This year, 2014, marks the 115th anniversary of the original beginnings of the Clear Lake Fire Dept.

 

Back in the year 1899, the fire department was established, one year before the Village of Clear Lake was founded in 1900. Thirty-seven of the 176 people of Clear Lake voted for the formation of the village with Edgar White named president with three trustees, one recorder, one treasurer, two justices and two constables named.

 

The Village of Clear Lake was changed to the City of Clear Lake in the 1970’s when the state created a statute that mandated changing the designation of “villages” to “cities”.

 

The modern formation and adoption by a government unit did not occur until 1948 when the CLFD utilized a 1936 Ford Luverne Fire Truck that stayed in service until 1981.

 

Today, the current FD has nearly a dozen fire and rescue vehicles including two engines, two tenders, three grass trucks, one utility truck, two rescue rigs and one ARGO (ATV).

 

Many of Clear Lake’s citizens have a long history of service in local government and the CLFD over the course of its 100+ year history.  Jacob Arnold served as treasurer over 50 years; Leo Carlin was a fire department volunteer, city council member, mayor and clerk for 41 years; Raymond Fiereck was a city councilman, acting mayor, fire department volunteer and clerk for over 30 years and Phil Arnold served as a fire department volunteer, council member, clerk and planning commission member for over 30 years as well.

 

Currently, the city has 27 volunteer firefighters including a first responder unit. The department is in the process of recruiting up to eight more volunteers. 

 

Current Fire Chief Ron Koren has served 27 years as chief for the department when he took over for Howard Gray back in 1987. In total, Koren has served as a firefighter for Clear Lake for 38 years.

 

The CLFD offers fire protection and rescue and medical response to a 75 square mile area out of their station in Clear Lake as well as a sub-station in Palmer Township (began in 2007).

 

In 1979, Clear Lake — along with 15 other area fire departments — formed the Central Minnesota Fire Aid Association and is a national charter member. They are also part of the Sherburne County Fire Chief’s Association consisting of departments from Elk River, Big Lake, Baldwin, Becker, Zimmerman and Clear Lake.

 

Back in the early days of the department, when a fire was reported the first responding FF would sound an alarm at the station to “call-in” all available firefighters who could hear the siren. Many large cities used to utilize street alarm boxes but they were quickly eliminated because of problems associated with maintenance and with false alarm transmissions.

 

Many modern departments are now equipped with computer-aided dispatch systems that can track the status of all units and provide vital information about the buildings where fires occur. Pagers were first introduced to Clear Lake in 1987.

 

In 1994, the CLFD acquired their first extrication equipment (cutters, spreaders and rescue supplies) with the help of donations from the local Lions Club. A second set was purchased a half dozen years ago so both engines can now be equipped.

 

During that same decade, the department bought their first thermal imager camera that captures infrared energy transfer from an object, getting a picture showing the temperature differences of a surface. The original price for the camera 20 years ago was $18,000. The CLFD has since bought two more cameras two years ago that came in at half the price of the unit bought in the early 1990s.

 

When the CLFD began over 100 years ago, it is assumed they probably operated using a pumping device to extricate water from nearby ponds, rivers and lakes. The steam-pump fire engine, introduced in London in 1829 by John Ericsson and John Braithwaite, was used in many large cities by the 1850s.

 

With the development of the internal-combustion engine early in the 20th century, pumpers became motorized. By 1925 the steam pumper had been completely replaced by motorized pumpers.

 

The basic tactics of fighting a fire can be divided into the following categories: rescue operations, protection of buildings exposed to the fire, confinement of the fire, extinguishing the fire and salvage operations. The officer in charge, usually designated as the commander, surveys the area and evaluates the relative importance of these categories. The commander also estimates what additional assistance or apparatus may be needed. Rescue operations are always given priority.

 

Once the commander has appraised the situation, fire fighters and equipment are deployed. Pumper, ladder, and other truck companies, as well as rescue squads, are assigned to different areas of the fire, usually in accordance with the number and types of hose streams the commander considers necessary to control the fire and prevent its spread.

 

Temperatures within a burning building may exceed 1500º fahrenheit. Brightly burning fires principally generate heat, but smoldering fires also produce combustible gases that need only additional oxygen to burn with explosive force. The hazards to which fire fighters and occupants of a burning building are exposed include the breathing of superheated air, toxic smoke and gases, and oxygen-deficient air, as well as burns, injuries from jumping or falling, broken glass, falling objects, or collapsing structures. 

 

Handling a hose is difficult even before the line is charged with water under pressure. Nozzle reaction forces can amount to several hundred pounds, requiring the efforts of several people to direct a stream of water.

 

During its 115 years of operation, the CLFD has had numerous firefighters and chiefs come and go and their budgets for operation have increased from a mere five-figure financial plan 20-30 years ago to an annual budget around  $250,000. The volunteer firefighters are paid $10/hr. and operate on an on-call basis. They receive $1,250 a year per year of service after 10 years through a relief association (retirement) in which they are 60% vested. After 20 years of service, they are fully vested.

 

“We’ve got some very good people in this department,” said Fire Chief Koren. “I’m surrounded by very good men and women who risk their lives for the sake of others.”

 

The fire department, which started back in the 19th century, has come a long way and it has survived thanks in large part to the past volunteers and today’s volunteers. 

 

Current Clear Lake Firefighters are: Chief Ron Koren; Assistant Chiefs Steve Schrader, Craig Miller and Chad McKay; Captains Barry Schuldt, Paul Hans, Wayne Marklowitz and Kevin Lietha; Lieutenants Ryan Leaders, Matt Lunser, and Colleen Knafla. Firefighters  Matt Dirksen, Regan Johnson Charlie Gammon, Troy Goenner, Ross Imholte, Chad Koren, Chad Nelson, Johnny Ebertowski, Jill Lietha, Travis Malikowski,  Kari Mechtel, Tyler Marklowitz, Ryan Peterson, Dan Smith  and Branden Weis.