OUR HISTORY

 In late 1946, Raymond Hughes and Rolland Taft, along with the other following charter members, meet in each other’s homes to discuss forming the town’s own fire protection. Up until 1947, fire protection was provided by the Busti and Frewsburg, New York, Fire Depts. Known initially as the Kiantone Fire Brigade, these following men were the charter members: Alver Anderson, Frank Bratt, Earl Beck, Lawrence Brustrom, Otis Brustrom, Gust Dandelski, Raymond Hughes, Carl Lindstrom, Elmer Nelson and Rolland Taft. 

March 12th - A Post Journal article reads “Fire Company is Formed” A financial campaign was commenced to raise funds for defraying the cost of equipment and the drive started off well. Raymond H. Hughes was organization chairman and the following temporary officers were chosen: President, Frank W. Bratt; vice president, Robert Howard; secretary, Alver Anderson; treasurer, Gust Dandelski. Chairmen of committees were appointed as follows: Ways and means, Frank Howe and Earl Beck, co-chairmen; constitution and by-laws, Rolland H. Taft; finance, Fred Luce; construction, Harold Maus; and equipment, Raymond Hughes.

In April 1947, the group acquired the former Niagara-Hudson Co. two story brick building on Peck Settlement Rd. at W&J Blvd. from Niagara Mohawk power company. This building, after being extensively remodeled and a siren mounted on the roof, would become the first fire station. Today the building is a private residence.

A used 1924 Seagrave type 6 BT suburbanite 350 gpm. pumper was purchased from the Lakewood, NY, Fire Department. The original membership passed a hat to purchase the truck. This truck was originally delivered to Lakewood on September 17, 1924, serial number 38620 (affectionately it was called putt putt bang).

April 24th - Kiantone Firemen Elect Officials Stillwater — A meeting of the Kiantone Fire Department was held Wednesday evening; with the president, Frank Bratt, presiding. The following men were elected to office: Fire chief. Raymond Hughes; assistants, Earl Beck and Lawrence Brustrom; captains. Elmer Nelson and Frank Gould; directors, Otis Brustrom, Rolland Taft and Joe Canale. Refreshments were served.  

In May, the decision was made to incorporate thus the Kiantone Independent Fire Department Inc. was born. 

June 27– The department announced Friday night dancing at the Hillside Park Pavilion, from 9pm to 1am. Round and square dances with “Nobby Paul” and his orchestra. Ten long rubber coats, ten rubber boots and ten fire helmets were purchased for the new department, for $300.

On November 15th, the department entered active service to provide fire protection for the entire township. An hourly contract is approved with the town of Kiantone, with the department being paid $25 for each hour of service provided. A fire telephone number 66-121 is established and is announced to the township. Citizens would call the fire dept. number and speak with Mrs. Onnolee Hughes, Chief Ray Hughes wife, who would get the location and nature of the call. Then the siren would activate and members would respond to the station. Years later, a phone was installed at the Stillwater grocery and service store, owned by member Ted Lundquist. The store owners would also answer the phone day or night. 

December 30, 1947 – A large multi-family home is destroyed on the Andrew Elderkin farm on Peck Settlement Road. No injuries were reported, in what is believed to be the first structure fire fought by the department. The fire was reported at 12:15 am by the family as they returned home. The building was a total loss. Chief Hughes stated the home was one of the first residences built in Kiantone.

~1949~  

May  - A 1949 Chevy pickup truck is purchased and put in to service in September 1949. The truck is outfitted by members of the department at a cost of nearly $3,500. This truck was equipped with a Darley 300 gallon per minute - 1,000 psi front mounted pump, booster hose, ladders and a 300 gallon water tank.  

~1953~

January– Frank Bratt and Ray Hughes retire from being president and fire chief respectively. Voted in to succeed them are: Howard Knoblock as president; vice president, Alvar Anderson; secretary, Don Luce; treasurer, Milton Nielsen; director, Frank Bratt. Fred Luce was voted in as the department’s second fire chief; first assistant, Archie Nelson; second assistant, Theodore Lundquist; Elmer Nelson, water chief; Harold Nelson, captain in charge of equipment; line captain, Carl Arzner.

