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The Department continued to provide protection to the village and surrounding area. Occasionally interest would die in the Fire Department. Then there would be a major fire, and interest would be rejuvenated.
On November 2, 1967, the Village of Athens purchased through Emergency Measurers Organization (E.M.O.) in Toronto a 1953 Chev pumper, a six cylinder, four-speed, five man cab with a 300 gallon tank. This truck came complete with a supply of firefighter’s canvas coats, which updated some turnout gear as well. This meant that the 1936 had to be "turned out to pasture" so to speak. There was only room for one truck in the Town Hall fire station, so the 1936 was drained of water, and stored at Hartley's garage. It is interesting that Cliff Hartley and Bob Laying went to pick up the 1936 when it was new, and now when it was old, it was to be stored at Hartley's.
It has often been said that behind every successful man is a good woman. In March of 1969, many wives of the firefighters organized an Auxiliary to the Firefighters, a group of Village and area ladies committed to fund raising for fire equipment. With their assistance many necessary items were purchased to aid in the firefighting cause.
Supply of water to fire fighting equipment is always important. To provide an additional source to supplement the Village's underground water cisterns, Athens Council purchased in November 1970, a retired gas truck and tank to serve the fire coverage area as a water tanker truck. In the plans at that time, was the building of a new Fire Station, and the official opening was held November 29, 1970. The 1936 was to return to the flock, to be stored with the other pieces of fire fighting equipment.
The new fire hall was designed by the Athens District High School Industrial Arts teacher, Mr. John Conley. The new building had ample truck area, as well as central heating, a meeting room area, a Chief's office, kitchen area, washrooms and a shower. A 50 foot length of hose could be stretched out on the floor to dry, in the truck area. Imagine all that room!
The truck area of the new fire hall, had storage area for four trucks, and thanks to the Athens Lions Club, a new 1974 four wheel drive CMC van was donated to the Village of Athens Fire Department, for its use as an equipment and Emergency vehicle.
In May of 1976, Athens Fire Department went "on the air" with the purchase of radio equipment, consisting of a base station in the Fire Hall, and two mobile units, one in the van, and one in the tanker. The pumper was 6 volt, and the decision not to put a radio in the pumper was made, at that time, although a portable hand held radio was later purchased to use at the pumper.
Through the efforts of various fund raising events and the assistance of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Firefighters, the Firemen raised $7000.00 towards the cost of a new fire truck, and on June 14, 1977, the Village and Fire Department took delivery of a new Ford pumper, from King Seagrave. This time instead of a red truck, it was purchased in the new "fire services YELLOW". The truck has a 600 gallon tank, with a 625 C.P.M. pump, a fine piece of fire fighting equipment.
The equipment list in 1986, consisted of the 1977 Ford pumper, the 1971 CMC 1800 gallon tanker, the 1974 CMC van, the 1953 Chev pumper and the parade vehicle our retired 1936 Ford pumper.
The Department roster in 1986 consisted of 27 firefighters, made up of the then Chief Bob Kerr, Deputy Chief Kees Tiekstra and Captain Kevin Sosnowski, Lieutenants Dave Blanchard, Henry Smid and John Brown, Training officer Harold Moulton and twenty fire fighters. The Volunteers were not paid. The remuneration given to the department each year has been used in the purchase of equipment.
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