1935 was the first year for organized fire protection at Fish Lake. Owners were Otto Schroeder and Ernest Dial. They purchased a Model “T” Ford Chemical Pumper along with twenty five buckets from
the LaPorte Fire Department. They disbanded after a few years.Then June 13, 1956 a meeting of Lincoln Township residents was held and the Volunteer Fire Department was organized. The following men assisted in the organization and joined the department: Robert Blake, Robert Lonzo, Louis Ludtke, Benton Moore, Gerold Neal, James Noel, Frederick Simar, Donald Smith and Walker Wolff.
1956 - Fish Lake Lions donated a sum of money which was used to purchase a 1933 front mount International Fire Truck. The truck was housed in Marion Wolff’s garage; also used as a meeting place.
April 10, 1957 the Department - incorporated and became Lincoln Township Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
October, 1957 at Jerry Neal’s garage space was rented. This was used as a fire station and meeting place for the Department.
November, 1957 the Department purchased two lots on the south side of State Road No. 4 in Fish Lake and plans were made to build a station at this location.
Several fund raising projects and contributions made by Residents and Property owners, ground was broken and the building was started in May, 1958.
Blockers were made at Joe Paskiet’s Fish Lake Block Plant. Merle James and Art Zigler donated pay loaders and dirt for fill. A bulldozer to level the fill dirt was donated by Edward Fowler.
A number of farmers donated time and trucks to haul the fill dirt. All construction of the station was done by members, except the cement finishing which was done by Edward Spence, Sam Wesolek and Linden Smith who also donated their time. The station was completed in September of 1958.Roy Bulla donated a 1946 Willis Jeep which was converted into a grass fire unit by the members.
Due to financial problems the Department was turned over to Lincoln Township in December, 1959. From this date forward funds for operation and maintenance of the department would be derived by taxation of the Township.
May 1961 the 1935 pumper was retired and replaced by a new Midwest Midship pumper on a new International chassis. A 1953 Chevrolet Chassis was purchased and several firemen donated their time to construct a 1,000 gallon tank with a front mount pump.
1965 a Chevrolet emergency vehicle and a 1,000 gallon taker was purchased by the Twp.
1966 a 1,000 gallon tanker with a 400 gallon a minute pump mounted on a 1965 GMC chassis was purchased. The Department has a private telephone line with telephones in three separate locations with a control button which operates the siren to alert the firemen quicker. All equipment is equipped with a CB radio with a base station having an operator at the station when any equipment is away from the station. The emergency vehicle also has an FM radio that can contact any other stations having FM radios.
1966 - Active members of the Department were: Frank Aftowski, Dewaine Arney, Roy Bulla, George Fowler, Gerald Kaufman, Murray Peery, Patrick Quinn, Harold Rensberger,
Victor Robowski and Marion Wolff. The Department had a total of 35 volunteer firemen and the following have held the position as Chief of the Department as of July 1, 1966. Robert Blake, Marion Wolff, Raymond Tomal, Frank Aftowski, Dwaine Arney, Murray Peery, Gerald Kaufman.Transfer to Township Lincoln Twp.
1966 - A “Christmas gift” with a value of nearly $18,700 was presented to Lincoln township last night. The gift was the fire station, its fire fighting equipment and the land on which the station is built.Accepting the gift from the Lincoln Township Volunteer Fire department were Township Trustee Roy Bulla and his advisory board members, Willard Henning, Leo Spence and George VanDierendonck. Making the presentation were Ralph L. Smith, president of the fire unit, and Dewaine E. Arney, Robert Dunham, George E. Fowler, John Fowler and Marion C. Wolff, members of the board of directors. The fire chief is Ray Tomal. The first petition for a fire protection in Lincoln township was started about six years previous. A group of lively, civic-minded men went out and sought contributions, worked to help build the station and then worked on projects to raise money for equipment. The department equipment now includes a pumper, a tanker with 1,000 gallon capacity and a portable pump. The men now are in the process of rejuvenating a 1946 jeep to be used at grass fires. There are now plans to purchase a new pumper. The fire station is located on the main road through Fish Lake.
Contributed by: Pat Van Dierendonck