In June  the department approves a station house alarm receiver with a selective call device to be purchased. This device would allow the dispatchers at the sheriff’s office in Mayville, NY, to sound the siren for a mutual aid request. 

~1954~

February 15 - A fire of undetermined origin gutted the interior of Benson Furniture Company shortly after 6pm Monday, causing an untold amount of damage to the contents, including irreplaceable antique pieces. Ray Benson, proprietor, said the 80 by 60 foot one-floor block building was not insured. Both of Kiantone’s apparatus responded along with Engine Company No. 2 of Jamestown and the equipment from the Busti Fire Department. When firemen arrived, flames were shooting more than 20 feet through the roof. Pumpers drew water from nearby Stillwater Creek. Firemen had the blaze under control in less than 30 minutes. Mr. Benson believes the fire originated in the sewing machine room in the northwest corner of the building. The building sat where the current dance studio on Peck Settlement Road is.  

July - The firemen purchase a 1951 Chevy tractor and a  1936 2,100 gallon, former gasoline tank trailer. Purchased at a cost of $1,900, from the Smith & Cale Co. a Ashville NY fuel distributer. The newer unit would be designated Tanker 32. This tanker would be the second largest tanker in the county, second to Sheridan, NY. Old timers in the department always would say the tractor was far too under powered and had difficulty making Kiantone Hill with a full load of water. A portable pump was added to the tanker to facilitate loading and unloading water.

~1956~

May: The department starts weekly Bingo games at the John Stohlcrantz building.

~1957~ 

October. The department purchases a 1941 Buffalo Fire appliance co., engine from the city of Buffalo N.Y. for $1000. 

~1958~

In late 1957, after having purchased the 1941 Buffalo truck the department planed to build a station at the other end of the town. On land donated by Mrs Cynthia Brustrom at the end of Donelson road on Kiantone Rd., station 2 was built during 1958. The 30 foot by 18 foot block building still stands today and is used for storage by the department.  

September- Ready for service. Built on Kiantone Rd near Donelson Road in the hamlet of Kiantone, Fire Station No. 2 is of cement block construction, 30 feet long by 18 feet wide. It is heated with an automatic oil burner. The ceiling is insulated and covered with sheet rock. Although the building itself was built by a contractor, the finishing off was done by the volunteer firemen. The bay had space for a single fire apparatus and greatly increased the fire protection to the southern portion of the town. The 1940 Engine 32, 1,000 gpm pumper was moved to the station upon completion. A 5 horsepower siren is located on the roof. It had a private telephone line of the same number as Fire station No. 1 located in Stillwater. When dialing the Kiantone Fire Department, both phones would ring and set off the fire sirens at the two stations simultaneously, and would have been answered by either station or the phone located in the fire chief's home, the phone would be held open till the information was obtained from the caller then released when the phone was hung up. Both the station and the 1940 pumper were paid for by dept. funds, with no tax dollars involved. 

In 1958, the department had Engine 31 the 1949 Chevy pumper; Engine 32, the 1940 Buffalo; and Tanker 32 the 2,100 gallon Chevy tanker. 

~1960~

Sept:  A used 1952 Chevy 1000 gallon tanker was purchased from Ashland Oil Company, Kennedy N.Y., for $1100 The old tanker and the this truck were put together to make one usable truck as a tanker and was placed in service in November. 

~1961~

Newly elected officers are: President, Albert Anderson; Vice President, Walt Carlson; Secretary, Mike Nielson; Treasuer Herb Johnson; Chief Fred Luce; 1st Assistant chief, Elton Davis; 2nd Assistant chief, Fred Coons; Captain Robert Kindland and Lawrence Brustrom; Directors Carl Arzner, Sigvard Anderson and Eric Lantz. 

May 11 - Land owned by Mr. H. Gene Adams behind the old fire station on Peck Settlement Road in Stillwater, was purchased in December 1951 for a new building. The department obtains a mortgage from the bank of Jamestown, for $30,000 over a period of ten years.  Construction is started in May on a $45,000, state of the art station. The single-story cinder block building has three bays for equipment, a kitchen, with banquet and meeting rooms and a hose drying tower. This would become the new station 1.  Building committee was: chairman, Thomas Gooch, Walt Carlson, Albert Anderson and Bob Kindland. In October, the department moves in to the new station.

