Johnson County RFD #1's History |
Following an informational meeting at the Johnson County Courthouse on April 26, 1979 concerning a plan for rural fire protection in Johnson County by the formation of several rural fire districts, approximately 28 people met at the Mt. Vernon community building in the first meeting in the county for the express purpose of organizing a fire district. Present to explain the plan were Stewart Willey, Johnson County coordinator for the state OES, and Ray Wakefield, district forester from the Arkansas Forestry Commission. All those present at the meeting expressed a desire to proceed with the organization of a fire district, and Rural Fire District No. 1 was formed. Fred Taylor and Wayne Roble volunteered to act as co-chairman, and James Foltz agreed to act as secretary and the three became the first members of the board of directors. Armil Storms, Stanley Brown and Bud Schoepp elected at the following meeting. Ray Ford later was elected to replace Stanley Brown whose one year term had expired. Membership fee was set at $10 per household with the feeling that additional funds could be obtained from private donations and fund raising events. At subsequent meetings, committees were formed, many members were signed up and by October more than 25 men and women had signed up as volunteer firefighters. A site selection committee consisting of Ewell Sexton, Bob Leeds and Armil Curran was named, and in January 1980 announced the selection of a site just west of the Mt. Vernon community building on community-owned property. Immediate plans were made for the first of many fund raising events. Work was immediately stated on the fire station, and, at a general membership meeting held May 21, 1980, announcement was made that a fire truck had been turned over to Fire District No. 1 and Fire Chief Ray Ford announced that training sessions would be held for volunteer firefighters every Monday night. To be continued.... |
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| Johnson County RFD #1 History |
| Johnson County RFD #1 186 CR 3546 * Clarksville, Arkansas 72830 |
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