New Sharon, IA
New Sharon, IA
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Mayor Jeff Long
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Fire & Rescue
1872In the early fall of 1872 a definite need for a structured Fire Department was realized. That was immediately after the local hardware store owned by H.T. Wright, burned to the ground.
1927In 1927 a building existed that housed several shops. At first there was a grocery store and then a restaurant. It was located on current site of the Capri Movie Theatre which is along the north side of the block just east of the main intersection of Main and Market streets.
1958In 1958 the Fire Department purchased an old panel delivery truck at a cost of $300 from a local man named Harley Robinson. This panel truck would become the Departments very first ambulance.

History from 1990 - 2009

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1990’s

In the 1990’s the Fire Department purchased several different trucks through voluntary donations and various Grant’s as well as finances provided through the City of New Sharon.

1995 – Purchased a new Pumper Truck
1996 – Purchased a new Brush Buggy
1999 – Purchased a new Tanker as well as a new Ambulance that had previously served as a demonstration vehicle.
1994

In 1994 the Fire Department structure had as their Fire Chief – Ed Davis, Assistant Fire Chiefs – Verlan VanWyk, Steve Gerard, Stan Munn and Captains – Terry DeCook, Grady Lewis, and Mike Ryan.

2002

The year 2002 was another year that saw additional upgrades in fire-fighting gear – including boots, pants, coats, and helmets. Serving in leadership was Fire Chief – Jim Reed, Assistant Chiefs – Stan Munn, Steve Gerard, Verlan VanWyk and Captains – Terry DeCook, Grady Lewis, and Jim Briggs.

2003

In early 2003 the Department purchased a new Equipment Truck that was equipped with a Light Tower. Officers in 2003 were Fire Chief – Stan Munn, Assistant Fire Chief’s – Steve Gerard and Verlan VanWyk, Captain’s – Terry DeCook, Grady Lewis and Brad Latcham.

Due to new State required Training Standards, the New Sharon Fire & Rescue Department has aggressively trained to meet the new Standards that are now required. Currently the Department has certified all 25 members as FF1’s and has 12 members that have reached FFII certification levels.

2005 & 2008

The years of 2005 and 2008 proved to be years charged with National tragedies.

In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina blasted the southeastern part of the United States, opportunity arose that enabled the New Sharon Fire & Rescue Squad to assist with clean-up efforts after the devastation along the Gulf Coast. After the members was asked if there was any interest in helping, eight members of this Department answered the call and headed to Biloxi, Mississippi from September 25 th extending through October 16 th. These were members that were allowed to leave their full-time jobs to aid those that had been affected by this tragedy.

And again in 2008 New Sharon Fire & Rescue members headed to Parkersburg, Iowa to aid in the clean-up effort after that City had been devastated by a category EF-5 tornado that had wiped out approximately one third of its community. Later during the same year the Department was able to assist with another clean-up effort which was the result of a tornado in South-east Iowa.

2009

The year of 2009 made way for the purchase of a Suburban and Trailer for the Emergency Response Team. Later in the year, during the early summer months the Department assisted with flood control by sand bagging in the Oskaloosa/Eddyville, Iowa river basins. During this period of time Department members were called upon over several weekends by the Oakville, Iowa area to help them recover from flood disasters caused by the flooding of the Iowa River.

April – No one was hurt in a house explosion and fire in New Sharon. The explosion happened late Sunday afternoon in a two-story house. Authorities say the family wasn’t home. The explosion collapsed the second story of the house and part of a wall on the first-floor. Debris was blown about a block away. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

 

1990In the 1990’s the Fire Department purchased several different trucks through voluntary donations and various Grant’s as well as finances provided through the City of New Sharon.
2010In the year of 2010 New Sharon’s Fire & Rescue Squad sent 4 of their members to Carroll, Iowa to assist in the cleanup of storm damage, they were joined by two members two members of the Oskaloosa Fire Department, Oskaloosa, Iowa.

(c) 2023 New Sharon, IA

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