Higginsport Fire Department
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The Higginsport Volunteer Fire Department territory consists of the village of Higgisport and the southern portion of Lewis Township. The Fire Department does more than just help protect the community against fires. It is a community service organization who's role also extends from search and rescue to lending a helping hand moving flood victims to higher ground, aiding in cleanup, and providing assistance to all who need it during disasters threatening the community.

The Higginsport Fire Department grew out of a near disaster. Prior to January of 1958, the fire department
was very loosely organized, and basically consisted of whomever happened to go the scene of a fire when
the siren blew. In January of 1958, on a sub-zero night, fire broke out at a home a few miles outside of
Higginsport. When the would-be firemen arrived at the firehouse, none of the assembled men knew how to
start the truck, and precious minutes went by until someone figured it out. The drive to the scene of the blaze
took extra time because inexperienced drivers on icy roads could not proceed at a normal speed.

Upon arrival at the fire, another obstacle loomed, for none of the men knew how to hook up the water lines.
By the time they puzzled out this situation, the lines were frozen. A hastily placed call to the Ripley Fire Department was made, and with that town's help, the burning home was salvaged. Subsequent to this near
disaster, a town meeting was called to address the situation. In that town meeting, Gene Talley, who was
appointed Fire Chief, immediately undertook the needed effort to organize and begin extensive training
for an official volunteer fire department, which consisted of 18 men.

Shown in the above photo included in a 1960 Cincinnati Post article are 13 of the members of Higginsport's first official Volunteer Fire Department. Members included in the photo are, left to right: TOP ROW: Ronnie Polster, Harold Kiskadden, Ray McCarty, B.Schadle, Chief Gene Talley, Mayor Sam Jones and Police Chief Arnold Hines. FRONT ROW: Bob Hiser, L. Schadle, Jack Stroud, Elmer Fightmaster, James Frodge and Charles spires. Not pictured members were Capt. Donald Brookbank, Ed Crawford, Albert Graybill, Dwight Marriott, and Gordon Thompson.

Since it's inception, the Higginsport Volunteer Fire Department has made great strides in improving its
equipment and training. Currently, members of the fire department participate in monthly training
events conducted at the firehouse.

Properly training and equipping a small town fire department on a small town budget is no easy task. Higginsport's current roster of equipment includes a total of 6 vehicles, as well as a rescue boat. Sources of funds have been bingos, raffles, personal contributions, other fund-raising events such as dinners, dances, and grants. Members of today's Higginsport Volunteer Fire Department are shown in front of the department's new, stat-of-the-art E-ONE 1200 GPM pumper. Fire department members in the photo to the left are (left to right) Rob Starret, Ray Copple, Andy Ulrich, Rhonda Frazier, Donnie Frazier, Mike Clarkson, Brandon Cornett, Bill Frazier, Ralph Bandnberg, Darrell Woodruff, and Mike Jones. Not pictured are Matt Adams, Paul Hornsby, Chris Prather, Darrin Brookbank, and Eddie Crawford.

In April, 2001 the Higginsport Fire Department became the first fire department in Brown County to implement a first responder program as part of the county wide emergency medical system. First responders are trained to begin assessing and caring for patients at the scene of injury or illness. The program calls for the first responder to reach patients in less than 10 minutes from the time a call is received. This quick response and the quality of care rendered will help to save the lives of both our local residents as well as visitors to our area. The following members of the Higginsport Volunteer Fire Department have completed the intensive training to be qualified for this important life-saving work. Pictured from left to right are: Rob Starrett, Andy Ulrich, Bill Frazier, Mike Clarkson, Rhonda Frazier, Michael Jones, Ray Copple, Grace Copple, and Ralph Brandenberg. Not pictured First Responers are Kathy Adams and Paul Hornsby.

Equipment
Higginsport has quite an array of sophisticated fire fighting equipment, especially for a town this size. The fire department has been successful in getting grants from the state to help with new equipment. The HVFD recently received a grant for $50,000, which paid for approximately half the cost of the new pumper, a high-tech E-ONE, the newest piece of equipment in the county.

2001 E-One 1250 GPM Pumper	1990 Grumman 1250 GPM Pumper	1963 Pirsch 1000 GPM Pumper
1973 Pierce 250 GPM Mini-Pumper tat will serve as the Department's First Responder Vehicle	Brush and Field Unit 1984 Chevy

Original Higginsport Fire House Built in 1839, this building was in service as the Village's fire house for a number of years until a frame bulding was built on the site of the current structure. After this building no longer served as the fire house, it had many other uses including an opera house and a black smith shop. Today it is owned by Earl & Dorothy Sanborn and is used as a storage building. At the time the frame structure that replaced this building was demolished, the large brass bell that once sat atop it was bought by Dwight Marriott so as to preserve this small part of Higginsport's history.

Current Higginsport Fire House The structure that currently serves as the Higginsport Fire House was built in the early 1960's and replaced the frame building that had stood on the same lot. At the time the Meldahl Locks were built, the water level of the Ohio River was raised substantially. Because certain portions of the now-gone Water Street that once paralleled the riverfront were claimed by the deeper river, the US Army Corps of Engineers purchased that land from the Village of Higginsport. The $10,000 the Village received was used to construct the Fire House. Since that time, the building has been expanded several times.

Higginsport Fire Department in the News

Maysville Ledger 8/25/94

Brown County Press 3/22/01

The Ripley Bee, November 17, 1994

Brown county press, 1990

Links to other Higginsport pages

Relax and unwind in the elegant accommodations at the Ohio River House B&B NOTE: when visiting this page, use the BACK button to return to the Higginsport web site	Enjoy the "down home" cooking and casual dining at our RESTAURANTS Festivals and events in the area	Camping and Marinas White Oak Creek Marina Down by the Riverside
Local Wineries	Higginsport Merchants  Vonderhaar's Manufacturing	Area Attractions, Shopping & Day Trips
click here for link to Area Postcards	History of Higginsport	Famous Residents - current and former
Higginsport Churches	Higginsport School	Ohio River Floods
Higginsport Police	BACK TO MAIN PAGE	Contact us by Email

Links to Other Web Site

Map of Brown County, Ohio  Local Weather Report	When visiting these websites, use your browser's BACK button to return to the Higginsport Website	Ripley Ohio Website
Ohio Tourism Web Site		Brown County Ohio website