It Happened In Crawford County | Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department

Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department, on Ohio 598 across from Valley View Golf Course, has the ultimate fire engine.

Circumstances often set the course and, 17 years ago, Jefferson Township needed its own department. They were chartered on Jan. 1, 2001, with a vision to get the equipment and training to become exceptional firefighters. They operated with Whetstone Township VFD for three years to learn from them, since the only person they had with experience was former Fire Chief Rory Furr. Tiro/Auburn VFD donated a pickup, used as rescue equipment truck. They bought a brush truck from Wyandot East Fire District and their first fire engine in 2002.

In 2015, they got their “Big Hogg" — a 42-foot-long pumper-tanker was found on a used fire truck site. They purchased a used truck to save money, with the intention of buying a new brush truck, too. Chief David Link said it is everything they wanted, except bigger than needed. Four of the firemen, including the chief, drove it home from Florida — the trip back to Crawford County was a long drive at 62 miles per hour.

Currently, their main engine is the 3,000-gallon pumper-tanker, with 2,000 gallon per minute (gpm) pump and compressed air foam system. They also operate a 2,500-gallon vacuum tanker with 500 gpm fire pump, purchased with a FEMA grant under former Chief Rory Furr. Their rescue pumper, with 400-gallon tank and 1,000 gpm pump, is the third truck capable of fighting fire. Both the rescue pumper and pumper-tanker carry "The Jaws of Life."  A custom-built brush truck, with a 300-gallon tank and 300 gpm pump, purchased in 2016, can operate in remote off-road areas.

Their Yamaha Viking all-terrain vehicle was donated by Morris Sign Studio, Ashland, in memory of their son Dylan Hrycyk Weiler. Jefferson Township VFD is outfitting the vehicle with a 100-gallon tank and small fire pump to fight brush fires in extremely tight areas, and a bed that can transport patients in off-road situations for emergency medical services (EMS). They recently purchased a used ambulance to increase their capabilities. 

Jefferson Township firefighters pride themselves on their equipment and extensive training. In the State of Ohio, volunteer firefighters are required to complete a 36-hour course, while career firefighters are required to be certified at either Firefighter I (FFI) or Firefighter II (FFII) level. For FFI certification, they train 156 hours, including dozens of hours of hands-on, live-fire training. Another 84 hours is required to transition to FFII certification. Since 2015, six of their firefighters have earned their FFII certification and nine earned their FFI certification. Of the nine, four are currently in training for their FFII certification. Jefferson Township, like a number of other departments in the county, has taken a proactive approach to training, going above state minimum.

Most of their funding is provided by a property tax levy, of which they are quite appreciative, to purchase equipment and send firefighters through training. The cost of their turn-out gear is $2,600, plus air pack, costing upwards of $9,000 for each of their 16 firefighters. They’ve taken advantage of grants from the State Fire Marshall, the Bureau Worker’s Compensation and local grants. Every year they send two individuals to Howell Rescue for 14 intense hours of extrication training. 

In 2017, Jefferson Township responded to 187 calls, mostly EMS, the highest number in the county for a single township. They have one paramedic and eight emergency medical technicians and assist neighboring township, village and city departments when requested for mutual aid. The past 17 years they’ve made a huge difference in the safety of their residents and covered Jackson Township the past several years. Jefferson Township has a Firefighter's Association, which raises funds and their biggest events are the spring pancake breakfast and fall chicken/bean soup dinner.

They are short on history in years, but have an impressive roster including: Chief (EMT) David Link, meat cutter/butcher, Link’s Country Meats; Assistant Chief (EMT) Ric Cochran, Diebold, bank and safe equipment; Capt. (EMT) Andy Rehm, Patrolman, Galion Police Dept;  Lt. (EMT) Cody Knapp, custodian, Colonel Crawford Schools; Safety Officer (EMT) Keith Neale, maintenance, PGW Crestline; Anthony Eldridge, painter, Eldridge Painting; Josh Gibson, electrician, Gibson Electric; Matthew Grove, Corrections Officer, Crawford Co Sheriff;  Brian Knowlton, owner, Flashover Maintenance, Galion; Marcus Fagan, senior at Colonel Crawford High School, will graduate with FFII certification; Michael Swick (EMT), Ohio Air National Guard, Mansfield; Chris Erwin, full-time IT student at My Computer Career, Westerville; Austin Scott, technician, Flashover Maintenance; Austin Heydinger, full time student;  Christopher Webb (EMT), President of Operations, Flashover Maintenance; Cory Wright (Paramedic) Community EMS Shelby; David Garrett (EMT), retired police officer, Crestline, ProCare Mansfield and Life Support Bucyrus.

Residents in the area interested in volunteering should contact Jefferson Township VFD at 419-468-5833.

Readers if you are interested in genealogy or sharing a story email or write Crawford County Genealogy Society, 931 Marion Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820 Mary Fox email: littlefoxfactory@columbus.rr.com.