Petersburg Volunteer Fire
Department
In September 1959 twelve charter members organized the
Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department. The charter members were, Ken Griffith,
Ray Vice, Ted Stevens, Jack Ryle, Ott Rector, Tom Walton, Theodore Birkle Jr.,
Eddie Walston, David (Buck) Holdcraft, Herb Houze, Samuel (Bink) Shinkle and
Clifford Clemons.
The first fire truck was a 1941 International pumper
with a 500gpm Darley pump and a 600 gallon tank purchased from Iroquois Township
fire department in Illinois. It was housed in the red barn as you enter
Petersburg until the firehouse was built on a city lot next to the schoolhouse
in 1960. Theodore Birkle Jr. was the first fire chief serving from 1959 until
1965, David (Buck) Holdcraft served as chief from 1965 until 1971, Pete Abdon
served as chief from 1971 until 1973, Robert Abdon served as chief from 1973
until 1975, Donnie Story Served as chief from 1975 until 1977 and Bill Birkle
the current chief has held that position since 1977.
The first ambulance was a 1942 Packard ambulance that
was housed in Jack Ryle’s garage at the store until the firehouse was
built.
In 1970 the fire department purchased a 1954 open cab
Mack with a 750 gpm pump, in 1975,a 1954 Ahrens Fox / GMC 500gpm pumper was
purchased along with a new Dodge van that the members of the department modified
into an ambulance. In 1978 an addition was built onto the firehouse to
accommodate the growing fleet of equipment. In 1979 a new Chevrolet cab and
chassis was purchased and the members of the department installed the pump and
fire body from the 1954 Mack to the new cab and chassis.
In 1981 the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Formed a
fire tax district under KRS chapter 75 and became the Petersburg Fire Protection
District. The reason for forming the tax district was to give us a stable income
base so the department could meet the needs of the community. Prior to forming
the tax district the department relied on fund raisers such as Dances, Bingo’s,
Fish Fry’s, Turkey Shoots and anything else we could think of to raise money to
support the department. We still have occasional events to raise funds for the
department but they provide supplemental money and not the money we rely on to
operate.
In 1984 Boone County DES gave the department a 1967
military 5/4 ton truck that the members modified into a brush truck. In 1985 the
US Forestry Service loaned us a 1955 GMC truck that had been converted to a
tanker changing the way we would fight fires. Prior to this time the only water
available to fight fires with was in cisterns, creeks or ponds. We also
purchased a used 1979 ambulance from Florence Rescue to replace the van. In 1987
we replaced the 1955 tanker with a 1972 cab and chassis that was able to handle
the weight of the tank better than the older truck. In 1988 a 1979 Ford cab and
chassis was purchased from Cincinnati Gas and Electric and a 2000 gal tanker was
constructed. In 1989 another truck was made available by the Forestry Service
and it was converted into a 1500 gal. tanker. With the increase in our fleet of
trucks we were out of room to house all of the equipment. With the help of the
Boone County Fiscal Court we were able to borrow enough money to purchase a 2500
sq. ft. metal building package that was constructed by the members of the
department. In 1991 a 1960 GMC/Sutphen pumper was purchased from the Elsmere
Fire Department to replace the 1954 Ahrens Fox pumper. In 1993 a new Horton
ambulance was purchased. This was the first new equipment that had been
purchased.In 1994 a 1969 Mack pumper was purchased from Newport fire department.
In 1998 we purchased a 1985 GMC cab and chassis to replace the 1979 Ford as a
tanker. In 2000 a new 2000 gal Mack tanker was purchased to replace the 1972
GMC tanker and a 1994 Ford four wheel drive truck was purchased to replace the
military 5/4 ton truck as a brush truck. In 2001 a new American LaFrance
Compressed Air Foam Pumper was purchased to replace the 1979 Chevrolet Pumper.
In 2003 a compressed air foam unit was purchased for the brush truck to allow it
to be used as an initial attack truck in areas where the American LaFrance
couldn’t go and also replaced the 1969 Mack Pumper. In 2003 planning began for
construction of a new fire station. That planning eventually led to an alliance
with the Boone County Fiscal Court and the beginning of construction in November
2005 of a combined facility that consisted of a facility that houses the
Petersburg Community Center, Chapin Memorial Library and Petersburg Fire
Protection District.
Another improvement for the fire district was the extension
of water lines into the district by the Boone County Fiscal Court that will lead
to lower insurance rates for the home owners in those areas and provide easier
accessibility to water to fight fires
with.
