PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION … The Archbold fire department is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary this summer with a number of events the weekend of August 7-9. Fire Chief Kyle Brodbeck explained the department was officially formed in 1876 by the village with German Township joining in 1923 to make it a combined village/township fire department. The August celebration includes a department alumni event on Friday with two days of public celebration on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s events include a parade, a free concert at Woodland Park that includes Girl Named Tom as the featured act and culminates that evening with a drone show. Pictured: Rotary president Matt Mello (left) and Fire Chief Kyle Brodbeck.
While the United States celebrates its 250th birthday this summer, the village of Archbold and German Township will also be celebrating a significant anniversary. The Archbold fire department turns 150.
Recently named fire chief Kyle Brodbeck shared some highlights of the department’s long history with Archbold Rotarians recently.
He noted that the village actually authorized a volunteer fire department in May 1867, but it was formally organized nine years later.
In the early days, water to fight fires was drawn from seven ponds in the village and 15 cisterns that were dug in the village.
By most accounts, the biggest fire in downtown Archbold occurred August 30, 1913 when 20 buildings on the east side of Defiance Street were destroyed, leaving only four buildings on that side of the street in downtown Archbold.
At the time, the fire department relied on a hand pumper to fight fires. For that fire, in addition to the volunteer firefighters, citizens joined in to help keep the pump drawing water to shoot on the flames.
Also, equipment from nearby communities as well as Toledo was requested to help battle the fire. The equipment arrived by railroad cars and arrived within several hours.
Following that devastating fire, the village decided to fund the installation of 32 fire hydrants in town that were supplied by wells.
Other large fires include a fire at Sauder Woodworking in 1945 that destroyed much of the factory. In 1972, downtown Archbold experienced another blaze that started in the Scott Theater and destroyed several buildings before it could be put out.
And, in 2001 the “dum dum” fire destroyed a Spangler Candy Company warehouse, including the candy that was stored there.
Although Archbold firefighters have occasionally been injured while fighting fires, the only fatality occurred in 1933 when Ora Nofziger died from a head injury that he sustained while fighting a fire.
Brodbeck explained the first motorized fire fighting equipment owned by the fire department was a 1923 Reo truck that was confiscated during prohibition while transporting alcohol. The fire department repurposed it into a hose truck.
EMS services became part of the fire department in 1955.
Today, the Archbold fire department includes 9 full-time and 32 part-time or on-call firefighters. Most of the firefighters are also trained as paramedics or some level of EMT.
The department has 13 pieces of equipment, including 2 ambulances, 4 engines, an aerial tower, 2 grass fire vehicles, a Gator and various supply vehicles.
Last year, Brodbeck reported the department answered 895 EMS runs and 124 fire runs for a total of 1,019 calls.
That compares to 960 calls in 2024 and 935 calls in 2023. This year, he said the department is on pace to exceed last year’s total.
To celebrate the department’s 150th anniversary, a department and alumni event is planned for Friday, August 7 at Sauder Village. Community events will be held Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9.
Saturday’s community events include a parade with an open house at the fire station afterward, a free concert at Woodland Park that will include food trucks, and several performers with Girl Named Tom the featured group, and a drone show capping the evening.
Sunday’s events will be held at Ruihley Park.