~1962~

Officers for 1962: Walter Carlson, vice president; Michael Nielson, secretary; Herbert Johnson, treasurer; Ed Sandberg, newly elected fire chief; Elton Davis, first assistant chief; Fred Coons Jr., second assistant chief. Retiring chief Fred Luce reported 21 fires and 6 mutual aid calls in 1961. 

~1963~

January– At the first meeting of 1963, new officers elected were: president, Frank Bratt; Jerold Weber, vice president; Don Weber, secretary; Herbert Johnson, treasurer; Ed Sandberg, chief; Elton Davis, first assistant chief; Fred Coons Jr., second assistant chief. The yearly budget is $1200.00.

May 29 – Two volunteer fireman were injured while battling a house fire which left the Hartzell and William’s families homeless. The Hall Road residence was destroyed at a cost of $8,000. Minor Injuries were received by Kiantone firemen Frank Bratt and Alden Wedburg of Busti. The Buffalo pumper developed pump problems afterwards and was repaired.

At the September meeting, Dr. Bauer demonstrated the new resuscitator recently purchased by the department. Resuscitators were designed to force air into the lungs of a victim either overcome by smoke or having a medical emergency.

~1964~

Officers for the year are: Frank Bratt, president; Carl Arzner, vice president; Donald Weber, secretary; Herbert Johnson, treasurer; Ed Sandberg, Chief; Elton Davis, first assistant chief; Lawrence Brustrom, second assistant chief; Perry Olsen and Fred Coons Jr. were captains.

February 24– The one story single family home of Mr. and Mrs. Rex Nollinger on Hall Road in Kiantone, was destroyed by fire. The family was uninjured. An overheated wood stove was to blame for the late-night fire. Chief Ed Sandberg was in charge of 55 men from Kiantone and Busti, with Frewsburg men on standby at Kiantone. 

February- A 1964 Jeep pickup truck was purchased for $3,000. The truck was equipped with a 5,000-watt electric generator. It carried brooms and Indian pumps to be used for grass and forest fires. 

At the May meeting, it was voted to purchase a new 10 h.p. siren for station 1. A new 2 way mobile radio was purchased for the Jeep for $650. 

~1965~

New officers for 1965: Philip Johnson, president; Carl Arzner, vice president; Richard Hodges, secretary; Herbert Johnson, treasurer; Albert Anderson, assistant secretary; Edwin Sandberg, chief; Donald Weber, first assistant chief; Fred Coons Jr, second assistant chief; Theodore Gustafson, captain, station one; Charles Lucas, captain, station two; Roger Wennberg, director.

March 30– A 30 x 100 foot, three story chicken egg production house was destroyed by fire shortly before 6pm. The building was on the Alfred Hagberg egg farm on the Kiantone Road across from the Kiantone Congregational Church. More than 100 firemen from Kiantone, Busti and Frewsburg were on scene. Chief Ed Sandberg estimated 1,000 chickens died due to smoke inhalation. 

~1966~

January– Robert Samuelson, president; Carl Arzner, vice president; Richard Hodges, secretary; Herbert Johnson, treasurer; Ed Sandberg, chief; Donald Weber, first assistant chief; Fred Coons Jr., second assistant chief; captain station one, Theodore Gustafson; captain of station two, Charles Lucas.

February– At the regular monthly meeting, the members authorized Chief Sandberg to appoint a committee to investigate equipment and costs of a new fire truck.

March 16th- One of our department’s founding members and first fire chief, Raymond H. Hughes, passes away at the age of 50. Chief Hughes was chief of the department from 1947 to 1953. He was appointed Chautauqua County fire coordinator in 1951 and retired due to ill health, November 1965. His many accomplishments made him dearly missed in the county fire service. 

August– At the board of directors meeting, the board approves purchasing a Ford C-850 cab over chassis from McFadden Ford, Jamestown NY. Price $7,995.00. The pump and body would be built by Maxim motor division, Middleborough, Massachusetts for $ 13,802.95. 

