Archbold Fire Department Celebrates 150 Years Of Answering The Call

The Archbold Fire Department is marking 150 years of service in 2026, looking back on a history that stretches from a used Phoenix hand pumper bought in 1876 to today’s modern apparatus and emergency medical service. This special section traces that story — from the Great Fire of 1913 and major industrial fires at Sauder Woodworking to the 1976 Penn Central train collision near Pettisville — alongside a look at incoming chief Kyle Brodbeck, a timeline of 150 years of service, and the anniversary celebration planned for Aug. 7 and 8. The full tribute is presented below exactly as it appears in print.