Capitol Words a project of the Sunlight Foundation

Rep. Brian Higgins

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to recognize The Town of Collins Fire Department on the occasion of their 120th anniversary.

On September 29, 1892, the Town of Collins residents took the initiative to fill a community need and formed their own fire department made up of 26 men led by H.F. Clark. These men operated with minimal equipment, comprising of one hand drawn pumper. The Collins Center Volunteers didn't have a fire house or regular meetings at the time and stored their pumper in the barn of D.W. Wood. But in 1902, the barn burned and the men acted by converting the former wagon shop of John Auwerter into a fire hall and town jail and thus, the Collins Center Volunteers finally had a home. The members hosted several meetings and the fire company became much like a social club for the men in town.

In 1922 the Collins Center Volunteers purchased their first horse-drawn gasoline engine for $750.00 which helped them cover the extensive area. But even with new equipment, it was decided that the area was too great a challenge to cover for these men. So on April 21, 1925, the Collins Fire Company was formed, and they drastically reduced their coverage area while increasing fire protection.

The transformation of the Fire Department continued as the Collins and Collins Center Fire Companies merged to become the Town of Collins Fire District along with the merge the Board of Fire Commissioners was created. The Fire Department would hold annual fundraisers to increase their budget and build their Department.

Today, the firefighters train in numerous areas including firefighting pump operation, water supply, forestry fire, incident command, auto extrication, and search and rescue operations. The Fire Department has truly evolved over the years, and it could not have happened without the strong backing of such a vibrant, hard working community.

It is with great pleasure that I stand today to honor the Town of Collins Fire Department on their 120th anniversary of serving and protecting the community. The Collins Center Volunteer Fire Company has consistently answered the call to service, whether as volunteers or as active reservists. It is my privilege to join with this fine organization on the evening of Saturday, January 21, 2012 and recognize the unwavering service of the Town of Collins Fire Company.