Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Friends and Neighbors: Kimball Volunteer Fire Department

In cities across the nation there are elite groups of men and women who train to protect life and property in one of the scariest and most devastating of circumstances, fire.

Often times these people are paid for their service, but in some cases, they are volunteers – not responding for pay, and certainly not for glory, but for the sake of friends and neighbors.

Locally, the volunteer fire department is one of the largest and longest running community service organizations in Kimball.

The Kimball Volunteer Fire Department not only responds to emergencies in Kimball, but throughout the county and beyond to protect homes, vehicles, farm and ranch land, and most importantly the lives of those we hold dear.

Many of them have seen loss most of us pray to never witness, but they continue training and responding and ask for little in return.

In addition to this selfless act, these volunteers participate in several local events and raise funds to better our community, either as a team or individually.

They prepare for and control the annual fireworks display then clean up afterwards. They open their building up for the annual Farmer's Day Fun Run and for quarterly emergency management meetings and training.

Following the KVFD open house, held on Wednesday, Oct. 5, the local volunteers will spend the week of Oct. 10 through Oct. 14 educating Kimball's youth about fire prevention and what to do if the unthinkable occurs.

Western Nebraska Observer joins the community of Kimball and surrounding communities in thanking these volunteers.

Active firemen: David Autry, Jordan Autry, Kraig Baker, Cameron Bird, Andrew Bohac, Taylor Brown, Shawn Castagna, Tim Culek, Tyson Culek, Adam Deal, Dale Dietz, Bill Gawith, Casey Hottell, David Hottell, Austin Janicek, Dan Laughlin, Darin Lukassen, Matt Merryfield, Spencer Morgan, Robert Nagel, Mark Nelson, Marv Nelson, Rodney Rasgorshek, Dan Schildhauer, Larry Stahla, Jeff Turner, Aaron Uglow, Steve Watson, Zach Watson, Mark Whetham and Rick Wynne.

Honorary Firemen: Dennis Adels, Kerry Bohac, Don Buddecke, Jim Childress, Jim Christiansen, Shawn Culek, Steve Diemoz, John Finnell, Vince Heeg, John Heidemann, Stan Hillius, Jim Jackson, Robert Kellner, Leo Koester, Loren Kramer, Mark Labate, Jack Lockwood, Ed Maginnis, George McDonald, Art McEntee, Marie McEntee, Dale Moore, Jim O'Brien, Rick Olsen, John Ott, Bill Peterson, Dave Rutledge, Ron Spicer, Steve Stahla, Larry Sterling, Don Story, Bryan Thacker, John Thacker, Jr., John Thacker Sr., Russell Thompson, Roger Uglow, Ben Wiese and Robert Yarnell.

 
 
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