~1967~

President from 1967 to 1975 was Carl Arzner. A new $2,000 contract with the town had been approved.

May - The new Ford cab over pumper is delivered to the department and added to the equipment protecting the town. The pump was rated at 750 gallons per minute. A mobile radio was installed. Also onboard the unit is a portable 2,500-watt generator. 

~1968~

January – Chief Ed Sandberg gets quotes for $107.60, for a fire alarm alerting system to be installed in both stations and in selected firemen’s residences. Citizens would call the dept.’s phone number, members would then answer the phone at their residences. The siren at each station could then be activated from the firemen’s personal residences with the push of a button after receiving a phone alarm. 

April – At the monthly meeting Chief Sandberg advises the members that the 1940 Buffalo truck was removed from service due to mechanical problems and then dismantled. The truck was sold off in parts for $280.00 total. A piece of WNY firefighting history was no more. 

November – Treasurer Herb Johnson reports the mortgage on station 1 has been paid off. At the annual Christmas party a mortgage burning ceremony was held.

~1969~

In 1968 the department answered 24 alarms with an average of 11 men responding.

June - The county fire service begins using a new department and equipment identification system county wide. Kiantone would use ID number 361.

October – The Ladies Auxiliary donates $500 to the department to defray costs of new tile flooring in the main hall.

Chief Sandberg reported the department responded to 15 requests in 1969, including 1 mutual aid call to Sinclairville, NY, for a tornado. An average of 12 men responded to the alarms. A total of 17 hours and 35 minutes were spent answering alarms. A total of $6,000 was spent on needed equipment and department improvements.

~1971~

January – A new base radio and station house receiver are purchased from General Electric for $1,256.00. The new radio license call letters would be KSO-613. After careful consideration and much discussion on purchasing a new apparatus, the department made a selection. At the regular monthly meeting in April, members approve to purchase a Hahn manufactured pumper with a diesel motor. 

~1972~

July 17th - A brand new $41,372 Hahn pumper is delivered to the department from the Churchville, NY, Fire Equipment Company. Hahn fire trucks were manufactured in Hamburg PA. The pumper is a custom-built unit with a six cylinder, 265 HP Detroit diesel engine, Hale 1,000 gpm pump, 1000 gallon tank and can carry four members aboard. A new mobile radio was installed for $1000.00. 

~1975~

Feb 1st - Bruce Farrar is the newly elected fire chief, taking over for Edwin Sandberg after being our chief for twelve years. 

March– The department elects to join the dispatch network operated by Jamestown city emergency dispatchers. The city would dispatch the department to all emergency calls it received from the town. In March, April and May, 30 total home receiver pagers are purchased and distributed to department members.

June 11– A planned addition to station 2 was scheduled to begin the following weekend.

July – A truck committee was authorized to investigate purchasing a new mini pumper to replace the 1949 Chevy. Also in July, arraignments had been made with local adjoining property owners, Dick and Bill Anderson, to open up an access road to the property off of Peck Settlement Road. The 25 year-old 1,000 gallon tanker is sold to a private entity.

August– The truck committee brings forward specifications and bids for a new mini pumper. The membership votes to purchase a Dodge chassis truck built by Saulsbury fire equipment. Total price $28,437.00

November – Per Chief Ferrara the 1967 Ford pumper would be relocated to station 2 permanently. 

~1976~

Elected president to serve until 1980 was Ed Sandberg; James Johnson, vice president; Thurston Johnson, secretary; Philip Johnson, treasurer; Bruce Farrar, chief; P. Michael Nielson, 1st assistant; Don Weber, 2nd assistant. 

March – P.M. Nielsen is head of the 30th anniversary committee. 

July 31– Flames ravaged the Central Tractor business on Foote Ave Extension in the town. Chief Farrar was in charge of the firefighting efforts. The fire was believed to have started around 5:20 am. Heavy fog had blanketed the area, making the discovery of the fire delayed for some time. Supply hose lines were laid from the city line to the fire to supplement water shuttled to the scene.

September- A new Dodge 300 custom built mini pumper was delivered from the Saulsbury Fire Equipment Company in Tully, NY. This new engine has a 750 gpm front mounted pump for getting into hard to reach water sources and a 200 gallon water tank. The engine is designated Engine 363 and eventually replaced the 1949 Chevy.

