Community, firemen thanked for making purchase possible
Sunman fire department gains new pumper
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

On Thursday, March 31, a little after 6:00 p.m., members of the Sunman Rural Fire Department cheered as the newest addition to their fleet rolled into town, horns blaring.

A new pumper truck, replacing a 1979 model, was a three-year project and was made possible through the efforts of the firemen and the community they serve. It took hundreds, maybe thousands of pieces of fried chicken and the trimmings to get the money needed for the down payment. The total cost of the pumper was $269,501.01, and was financed through FCN Bank in Sunman. "They really treated us good," noted Bill Craig, who served on the Pumper Committee, along with Dan Doll, Jeff Gill, and Chief Dave Smith.

Fire Chief Dave Smith noted that the community has responded and made it possible for the department to acquire the newest addition. "We sent out letters asking for support along with other fundraisers such as dinners and festivals," he noted, as he stood in front of Engine 1116, a pumper with a 750 gal. capacity to pump 1250 gallons per minute. The new pumper was built by American LaFrance, acquired through Vogelpohl, a dealer in Erlanger, KY. The vehicle actually came from Charleston, SC.

Smith went on to say the support from the community has been tremendous and the department is thankful.

The old pumper that this one replaces is a 1979 Custom cab over with a 750 gallon capacity that pumps 1000 gallons per minute. It has 21,000 miles on it and is for sale.

The Sunman Rural Fire Department covers 94 square miles and serves three counties: Ripley, Dearborn and Franklin, according to Dan Smith, former chief and present member. "The population base is around 8,000," he noted.

Officials from the Town of Sunman made a special display of the 1905 fire that nearly wiped out the town. Some newspaper headlines screamed that Sunman was "All but razed by fire". The news was carried in local papers as well as city papers at that time.

Carl Bruns, the oldest member of the fire department, noted that the 1905 fire began when the wind blew some ashes into a livery barn and caught the hay on fire. From there, 14 businesses and residences were claimed by the fire that just wouldn't be quieted.

The firefighters have worked hard to build their fleet, train their members, and stay active in the community. They boast a new building with five bays and 37 members, who constantly are in training to better serve the needs of the area they respond to.

Firefighters for the Sunman Rural Fire Department include: Brittany Hoff, Ashley Hountz, Anthony DiMeglio, Jordan Craig, Kurt Doll, Carl Bruns, Warren Bruns, Doug Butt, Scott Corbin, Cecil Spaulding, Bill
Craig, Jeff Gill, Mike DiMeglio, Dan Doll, Jim Doll, Stuart Schneider, Jared Wolf, Al Hoff, Keith Huster, Leroy Hountz, Brian Noble, Dan Eckstein, Kim Ripperger, Jamie Riddle, Tommy Burns, David Stutz,
John Loichinger, Andrew Wolf, Danny Smith, Dave Smith, Mike Fledderman, Jim Darringer, Ron Webster, Jeremy Smith, Tom Zins, Terry Knueven, and Chris Hughes.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Members of the Sunman Rural Fire Department examine the new pumper truck they received last Thursday, March 31. The pumper was purchased through fundraising efforts of the department.