Fire Department History

The first meeting of the Whitehouse Fire Department was held on May 25, 1896 with Chief William K. Jones presiding. In 1908, the Whitehouse Fire Department joined the Northwest Ohio Volunteer Firemen’s Association. After Chief Jones was elected to Council in 1912, Mayor E.R. Sly appointed Willard Doren to serve as Chief and F.B. Jones to serve as Assistant Chief. Accurate records and minutes were not kept until 1920, so it is unclear how long Doren and Jones remained in office. On January 1920 a citizens meeting was held and W.K. Jones was made Chief. The department has remained active since that date.

In the beginning, the equipment consisted of a hand pumper, hose cart, buckets, horse drawn equipment and plenty of strong men. In February 1926 the first motorized fire truck arrived, a REO chassis which was purchased from Lehman & Sullivan of Whitehouse, and the Howe Fire Apparatus Company of Indiana installed a 15 year old vertical three piston pump, for a total cost of $5,000.00. The second piece of equipment, a 1941 Buffalo pumper, was purchased and delivered on July 17, 1941. Also that year, an addition to the Town Hall was built for the purpose of a new and larger fire station.

The Fire Department’s funds came from donations, money from the Village, and from the firemen themselves. On January 6, 1944, the Whitehouse Village Fire Department voted to buy a used Dodge 1,000 gallon tank truck so that water could be carried to fires outside the Village limits. On April 5, 1945, a used Dodge panel truck was purchased to serve as a rescue vehicle, bringing the fleet to a total of 4 vehicles: a 1926 Reo, a 1941 Buffalo, a Dodge 1,000 gallon tank truck, and the Dodge panel rescue truck.

From that time on, the fire Department seemed to draw more interest from the community, and began extensive training courses for its members. Additional equipment was added regularly, creating a space problem for housing of the equipment and gear. In order to hold a meeting, the trucks were removed from the fire station and chairs were set up. In 1975 the Fire Department began planning for a new station. After one year of planning and looking for a location, a parcel of land was donated by the American Can Company (now known as Rexam Beverage Can Company).

On May 22, 1977, a grand dedication ceremony was held in honor of the new Fire Station located on Waterville Street. On January 1, 1978, the County Life Squad was added and staffed with Village personnel after attending extensive paramedic courses.

Due to the extensive growth of the community and additional equipment, the spring of 1999 brought a large addition to the station to accommodate the EMS vehicles and equipment.

1896- MAY 25
First meeting of the Whitehouse Fire Department 

1908
Whitehouse Fire Department joined the Northwest Ohio Volunteer Firemen’s Association

1912
Willard Doren voted as Fire Chief and F.B. Jones named Assistant Fire Chief

1920- JANUARY
W.K. Jones appointed as Fire Chief with the following equipment:  Hand pumper, hose cart, buckets and horses

1926
First motorized fire truck was purchased for $5,000.  It was a Reo Chassis purchased from Lehman and Sullivan of Whitehouse and the Howe Fire Apparatus Company of Indiana installed a 15 year old vertical three piston pump.

1935   
W.K. Jones retired as Fire Chief and Homer Allison became Chief.

1941- JULY 17   
A Buffalo pumper was purchased and an addition to the Town Hall was built for the purpose of a larger Fire Station.

1944- JANUARY 6   
Whitehouse Fire Department voted to buy a Dodge 1,000 gallon tank truck for fires outside of the Village limits.

1945- APRIL 5   
• Dodge panel truck was purchased to be used as a rescue vehicle.  Equipment now consisted of:  1926 Reo, 1941 Buffalo, Dodge 1,000 gallon tanker, and a Dodge rescue truck.
• Whitehouse Fire Department was gaining community involvement and interest
• Extensive training began for the Volunteer Firemen
• New equipment created a space problem at Town Hall

1975   
After one year of planning for a new Fire Station, land was donated by the American Can Company, kna Rexam Beverage Can Company, to build a new Fire Station.

1977- MAY 22
Dedication ceremony held in honor of the new Fire Station on Waterville Street.

1978- JANUARY 1
Lucas County Life Squad is added to the Fire Station and is staffed by our personnel after extensive paramedic training.

1999
Due to extensive community growth and new fire and EMS equipment, a large addition was added to the Fire Station

Current Equipment:  

2011 Chevy Silvarado (Chief Vehicle)
2004 Ford Explorer (Deputy Chief’s vehicle)
2002 Chevy Blazer
2011 KME Rescue Pumper
1994 Sutphen pumper
1978 Ford FMC pumper
2003 International Medic
1991 Ford Medic
2006 International KME tanker/pumper
1986 Chevy cab with Pierce mini pumper
1997 Ford F250 bruck truck
1976 85 ft Sutphen platform aerial
2000 Freightliner rescue truck
10 ft West Marine inflatable boat
EMS bike

Past Fire Chiefs:

W. K. Jones, 1920 – 1935
Homer Allion, 1935 – 1946
Leo Lehman, 1946 – 1949
Robert Green, 1949 – 1957
Richard Lehman, 1957-1960
Robert Green, 1960 – 1962
Kenneth Wittes, Sr, 1962 – 1981
Robert Rupp, 1981 – 1991
Kenneth Rupp, 1991 – 2003
Daryl McNutt, 2003 – 2016
Josh Hartbarger, 2016 – Present