~1978~

-Elected Chief was P. Michael Nielson. The 1964 Jeep is sold locally for $2,000.

October – A new 1 ton Chevy truck is ordered by Chief Nielson to replace the 1964 Jeep as Miscellaneous-361. The truck would carry grass firefighting equipment including a water tank, a snow plow, and misc. equipment for the department. The cost was $10,000, with a $1,200 utility box for the bed of the truck, being donated by the K.I.F.D. auxiliary.

~1979~

January – Reelected officers are appointed. Officers are chief, P. Michael Nielson; 1st assistant, Gregg Pierson; 2nd assistant, Robert Burlingame; president, Edwin Sandberg.

February– At the monthly meeting, the first discussions are held on purchasing a used rescue ambulance from the Frewsburg, NY, fire department. A committee is formed with chiefs Mike Nielson and Gregg Pierson included, to look into the overall cost and feasibility of an ambulance for the department.

March – At the yearly department banquet, the department honors Frank Bratt, Elmer Nelson, Lawrence Brustrom and Carl Arzner for being 30 year members and charter members of the department. Also the first position of rescue captain is announced and Gale Johnson is made rescue captain.

April- the department purchases our first ambulance from the Frewsburg, NY, Fire Department, for $8,000. The 1974 Dodge van style ambulance was built by the National Ambulance Corp. The unit was repainted white over red, from the original yellow, and lettered with gold lettering.

August– A motion is made by Chief Nielson and carried by the body, to establish and register a rescue squad within the department, per New York state guidelines. The Auxiliary voted to purchase a stretcher cot, mattress, belts, a scoop stretcher, and in November purchased three oxygen tanks all to be used with the new ambulance.

November- After months of hard work, Ambulance service is started in the town. 

~1989~

Elected chief was Ed Sandberg and president was John Williams.

June– A committee is formed with Wayne Berg chair, Wayne Luce, Ted Moll and Mike Heath to research new ambulance specifications. 

July 12– At the monthly meeting, an announcement was made by Mike Heath that the local Carnahan foundation made a donation to purchase a Lifepak 5 heart monitor.

December– Wayne Luce and Brian Clinger begin researching the Collins ambulance corp. ambulance models, and what would work best for the department’s needs.

~1990~

The president was Brian Clinger and chief was Ed Sandberg; 1st asst., Ron Johnson;  2nd asst., Don Weber.

July 11– At the monthly meeting the announcement is made, the department was giving a loan interest loan, of $25,000 from New York State, towards a new ambulance. 

October 11– Just before 2pm, a massive blaze destroyed the retail building of Don Gage’s Shoprite discount store located on Route 60. Chief Ed Sandberg requested mutual aid from Frewsburg and Busti departments, initially, due to the amount of fire. Several other local departments responded and it was noted that an inadequate water supply hampered firefighting efforts.  The pond next to Station 1 was almost drained of water. 

The first 50 dollar casino night type party is held, with a Luau theme. 

August -Department members voted to purchase a new 1990 Ford van chassis ambulance and have it built by the Collins Ambulance Manufacturing Company, Kansas. This ambulance would replace the 1974 Dodge. Final price was $38,350.00. Delivery was in late November.

~1991~

November - The membership takes delivery of a 1991 E-one manufactured commercial cab International pumper to replace the 1967 Ford pumper at Station 2. The truck was a two-door cab and chassis with a 1,250 gpm hale pump and 1,000 gallon water tank. 

~1996~

January– Newly elected officers for 1996 were: chief, Ron V. Johnson; 1st assistant chief, Wayne Luce; 2nd assistant chief, Don Weber; president, Al Haller; vice president, Jim Baron; secretary, Chris Norberg; treasurer, Michael Holman.

~1997~

-President was Jim Baron; vice president, Michael Allenson; secretary and treasurer, Jim Mitchell. 

- A new custom cab and chassis engine is purchased from Ferrara Fire Apparatus Company in Louisiana. The truck is equipped with a 1,750 gpm pump, 1,000-gallon water tank, onboard foam system, portable generator and a six man cab.

