Roanoke's Fire Company taken from the "Roanoke Centennial History" Roanoke's first Fire Company was mostly a bucket brigade with miners helping out. Then the department soon added a hose cart. The hose cart was kept in a storage shed which was locked. There were frequently difficulties in getting to the equipment in a hurry. Not only would firemen have to find the fellow with the key, but they would have to clear away screens and other city property stored in the shed. The first meeting of the Roanoke Fire Department was held on June 12, 1914. E. E. Husseman was acting chairman. Rules and regulations of the Fire Department were based on those established by the Eureka Fire Department. The 18 original members were: E. E. Husseman - Fire Chief, H. Sands - 1st Lieutenant, S. Anliker - 2nd Lieutenant, L. L. Risser - Secretary, William Knapp - Treasurer, L. Knoll - 1st Hydrant man, R. Bertchi - 2nd Hydrant man, P. Herbst - 1st Wrenchman, F. Riley - 2nd Wrenchman, S. Sauder, G. Wilcox, R. Wren, E. Vedelle, S. DeWilde, S. Altorfer, R. Heppard, D. Zimmerman and L. Badgley. The original Fire Department was housed at City Hall. On July 8, 1914, the Roanoke Volunteer Fire Department voted to hold a two-day Labor Day celebration to raise money necessary to run the Fire Department. This policy was in effect until 1951, when a tax was levied for financing the Fire Department. The first fire fought by the Roanoke Volunteer Fire Department was on July 10, 1914, at the Belsley Coal House. It took six minutes from the time the alarm was sounded until the time water was on the fire. Approximately 10 to 12 fires per year have been fought since this time. Through the years very few of the original rules and regulations have been changed. The Fire Department now operates with 25 members including a Fire Chief, 2 Assistants, 3 Captains and a Secretary-Treasurer. The first fire house was built in 1914 and stood where the present library is now. The first fire truck was purchased in 1916. Since that time new trucks were purchased in 1920, 1951, 2 in 1952, and one in 1974. The present fire house was built in 1951. Since the new truck arrived the fire department also uses the former Shell station at Front and Green for storage. The following are lists of Fire Chiefs and Secretary-Treasurers that have or are now holding these offices, since the Department was organized: Fire Chiefs Husseman Held office 19 years Jake DeWilde 3 years Andy Zimmerman 1 year John Paluska 2 years Robert Risser 2 years Roy R. Beer 32 years Secretary-Treasurer Lester Risser Carl Klump Fred Riley Jack DeWilde Frank Paluska Fred Herbst Andrew Norgart Charles Martin Victor Blunier John Legel Albert DeWilde Jack Micheletti John Paluska Melvin Ladendorf Pete Herbst Walter K. Smith Gerald G. Beer (1974) The present list of members of the Roanoke Volunteer Fire Department are as follows: Roy R. Beer, Fire Chief Wilmer E. Funk 1st Assistant Chief Bill Ladenford 2nd Assistant Chief Gerald G. Beer Secretary-Treasurer Harley Aeschleman Captain Paul Wehrmann Captain Wayne Decker Captain Sim Bates Lieutenant Arthur Faucon   Orman Smith   Fred Meyer   Marvin Aeschleman   Eldon Schoon   Wayne Aeschleman   Roger Cox   LeRoy Monge   Edward Cox ` Walter K. Smith   Don Arends   Marvin Blunier   Dick Schacherbauer   Ron Buysee   Phil Vogel   James A. Reilly   Greg A. Funk   Ken Ludeman   Lyn Riviere   First row: Sol Herbst, George DeWilde, Ed Husseman, John Paluska, Jack Micheletti, Vic Blunier, Guy Blue Second row: Nick Herbst, Gaylord Brown, Roy Beer, George Riggs, Andy Zimmerman, Joe Hangartner, Eddie Schafer, Joe Hasler, Peter Herbst Third row: Rustig Hennebelle, Joe Bussone, Roy Beer, Bob Risser, Charles Martino, Bob Monge, and Jake DeWilde Back to Roanoke's Index