Rootstown
Ohio
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Rootstown Township Fire Department
History
A special meeting of the Rootstown Township Trustees, Mervin Smith, Harold Dundon, and Ernest Royer, together with about 35 citizens was held on January 21, 1938 to consider organizing a volunteer fire department. About 28 residents of Rootstown Township volunteered to support and organize the Rootstown Fire Department. During 1938, many of the volunteers started to organize the framework, known as the Rootstown Fire Company. On October 20, 1938 the Rootstown Volunteer Fire Company incorporated with the Ohio Secretary of State's Office as a corporation not for profit.
The original fire station was located under the town hall on State Route 44 behind the First Congregational Church of Rootstown. This station housed a 1938 Dodge Pumper, a 1000-gallon Ford tanker and an ambulance that was stored in a buggy shed that contract with Rootstown Township for Fire and Emergency protection.
As the Rootstown Fire Company continued to meet the needs of our community, a new fire station was needed to house the larger, heavier fire trucks. On July 26, 1954 a « acre lot was purchased from the John Kaiser family on Tallmadge Road to build the new station. With over 3,228 hours of donated man-hours and at a cost of $4505.28 the new fire station was built. The Rootstown Fire Company hosted the Portage County Firefighters Association January, 1954 meeting in the new fire station. The station was fully operational by January 23, 1956. The station has had numerous additions making it a 5100 sq. ft. facility that is used today.
From 1938 until 1997 the Rootstown Fire Company proudly responded to calls with volunteer firefighters and EMT's. In 1996 the residents of Rootstown Township approved a 2.85 mill fire levy to hire full-time members to meet the needs of our delivery system. This levy pays the salaries of our four full-time firemedics and the part-time firefighters used to staff the station. The members of the Rootstown Fire Company that respond from their homes to the call receive no compensation for their commitment to our community. The fire station is staffed with two firemedics, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These members must be at least a Basic EMT and have advanced fire training.
This fire company is unique in that its members volunteer their time and energy for the community. The apparatus and equipment are purchased from tax levies that support the fire department. Until 2000, the Rootstown Fire Company owned the building, which housed our apparatus and equipment. In 2000 the members of the fire company voted to donate the building to Rootstown Township to assist with building a new fire station. This was a cooperative agreement between the Rootstown Fire Company and Township Trustees. An executive committee that is comprised of President Jack Duffy, Vice President Justin Meonske, Secretary Susan Moser and Treasurer Greg Pastor manages the current Rootstown Fire Company. The members of the Rootstown Fire Company that are in good standing elect these officers annually.
During the early years of the Rootstown Fire Company ambulance service was provided by local funeral homes and the fire company responded to those calls to supply oxygen until the funeral home arrived. During 1976 the State of Ohio introduced House Bill 832, which regulated individuals involved in ambulance transportation. This law affected all of the fire departments in Portage County who relied on EMS units to have a state certification from EMT training. During this time the fire company began training its staff to meet the requirements of HB 832. To assist the fire company with transportation the Morgan Funeral Home in Ravenna donated a 1968 Oldsmobile ambulance to the fire company. On April 20, 1978 the fire company responded to the first EMS call under the new system.
Today the Rootstown Fire Department has 14 paramedics and 12 EMT's to respond when needed with two EMS units. The paramedics transport to Robinson Memorial Hospital as well as any Akron hospital when requested by the patient. There is no cost for the delivery system of EMS to the residents of Rootstown Township.
A special meeting of the Rootstown Township Trustees, Mervin Smith, Harold Dundon, and Ernest Royer, together with about 35 citizens was held on January 21, 1938 to consider organizing a volunteer fire department. About 28 residents of Rootstown Township volunteered to support and organize the Rootstown Fire Department. During 1938, many of the volunteers started to organize the framework, known as the Rootstown Fire Company. On October 20, 1938 the Rootstown Volunteer Fire Company incorporated with the Ohio Secretary of State's Office as a corporation not for profit.
The original fire station was located under the town hall on State Route 44 behind the First Congregational Church of Rootstown. This station housed a 1938 Dodge Pumper, a 1000-gallon Ford tanker and an ambulance that was stored in a buggy shed that contract with Rootstown Township for Fire and Emergency protection.
As the Rootstown Fire Company continued to meet the needs of our community, a new fire station was needed to house the larger, heavier fire trucks. On July 26, 1954 a « acre lot was purchased from the John Kaiser family on Tallmadge Road to build the new station. With over 3,228 hours of donated man-hours and at a cost of $4505.28 the new fire station was built. The Rootstown Fire Company hosted the Portage County Firefighters Association January, 1954 meeting in the new fire station. The station was fully operational by January 23, 1956. The station has had numerous additions making it a 5100 sq. ft. facility that is used today.
From 1938 until 1997 the Rootstown Fire Company proudly responded to calls with volunteer firefighters and EMT's. In 1996 the residents of Rootstown Township approved a 2.85 mill fire levy to hire full-time members to meet the needs of our delivery system. This levy pays the salaries of our four full-time firemedics and the part-time firefighters used to staff the station. The members of the Rootstown Fire Company that respond from their homes to the call receive no compensation for their commitment to our community. The fire station is staffed with two firemedics, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These members must be at least a Basic EMT and have advanced fire training.
This fire company is unique in that its members volunteer their time and energy for the community. The apparatus and equipment are purchased from tax levies that support the fire department. Until 2000, the Rootstown Fire Company owned the building, which housed our apparatus and equipment. In 2000 the members of the fire company voted to donate the building to Rootstown Township to assist with building a new fire station. This was a cooperative agreement between the Rootstown Fire Company and Township Trustees. An executive committee that is comprised of President Jack Duffy, Vice President Justin Meonske, Secretary Susan Moser and Treasurer Greg Pastor manages the current Rootstown Fire Company. The members of the Rootstown Fire Company that are in good standing elect these officers annually.
During the early years of the Rootstown Fire Company ambulance service was provided by local funeral homes and the fire company responded to those calls to supply oxygen until the funeral home arrived. During 1976 the State of Ohio introduced House Bill 832, which regulated individuals involved in ambulance transportation. This law affected all of the fire departments in Portage County who relied on EMS units to have a state certification from EMT training. During this time the fire company began training its staff to meet the requirements of HB 832. To assist the fire company with transportation the Morgan Funeral Home in Ravenna donated a 1968 Oldsmobile ambulance to the fire company. On April 20, 1978 the fire company responded to the first EMS call under the new system.
Today the Rootstown Fire Department has 14 paramedics and 12 EMT's to respond when needed with two EMS units. The paramedics transport to Robinson Memorial Hospital as well as any Akron hospital when requested by the patient. There is no cost for the delivery system of EMS to the residents of Rootstown Township.