Department
In September 1959 twelve charter members organized the
Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department. The charter members were, Ken Griffith,
Ray Vice, Ted Stevens, Jack Ryle, Ott Rector, Tom Walton, Theodore Birkle Jr.,
Eddie Walston, David (Buck) Holdcraft, Herb Houze, Samuel (Bink) Shinkle and
Clifford Clemons.
The first fire truck was a 1941 International pumper
with a 500gpm Darley pump and a 600 gallon tank purchased from Iroquois Township
fire department in Illinois. It was housed in the red barn as you enter
Petersburg until the firehouse was built on a city lot next to the schoolhouse
in 1960. Theodore Birkle Jr. was the first fire chief serving from 1959 until
1965, David (Buck) Holdcraft served as chief from 1965 until 1971, Pete Abdon
served as chief from 1971 until 1973, Robert Abdon served as chief from 1973
until 1975, Donnie Story Served as chief from 1975 until 1977 and Bill Birkle
the current chief has held that position since 1977.
The first ambulance was a 1942 Packard ambulance that
was housed in Jack Ryle’s garage at the store until the firehouse was
built.
In 1970 the fire department purchased a 1954 open cab
Mack with a 750 gpm pump, in 1975,a 1954 Ahrens Fox / GMC 500gpm pumper was
purchased along with a new Dodge van that the members of the department modified
into an ambulance. In 1978 an addition was built onto the firehouse to
accommodate the growing fleet of equipment. In 1979 a new Chevrolet cab and
chassis was purchased and the members of the department installed the pump and
fire body from the 1954 Mack to the new cab and chassis.
In 1981 the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Formed a
fire tax district under KRS chapter 75 and became the Petersburg Fire Protection
District. The reason for forming the tax district was to give us a stable income
base so the department could meet the needs of the community. Prior to forming
the tax district the department relied on fund raisers such as Dances, Bingo’s,
Fish Fry’s, Turkey Shoots and anything else we could think of to raise money to
support the department. We still have occasional events to raise funds for the
department but they provide supplemental money and not the money we rely on to
operate.
In 1984 Boone County DES gave the department a 1967
military 5/4 ton truck that the members modified into a brush truck. In 1985 the
US Forestry Service loaned us a 1955 GMC truck that had been converted to a
tanker changing the way we would fight fires. Prior to this time the only water
available to fight fires with was in cisterns, creeks or ponds. We also
purchased a used 1979 ambulance from Florence Rescue to replace the van. In 1987
we replaced the 1955 tanker with a 1972 cab and chassis that was able to handle
the weight of the tank better than the older truck. In 1988 a 1979 Ford cab and
chassis was purchased from Cincinnati Gas and Electric and a 2000 gal tanker was
constructed. In 1989 another truck was made available by the Forestry Service
and it was converted into a 1500 gal. tanker. With the increase in our fleet of
trucks we were out of room to house all of the equipment. With the help of the
Boone County Fiscal Court we were able to borrow enough money to purchase a 2500
sq. ft. metal building package that was constructed by the members of the
department. In 1991 a 1960 GMC/Sutphen pumper was purchased from the Elsmere
Fire Department to replace the 1954 Ahrens Fox pumper. In 1993 a new Horton
ambulance was purchased. This was the first new equipment that had been
purchased.In 1994 a 1969 Mack pumper was purchased from Newport fire department.
In 1998 we purchased a 1985 GMC cab and chassis to replace the 1979 Ford as a
tanker. In 2000 a new 2000 gal Mack tanker was purchased to replace the 1972
GMC tanker and a 1994 Ford four wheel drive truck was purchased to replace the
military 5/4 ton truck as a brush truck. In 2001 a new American LaFrance
Compressed Air Foam Pumper was purchased to replace the 1979 Chevrolet Pumper.
In 2003 a compressed air foam unit was purchased for the brush truck to allow it
to be used as an initial attack truck in areas where the American LaFrance
couldn’t go and also replaced the 1969 Mack Pumper. In 2003 planning began for
construction of a new fire station. That planning eventually led to an alliance
with the Boone County Fiscal Court and the beginning of construction in November
2005 of a combined facility that consisted of a facility that houses the
Petersburg Community Center, Chapin Memorial Library and Petersburg Fire
Protection District.
Another improvement for the fire district was the extension
of water lines into the district by the Boone County Fiscal Court that will lead
to lower insurance rates for the home owners in those areas and provide easier
accessibility to water to fight fires
with.