![]() It had one pre-connected 2½" and one 1½" hose line, and a pre-connected deluge gun. In 1968 township purchased a Barton American 1000 g.p.m. The department became more proactive by moving towards a more professional approach to fire operations. While he was Chief, the department's weekly meetings were changed to training sessions, tanker drills were run, and training burns were initiated using unwanted structures. In 1967, due to his health Chief Thompson retired and James H. Kay was hired as the first full time Assistant Fire Chief there had been nine part time Assistant Chiefs before him. This prompted the township to buy a new 1959 fire truck as a replacement. The crash only resulted in one injury, although the truck was not repairable. The truck smashed into the rear of the fire truck, pushing it into a Washtenaw County Sheriff's car, injuring Deputy Ewald seriously. Due to the weather conditions, the driver of an eastbound truck did not see the emergency equipment in the road. ![]() When the truck was six months old, while on a call to a car fire on east bound I-94, Chief Thompson parked the truck next to the car in the right hand lane of traffic. A second truck was purchased in 1958 and it was a high-pressure John Bean and like the 1948 it carried 800 gallons of water, but it had a high-pressure pump. The same year Norm Thompson was hired as custodian, and the Fire Chief's responsibilities were given to him even though he did not have any fire training or knowledge of fire services since none were required. ![]() The Township officials wanted Harold Losey to continue as Fire Chief, but part of the Chief's duties at the time required him to maintain the building, since he could not meet the added demands, he retired as Chief. In 1954, a new fire station was built which also housed the Township offices. Harold was also the department's first Fire Chief from 1948 to 1954. At that time, the department consisted of 18 firefighters and a 1948 Barton American 500 gallons per minute (g.p.m.) fire truck that carried 800 gallons of water and cost $13,000. The Pittsfield Township fire department was established in 1948. The History of Pittsfield Township Fire Department ![]()
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