Members Carry Bicentennial Torch

John and Frank Transport Torch Through Madison

Walnut Street Fire Company No. 4 Engineer John Schoenstein, representing the firefighters of Madison and Jefferson County, carried the Indiana bicentennial torch on a portion of its journey through Madison. He rode with driver Frank Taff aboard a 100-year-old Ahrens Fox pumper that served Madison Fire Company No. 2 from 1916 to 1947. The torch will pass through all 92 Indiana counties.
 
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McKay, Sr Honored

Don McKay, Sr. Honored for 50 Years of Service

The City of Madison and Walnut Street Fire Company 4 recently honored member Don McKay, Sr. for 50 years of service. Still active, although no longer as an interior firefighter, Don represents the fourth of five Schnabel/McKay generations to serve as members of the “Fours.” His great-grandfather, John Schnabel, was a charter member followed by grandfather William and two maternal uncles, Ned and Benjamin. Don’s son, Don McKay, Jr., who is also a battalion chief with the city, represents the fifth generation.

Mayor Damon Welch honored Don with a proclamation and Madison Fire Department Chief Steve Horton presented him with a plaque for years of service to the city that included the positions, at various times, of Deputy Fire Chief, City Safety Officer, Training Officer and Fire Investigator. WSFC 4 President Karl Eaglin presented Don with a desk clock and an ornamental axe that will be placed on the wall of the meeting room with axes of past honorees for his service to the company that included 13 years as captain and 5 years as lieutenant (neither consecutively), president, secretary-treasurer and trustee.
 

Photo Highlights

 
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Fire Department Training

New Fire Department Training Facilities

Announcement from Steve Horton, City Fire Chief

The two shipping containers purchased with FEMA DHS grant funds have arrived and are in place at the Habitat for Humanity facility (the former INDOT garage) on Lanier Drive.

A maze will be constructed in one and the other will be used for live burn training.

Thanks to Don McKay, Jr. and Bill Devries for their efforts in this matter.

Special thanks go to the following Habitat for Humanity personnel: Amy Ray, Executive Director and David Connolly, Restore Manager.

They are permitting us to use the southwest corner of their facility as a mini-training area until such time as this location will be used for the construction of housing. When it became apparent that there wasn’t sufficient room at the City Garage for the containers, I approached Mr. Connolly about locating them at 931 Lanier Dr. and he and Ms. Ray soon granted the required permission. The area is graveled and I will be receiving a key to the Green Road gate soon.

I am going to check into the possibility of having a fire hydrant installed at the location as there is a City water main on Green Road, and we will be purchasing what materials we can from Habitat for modification of the boxes, doors, access panels, etc.

Steve Horton

Shipping Containers for Firefighter Training

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Seagrave Re-purchased

City of Madison Re-Purchased Our 1973 Seagrave

The 1973 green Seagrave quint operated by Walnut Street Fire Company No. 4 from 1973 – 1994 has returned to Madison, Indiana. Sold to the Jefferson-Craig Fire Department in Vevay, Indiana in 1994, the now 38-year old truck has been purchased by the City of Madison as a reserve apparatus for the Madison Volunteer Fire Department, and will be stored in a heated building at the Madison Municipal Airport. The pump and 85-ft aerial ladder are operational, but will be given safety checks before the truck is declared available for reserve service.

Seagrave Quint (85-ft Aerial Ladder) (1973 – 1994)

The 1973 Seagrave Quint, the first true aerial ladder and the first green truck in Madison was first owned by the Walnut Street Fire Company No. 4. It had a Detroit Diesel engine with a 5-speed standard transmission and a 1,000 gpm, single-stage Seagrave pump. There were midship crosslays and the original booster lines were removed to allow for additional storage of portable equipment. The single rear axle truck had a midship mounted 85-ft steel aerial ladder and had a full complement of ground ladders including a 40-ft Bangor ladder. The split hose bed provided for dual lays of 3″ supply lines. The truck was sold to the Jefferson – Craig Volunteer Fire Department in Vevay, IN when the Fours replaced it in 1994. (Read more about Fire Company Four’s apparatus history.)

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