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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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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