BREAFAST FOR THE COMMUNITY … Pioneer’s Fire Department volunteers woke up early Saturday morning to host the Fireman’s Breakfast for the community. Breakfast was served to the community from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and was a completely free will donation breakfast. Breakfast included scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, and hash browns all made by the Volunteer Firemen on four Blackstone Griddles. (PHOTO BY JENNA FRISBY / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Jenna Frisby
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jenna@thevillagereporter.com
The Pioneer Fire Department has been established for BLANK years. The Village of Pioneer themselves happen to be celebrating their 175th year.
In lieu of that celebration the Pioneer Fire Department hosted a fundraising breakfast on Saturday, June 8th from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Present and serving breakfast for the community were all 22 volunteer firemen and of course their Fire Chief Rodger Swank.
Each of those firemen have gone through classes with the Ohio Fire Academy in certifying them to different levels. There are four different certifications a fireman can obtain. Those levels start at junior fire fighter, then volunteer, F1 certification and finally F2 certification.
At the F1 certification a fireman can enter into a burning structure. To complete all certifications a fireman would have to complete a total of 302 volunteer hours. An incredible amount of service time dedicated to any community.
The idea to host a fire department breakfast started three years ago and has been an annual event since with the department hosting two breakfasts a year.
The first fireman’s breakfast of the year is typically in early summer and is associated with the Kaleb McLaughlin Annual Event in early July.
This year in celebration of Pioneer’s 175th year, they decided to host the fireman’s breakfast during the weekend of festivities already happening in Pioneer. The second fireman’s breakfast of the year is always during Fire Safety Week which is the first week of October.
In talking with Fire Chief Swank, he mentioned that the department loves hosting these breakfasts to allow the community to get more involved and to see what the department has going on.
Of course, all the firemen love cooking for the community too. Chief Swank also said that the department has “always appreciated the community’s support” and that it is “[their] pleasure to provide a community service.”
Fire Chief Swank has recently taken on his position, though he has been a part of the department for 30 years.
He has been the fire chief now for six months as Denny Fackler “retired” from the position after serving as chief for 25 years. Fackler still remains on the department, just as an active fireman, simply without the responsibilities of chief.
Currently, the Pioneer Fire Department has two fire engines, a tanker, a first responder truck and a brush truck which allows them to be able to aid in the event of a field fire. The department also has an official parade truck, which is their beautifully remodeled 1940’s fire truck.
In meeting the Pioneer Fire Department, it was clearly evident that each of the firemen love serving their community in doing the work they have chosen to do.
Each day they wake up they are committed and ready to provide the means possible to save a life, if the situation arises. And that is something that keeps them focused and community driven in everything they do as a department.