News : Almost an average year: Fire Department responded to 75 incidents in 2010

2010 VFD annual report: Kerry plant fire on M Avenue caused most damage in 2010.

Firemen cook the fish behind the fire station Saturday evening

The timing was coincidental, but the presentation of the Vinton Fire Department's annual report to the Vinton City Council on Thursday and the VFD fish fry on Saturday both demonstrated the same fact: The department relies on the community to help provide the resources to protect Vinton from the damage and danger of fire.

"Our members are very proud of the Vinton Fire Department and on behalf of them, I would like to thank you, the City Council, the Rural Advisory Board and the citizens of the Vinton fire district for the support given to us this past year," wrote Fire Chief Gary McKenna in the letter addressed to Mayor John Watson that accompanied the annual report.

In 2010, the department responded to 75 calls, including four fires that caused major damage. The most damage in a single incident occurred in March at the Kerry plant at 105 North M Avenue, where an electrical fire in one of the grain dryers caused an estimated $150,000 in damage. Two house fires and a rural barn fire also caused significant losses in 2010.

The 2010 numbers: 75 incidents, $285,000 in total damage are close to the 10-year average of 82 calls and $278,000 in damage.

Here is the summary of the first decade of the millennium:

2001: 72 calls, $58,025 in losses

2002: 88 calls, $149,500 in losses

2003: 107 calls, $171,775 in losses

2004: 86 calls, $322,125 in losses

2005: 82 calls, $697,525 in losses (mostly at the Vinton Legion Hall)

2006: 75 calls, $281,200 in losses

2007: 81 calls, $225,000 in losses

2008: 72 calls, $192,000 in losses

2009: 83 calls, $397,000 in losses

2010: 75 calls, $285,000 in losses

The Firefighters

There are 22 active firefighters in the volunteer department and three reserve members.

The members and their first year of service are:

Scott Geissinger, 1984

Dan Albert (Asst. Chief) 1984

Mike Barron, 1985 (he has been treasurer since 1989)

Russ Hupfeld, 1987

Kipp Schoettmer (Safety Officer) 1988

Dennis Bramow, 1990

Gary McKenna (Chief), 1991

Verlyn Bartling, 1992

Charlie Garwood (Fire Marshal) , 1994

Josh McGowan (Training Officer), 1996

Mikel-Jon Elwick, 1996

Jerry Dedrick, 1997

Dan McKenna (Secretary), 1998

Jason Laton, 1999

Rick Lazenby, 2000

Cris Staab, 2000

Jeff Kenney, 2000

Luke Henkle, 2002

Rick Wood, 2003

Luke Garwood, 2003

Craig Walker, 2006

Brett Stein, 2007

Kevin Haefner (retired in 2010)

Reserve members:

Dave Boisen, 2007

Josh Geiger, 2007

Rob Mendieta, 2010

The fleet

The Vinton Fire Department has seven vehicles (not counting the 1873 hand pumper used for parades and other ceremonies). The newest addition is the aerial ladder truck. Along with the Jeep used for grass fires, the department also has four pump trucks and the rescue truck used to carry equipment.