OUR HISTORY

• 1952 - Concord Twp Fire Dept. is founded with 32 members and two trucks after a local appliance store burns.
• 1953 - Station One opens
• 1954 - 10,000 chicks die in a brooder house fire
• 1955 - Landscaping done at Station One
• 1956 - A total of 52 fire runs for the year!
• 1957 - Paint shop fire
• 1958 - New pumper is purchased, Eng. 3
• 1959 - Radio alarm system installed
• 1960 - The fire department becomes tax-supported
• 1961 - Pumper / Tanker bought, Eng. 4
• 1962 - Trailer manufacturing plant fire
• 1963 - "Big Bertha" tanker retired, our first truck
• 1964 - Truck No. 6 is placed in service, wrecked one week later
• 1965 - Dunlap Tornado, Palm Sunday, April 11 President Johnson visits the area. Concord is honored for the rescue work.
• 1966 - 2,500 attend the 12th annual fish fry
• 1967 - 15,000 watt generator is put into service
• 1968 - Station 2 opens
• 1969 - WCMR radio station fire
• 1970 - Oil fire at -4° below zero!
• 1971 - Midwest Rubber Fire
• 1972 - Engine 2 is purchased
• 1973 - Engine 8 is put into service
• 1974 - Station One is Expanded
• 1975 - The first two paid firefighters are hired
• 1976 - Tanker 9 is put into service. Retired in 2004!
• 1977 - A terrible accident in front of what is now AppleBee's causes Ford to change the design of the Pinto fuel tank
• 1977 - 25th Anniversary year. A record 199 runs for that year
• 1978 - Semi-truck drives through business
• 1979 - Safety Expo at Concord Mall
• 1980 - Squad 7 goes into service
• 1981 - Kids play "bucket-brigade" at Dunlap Days
• 1982 - River rescue raft donated
• 1983 - 1000 gallon pumper purchased, Eng. 2
• 1984 - Concord divers assist Elkhart city with a rescue on the St. Joe River
• 1985 - 911 service begins
• 1986 - Smoke detectors help save life of family
• 1987 - Large house fire starts with just a small flame
• 1988 - Tragedy avoided by young family wearing seat belts
• 1989 - Engine 5 is purchased
• 1990 - Engine 3 is purchased. 2500 gallons
• 1991 - Barn fire causes the loss of more than just hay
• 1992 - Department receives defibrillator
• 1993 - 911 call brings quick response from Concord fire
• 1994 - Ambulance service begins
• 1995 - A baby is born in the Fire Station parking lot.
• 1996 - Reflective address signs begin to be sold
• 1997 - Engine 4 is put into service
• 1998 - Cairns thermal-imaging helmet is donated by the Gerald Bock family. He was one of the original CFD volunteers.
• 1999 - 15 fire fighters stay on station during the 28 hour blizzard storm.
• 2000 - Three area children honored as "Chief for a day"
• 2001 - Concord fire fighters help with the "Toys for Tots" program
• 2002 - Tanker 6 is put into service. 3600 gallons! Our 50th Anniversary.
• 2003 - Plans are started for a new main station
• 2004 - Started ALS service
• 2005 - Construction is started on two new stations
• 2006 - A New Chief, New Rescue Truck, New Stations