Blades Fire Company - Sussex County, Delaware

Ronald Fensick was elected Fire Chief for the year 2005-2006 along with Paula Moore as Ambulance Captain. A bid for the used ambulance was received and accepted from the Allen Fire Company in Allen, Maryland for $25,000.00. Past Mayor BJ Hardin was made an Honorary Member of the Company. New awnings were purchased for over top of the doors, they will have the company logo on them. Paula Moore resigned as Ambulance Captain, Chad Passwaters was elected to fill the remaining term. A letter of support was sent to the Sussex County Firemen’s Association for Donald Trice to become a director. The Company received a letter of “Thanks” from the Seaford Fire Department for the use of our ambulance while both of theirs were out of service.

Election time has Martin Evans being elected the next President for the year 2006-2007 term of office. On March 11, 2006 Brush Truck 71-1 was dedicated to the memory of Arlan Neill. It was reported that the old Engine #5 had been vandalized that was in the storage building. Plans are in the works for replacing the tractor trailer tanker. The Fire Company is looking at a parcel in Town for the possibility of building a new Fire Station.

Dusty Hamilton received the Heroic Fireman of the Year from the Delaware Volunteer Fire Chiefs Association.

The election for line officer for the years 2007-2008 has Randy Walls being elected as Fire Chief and Lisa Fensick being elected Ambulance Captain. At the February meeting is was voted on to purchase a 2007 Pierce Velocity Tanker at a cost of $550.000.00. The Building and Ground’s committee have been getting plans together to build a new fire station or to refurbish the existing one. Motion was made to purchase a 2008 PL Custom ambulance on a Chevrolet chassis. At the December meeting voting was completed for the incoming Administrative Officers with Ronald Fensick being elected as the incoming President for the 2008-2009 term of office.

As the members of the Blades Volunteer Fire Company come together to celebrate our 75th Anniversary we would like to say “Thanks” to all the men and women that have served this Fire Company during this time. A Special Thanks to our families that have supported us while we were at a fire or ambulance call or doing training. Thanks to the many different Fire Company’s and Departments and their members that came to assist when called. To the memory of those members of the fire Company that brought us to where we are today. I hope that this booklet will give you a brief history of what has happened in the past seventy five years. I would like to thank those that have helped research the minute books for the information that is provided.