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Department History The following article and photo of George Searles was taken from the 1956 Census Book: The exact date of organizing the Pana Fire Department cannot be determined. However, from scanning newspapers printed in the late 1860's in this vicinity, it is found that the press was clamoring at that early date for some means of organized fire fighting in the city.
Following the old established bucket brigade came the horse cart drawn by either hand or horse, whichever was more convenient at the time. Pana at first had 2 hose carts carrying 750 feet of hose. On these carts also were chemical tanks which worked on the same principal as many fire extinguishers still in use. The chemical tank contained 4 barrels of soda water in which was suspended a container of sulphuric acid. Upon overturning, the acid and water mixed to form the pressure necessary to play the mixture on a blaze.
During hose cart days, races featuring fire departments from various cities were the rage. According to old timers in this vicinity, the Pana Department was known far and wide for its speed. (It still is.)
George Searles, semi-retired plumber, has the record for holding the position of Fire Chief longest-35 years. He became a member of the department at the age of 19 and was appointed Chief at the age of 21 under Mayor A.B. Corman. Searles is now 78 and still an active member of the force.
Reminiscing, Searles mentioned the occasion of the department's trip to march in a parade at the World's Fair in St. Louis. Dressed in their full regalia, the local fire "laddies" made the march and proceeded to the railroad station to await transportation home. Throughout the day, says Searles, people had been mistaking members of the department for policemen. But the height of this mistaken identity came when a woman with a small child walked up and presented Bill Maisch, who was standing at ease in the station, with a child, saying something to the effect that the child was lost and would Maisch take care of the matter.
After finding horsepower more efficient than manpower for drawing the hose carts, the City purchased 2 animals for that task. When not engaged in their primary job, the horses were used in maintenance of the business district streets.
The horses were housed in a small brick stable behind the fire house. Harness of a slip-on type was situated so that the horses could be moved into place underneath and the harness dropped on and fastened in a minimum time. In the old days, the first 2 members arriving at the fire station and driving the carts received $1 extra. This practice still holds true today as to driving the trucks.
Many remember the old City Hall. The Fire Department quarters were located upstairs and had the much publicized sliding pole.
In describing one of the major blazes in this city, it was said that at one time 5 buildings in the uptown business section burned. That was about 40 years ago. The structures were on the east side of Locust Street beginning with what is now Art's Clothes Shop, working north and east. They were Habecost Bakery (now Sinnard's), Alexander's Butcher Shop now Schloz Market), Werner Grocery, a restaurant, and the Reher Jewelry store (Smith & Magill Law Office.
In 1917, the City purchased a Seagrave pumper for $5,680. In 1927, a Studebaker ladder truck was purchased. The vehicle carried 400 feet of hose, two Scott air packs for gas masks, one 1000-watt floodlight, one combination resuscitator-inhalator-respirator and one pump mounted on the front of the truck capable of pumping 350 gallons of water per minute. Both these trucks have been retired.
At present the company's equipment consists of a 1953 Seagrave combination pumper 2-ladder truck capable of pumping 900 gallons per minute and a 1941 Seagrave capable of pumping 500 gallons per minute.
The present fire siren sitting atop the firehouse, adjacent to City Hall, is powered by a 7-1/2 horsepower motor and has a range of 3 to 4 miles.
In case of emergencies the department is also equipped with a resuscitator, oxygen tanks, "Mac West" life preservers (used by members seeking bodies after drownings) and grappling hooks.
At one time Dan Murray of the department used a home-made diving set in the search for persons who had drowned. This practice has been done away with and now only grappling hooks are used.
Turning in the alarm of a fire in the city is quite simple with the Gamewell system used by the fire department. The system consists of a central firehouse indicator, 22 alarm boxes besides alarm bells in firemen's houses and a siren atop the City Hall.
When an alarm is sounded a circuit in the firehouse in the City Hall is broken stopping the clock. At the same time the number of the box from which the alarm is called is punched on a paper tape. Bells in each fireman's house are tripped and ring. There are 11 miles of one-strand wire in the box system.
Since many residents have telephones, most of the fire reports are called into the telephone office, where the alarms are set off.
Present members of the Pana Fire department are: Arthur Ullrick, fire chief: Ralph Cothern, assistant chief: Ben Oakley, captain; William Shafer, engine director; Dave Rowley, assistant engine director; Dan Murray, secretary; L.M. Doyle, treasurer; Leonard Klein, William Metzger, Cecil Spannagel, directors; George Searles, Charles Flesch, Harry Vaughn, and Lyle Koontz, members.
The department is composed of 15 volunteer members on call around the clock, whether it be to remove a pet cat from a rooftop or to stop a roaring inferno.
 | George Searles, retired Pana plumber, who holds the record for serving in the position of Fire Chief the longest, 35 years |
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