Fifty years of Fireman’s Picnic

Elizabeth Bailey

June 20, 2008 05:59 pm

— As the volunteer force of Millhousen’s Volunteer Fire Department gear up for this year’s Fireman’s Picnic, they hope for clear skies and large crowds.
“It usually rains,” laughed chief Jim Kuntz
With more than 150 raffle prizes lined up, along with a wide variety of foods and activities as well as a visit from reps from the Federal Emergency Managment Agency (FEMA), Kuntz is expecting a good year for the event, which has been taking place for as long as he can remember.
Millhousen has had a firefighting force since 1953 and a picnic going back at least 50 years. This year’s attendees can anticipate fried chicken, chili, hamburgers, pies and drinks as well as a beer garden and a live band.
The men’s raffle offers a first prize of $300, a second prize of $200 and three $100 prizes. It also offers six oil changes, 10 or 12 $50 and $100 savings bonds and free dinners at local restaurants.
The women’s raffle offers a variety of cash prizes and a chance to win a homemade quilt.
Once bellies are full, there is the chance to settle down for a game of bingo or to sit in the beer garden or out on the lawn to listen to the band.
Kuntz said this year will also feature a dunk tank. While some years pose a challenge in finding people willing to take their chances on the platform, other times, people volunteer for the task, he noted.
The other special aspect of this year’s event is the attendance of FEMA representatives. Kuntz said they requested a booth to get in touch with area residents who have questions about FEMA assistance grants in the wake of recent flooding.
Kuntz feels the department’s area was fortunate during the recent storms, as his department was not called out into the fray. Still, he knows families north of the town are struggling with damaged homes and property.
About 60 percent of calls to the volunteer department are medical runs, Kuntz said. He remembers firefighters helping to deliver a baby in the middle of the night, rescuing people whose tractors overturned and treating heart attack victims until they could be transported to the hospital. Whether the residents of their territory need CPR or for flames to be doused, the department is ready to answer the call.
The funds for the department from the Marion Township Trustee are only enough to pay for the insurance required. All other operations and equipment must be funded by donations or grants, meaning that every person’s dues make a difference, Kuntz said.
With 18 firemen on the force, the department has gotten a HUD grant for their new station and a FEMA grant for new turnout gear. The funds raised during the picnic help to fill in the gaps.
“Expenses add up in a hurry,” Kuntz noted.
Those wishing to take part in the festivities can head to the fire station in Millhousen starting at 4:30 p.m. today.