Clinton Vol. Fire dedicates new fire station

CLINTON TWP. - Sunday afternoon Clinton Twp. Volunteer Fire Department hosted an open house at its newly renovated fire station 1, 837 N. SR 101. Clinton Twp. Volunteer Fire Chief Chris Hafley began the ceremony by discussing the history of the department, which was founded in 1963. "60 years later, we are dedicating fire station 1," Hafley said. "It is a modern station and double the size of the original one. It helps meet our needs." He thanked everyone who showed up to the event for showing their support to the township and the department. "Fires today are much hotter and more deadly," he explained of the changes in fire fighting since the 1960s. "Houses today burn much faster." Hafley said the department consists of 22 volunteer firefighters who volunteer their time to help protect the community. Of those 22 firefighters, 6 have their firefighter 2 certification and 8 have their firefighter 1 certification. Station 1 purchased training, tables, chairs, a smart TV and office furniture with $10,000 it received as a grant from Tiffin Community Foundation. It now has a smartboard, projector and 2 desktop computers that were purchased with $5,000 provided to the department by North Central Electric. "I want to thank those on the building committee who endured the months of 7 a.m. meetings to get this much needed project up and running," Hafley said before also thanking the contractors. Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart also attended the ceremony where he read a proclamation honoring Clinton Volunteer Fire Department on behalf of the Seneca County Commissioners. "The Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department has displayed an unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the community it serves," read the proclamation in part. "The Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department has completed the construction of a new fire station at 837 North State Route 101, Tiffin. The dedication of this new fire station stands as a testament to the tireless efforts, dedication and sacrifices of the members of the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department." Following the reading of the proclamation, members of the department carried out the uncoupling ceremony to honor the opening of the new station. After this, the department started off a new tradition of a badge pinning ceremony in which loved ones of each member of the department pinned their badges to their chests and together they cited an oath. Both firefighters and officers participated in this ceremony. The badge pinning was followed by the pushing in of the apparatus, or fire truck. Hafley explained pushing in was done in the 1800s due to the need to manually push equipment into the station as animals could not. Since this is no longer needed, pushing in has become a ceremony for the opening of a new fire station. Both children and members of the department participated in the pushing in of Clinton Volunteer Fire Department's Engine 31. The event also featured cupcakes, ice cream, drinks and door prizes.