Penning, Bill Greene and Ken Foote. An upstairs meeting room with a cooking area and bathroom were created. These improvements enabled the two trucks to be housed downstairs.
In 1960 local fire companies began making new telephone installations to prepare for dial telephone service. Fire Chief Jack Durkee stated his department would handle the reporting of calls as in the past. Fire emergencies were called into Greene's Hardware(proprietors Walter and Ann Greene), Bearss' General Store, or to the home of Charles and Mary Gray. Someone would then run over to the fire hall to sound the alarm. The county established a monitoring system in the 1970. Firefighters could receive a monitor for a deposit of $35.00. The fireman's wife was then given a call list of firemen she had to call when the monitor went off for a fire call. The monitors were soon replaced with pagers. Livingston County established a 911 Center to handle emergencies.
The first women to be voted into the fire department were Marie Sparks, Marcia Faulkenberry and Debbie Green. They were voted in the department in 1979. Marcia Faulkenberry and Debbie Green are still members today.
Conesus Fire Department saw a need to help the Livonia Ambulance decrease the amount of time it took to get emergency care to injured patients. The Conesus First Responders was started in 1991. The first responders carry oxygen, a defibrillator, and basic first aid equipment. The first responders cover from 6 pm to 6 am 7 days a week. If a responder is around during the day and on weekends they cover then also. All the Conesus First Responders are EMTs.
In 1995 the first Junior Firefighters were allowed to join. This group consisted of about 5 teenage boys and girls. In 1999 the Conesus Fire Department Venturer program was started. The Venturer program is a part of Boy Scouts of America. The program allows teenage boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 to assist the firefighters at drills and calls. Venturer's have their own chief and officers. Many of the juniors and Venturers have moved on to become firefighters when they turned 18.
In September of 2000 a new fire hall was dedicated . The new fire hall is located on Route 15 just north of the hamlet across from Rickey Greene Park. The building is a 60 foot by 120 foot, 5 bay, concrete and wood structure. The new fire house comes complete with a radio room, meeting room/kitchen, office, bathrooms for men and women with showers, and a downstairs lounge with storage. The original hand pumper is stored in the foyer.
Training for the firefighters has always been very important. The state offers many courses for firefighters. New members are encouraged to attend the basic firefighting class that is offered by the state. This is held in the county fire training buildings in Hampton's Corners in Groveland. In Conesus Monday night is fire night. The first Monday is meeting night. The second Monday is maintenance night. This consists of checking all the trucks and equipment to make sure it is in working order. Drills are held on the rest of the Monday nights. For many years truck check was done every week before the drill started. This lead to many late night drills which lead to the change to once a month. Drills can be anything from burning an old building to driver training. OSHA requires each new firefighter to have 15 hours of OSHA training. An annual refresher training for all firefighters is 8 hours. This is now being tracked by the new computer system that was put into the fire house in 2006. All firefighters must have a yearly physical. Truck drivers must go through intense training in order to be able to drive the trucks and operate the pumps. This is done by the officers or senior members of the department.
In 2002 a grant was receive from the state to purchase a Hurst tool for auto extracation.
2006 the department received a FEMA grant for a total of $72,000 to buy new self contained breathing apparatus. MSA packs were purchased. The department had previously used the Scott brand air pack.
2006 also saw an another grant from the state for a Thermal Imaging camera.
The fire company and the fire commissioners have had a very strong working relationship. The commissioners have done an outstanding job to keep the taxes down but to also keep up with the growing needs of the fire company.
Conesus Fire Department Apparatus over the years:
1849 Rumsey hand drawn pump cart
1934 Dodge Brothers chassie purchased from Andy Heath, Livonia. Purchased chemical tanks and parts from old truck of Livonia fire dept. William Coe assembled and made it into a fire truck. In 1947 an Army surplus Hale pump and Chrysler Industrial motor was mounted in place of the chemical tanks. This made the truck a pumper with a 500 gallon a minute pump.
In 1945 another new truck was purchased. The truck was delivered in 1946. The new truck was a Chevy chassis, 450 gallon per minute front end mounted pump, Booster tank, and a 24 foot extension ladder.
1955 American LaFrance 1939 pumper w a 1250 gallon per minute pump and a 12 cylinder motor.
1958 John Bean High Pressure Fire Truck
unknown year Fireman bought and old Coke a cola cabover truck and mounted a gasoline tank which Charlie Nickerson cut out bottom of the baffels between tank compartments to make a tank truck.
1961 Used Dodge Tanker and apparatus from Genesee Valley Fire District.
1965 John Bean High Pressure Dodge 4 wheel drive truck. 400 a gallon a minute pump. Was used as a grass truck.
1972 GMC pumper/Tanker 1,000 gallon tank and a 1,000 gallon a minute pump.
purchased 1980 used Dodge 4 wheel drive grass truck from Wayland Fire Dept. 250 gallon tank and 500 gallons a minute pump.
1977 Ford pumper with a 1,000 gallons and a 1,000 gallon a minute pump
1967 Ford step van for a Rescue truck
1981 GMC rescue truck ( Bought used from Barnard Fire Dept.)
1980 purchased used Dodge 4 wheel drive grass truck from Wayland Fire Dept. 250 gallon tank and 500 gallons a minute pump. ( Bought used from Wayland)
1995 New Lexington 1,600 gallon pumper with a 1,000 gallon a minute pump
2002 International Pierce pumper with a 1,000 gallons and a 1,000 gallon a minute pump.
Yankee air boat
CONESUS VOL. FIRE CHIEFS
1934-1946 LEWIS MORRIS (13 YEARS)
1946-1948 HUGH BARBER
1948-1952 EARL JOY
1952-1956 WILLIAM GREENE
1956-1957 RAYMOND SMITH
1957-1966 JOHN (JACK) DURKEE
1966-1972 JIM JOY
1972-1977 EDWIN SPARKS SR.
1977-1982 RICHARD BUKER
1982-1987 EDWIN SPARKS SR.
1987-1992 JAMES KRETCHMER
1992-1996 GARY SPARKS
1996-1996 STEVE KENNEDY (MAY-AUG.= 4 MONTHS)
1996-1998 GARY SPARKS
1998-2000 SHAWN SEMMEL
2000-2001 TIM SPARKS
2001-2003 SHAWN SEMMEL
2003-2006 DAVID GAYLORD
2006- DALE EDDY
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