March 18– The department celebrated its 50th anniversary at the department annual banquet at station 1. Members honored were Lawrence Brustrom, Fred Luce and Carl Arzner for 50 years of service. Jerold Weber for 40 years, Michael Haller and Allen Haller for 20 years of service and designated new life members. 

~1998~

The president was Mike Allenson; vice president, Jim Baron; Jim Mitchell, secretary treasurer; chief was Wayne Luce from 1998 to 2001; 1st assistant chief, Don Weber; 2nd assistant chief, Steve Reale. The dept. answered 138 alarms in 1997 with a total of 2,100 man hours.

February– The board passed a motion to fill in the pond at station 1. Concrete from an old demolished bridge and top dirt was used. 

On May 3, Life member Fred Luce passed away. He served as department chief from 1953 to 1955 and from 1960 to 1961. 

~2001~

August- A new Braun ambulance built on a Ford E-350 chassis is purchased to replace the 1990 Ford Collins ambulance. Cost was $78,000.The ambulance is bigger than the previous van type and provide for more storage space. An addition to Station 1 is completed adding a new back entrance, storage room, rest rooms, as well as an addition to the back of the truck bays.

~2002~

Newly elected chief was Steve Reale. President was Mike Allenson.

February– The 1990 Collins ambulance is sold to Alstar ambulance, Jamestown, NY.

~2003~

March – The board of directors and the body approved the purchase of a new cardiac heart monitor. 

~2004~

August – The department is awarded a FEMA Assistance to firefighter’s grant for $54,000 for new equipment.

~2005~

June– The department directors begin discussion on a new pumper to replace the 1991 Engine 362.

~2006~

September– The 1991 International E-One pumper is sold to the Cherry Creek, NY, Fire Dept., for $40,000. 

~2014~

- In 2014, and again in 2017, the town was hit with massive flooding in the area. In every flooding incident, the department was taxed with road closures, flooded basements, trees down with power lines and assisting victims of flooded campers and vehicles. The department replaces the 1977 storage barn with a new three bay building.

~2015~

April - the department participates in the state wide Recruit NY with an open house for the community, showcasing apparatus, equipment and information on how to apply to become a member.

August- The department is awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant for $25,000. They purchased turnout gear and a new thermal imaging camera.

~2016~

Officer’s for 2016: president, Jim Nelson; vice president, Rick Pearson; secretary, Mike Haller; treasurer, Michele Bergman; chief, Steve Reale; first assistant chief, Jeff Peterson; second assistant chief, Eric South. Directors were Brad Weber, Mike Holman, Joe Shelters and John VanDewark 

October 13 – A late night fire occurred at the residence of department members Bill and Paula Weaver. The fire brought out five departments mutual aid to Kiantone. The fire was confined to the top floor but the residence was a total loss. 

~2017~

- A used 1998 E-One Freightliner rescue was added to the fleet from a town in Canada. This piece allowed the department to remove equipment from Engine 361. The truck carries a 500 gpm pump, a 300-gallon water tank, a 25-gallon foam tank, and a 4,000 watt light tower. Carried onboard are the Jaws of Life, air bags, cribbing, hand tools, scene rehab supplies, and other misc. equipment. 

- A loan is approved by the Chautauqua County Legislators for the department to purchase a new cardiac heart monitor. This monitor is capable of 12 lead heart monitoring and advanced diagnostic capabilities.

March 22– The department responds mutual aid to the Falconer fire department for a structure fire at 29-37 main street in the business district. The 3 story buildings were a total loss. The department responded with Engine 361, Misc. 361, rehab 361 and ambulance 361. 

September 13th – At the regular monthly meeting, chief Reale advises members on the specifications for a new miscellaneous truck to replace the 1995 Chevy. He advised the members that the chief officers have selected a 2017 Ford F350 gas engine truck with a four-door cab. A flat bed unit would be built by Southern Tier Trailer Sales of Gerry, NY. The unit will be able to seat 5 members and be used for miscellaneous calls, including towing the rehab trailer. The brush skid tank and pump would be placed in the bed. The total price was voted to not exceed $48,000. 

~2019~

May 31:  Past Chief Edwin Sandberg passes away at the age of 84.