Times Change, But Some Things Stay The Same

January, 1929:  Fire was no stranger to the community, but an early morning fire in the Ward Meeting House was the last straw.   It was time to get serious about fire protection, in Newton, UT.

My father's sister recalls a knock at the door in the early morning hours, as her dad was summoned to join the others battling the flames.  She bundled in a blanket and sat at the big picture window in the front room of their home, with a clear view of the scene.

The meeting house was destroyed by the blaze.  It was devastating to the small community - the loss of a building so intertwined with the lives of the citizens, a building that would take many years to replace.

Out of the ashes, the desire to do something more was rekindled.  Faced with the recent loss, and prompted by one of the members of the community, the Town Council approved the purchase of a small hose cart with a few hundred feet of hose.  Also approved was the purchase and installation of fire hydrants on the Town’s water system and a siren to help notify the community in event of a fire.

Now that equipment was available, it was necessary to organize the citizens.  Carl Jorgensen had been key in the discussions about fire protection in Newton, and he was given permission to select a few of the townsfolk and to form a “Fire Squad”.

Using the hose cart and the hydrants, when the call of a fire was sounded the Fire Squad would respond and begin firefighting operations while the motorized fire engine of the Logan/Cache Fire Department was making the long trip to Newton.

In 1940 the Town purchased a wagon to hold additional hose, a wooden ground ladder and other firefighting tools.   Along with the new equipment, the designation was changed from “Fire Squad” to the Newton Volunteer Fire Department.

Article001

Newton's Hose Wagon, restored and ready for the 2008 Town Celebration Parade.  Photo: Ray & Julie Wickham.

When a call would come, Chief Jorgensen or another firefighter would respond to the fire by means of motorized vehicle with the wagon in tow, and the department would work to control the fire in advance of the Logan/Cache engine arriving from Logan.  Afterwards, it was common to see Carl and his wife in their yard cleaning and reloading the hose onto the wagon.

In the early 1960’s Newton received a motorized fire engine from Cache County, to aid in fire suppression efforts.  To house the engine, an old railroad building was purchased and was moved from Cache Junction into Newton.   This became the official fire station for Newton and the building is still standing but is now privately owned.

Article002

Newton Fire Department photo, app 1963.  L-R: Chief Jorgensen, Max Christiansen, Rod Fabricius, Vaughn Rigby, Claude Peterson, Garth Benson, Norris Anderson, Darrell Goodsell.  Photo: AC Greg Jorgensen

The Cache County Fire District was formed in 1965, and Newton’s zone for fire protection grew to include Cache Junction and the other un-incorporated areas around the town.  Chief Jorgensen retired from the department during this time of change.  Carl had served the Town as head of department for 36 years, he was 83 years old.

Darrell Goodsell became the Fire Chief after Carl’s retirement.  Chief Goodsell served for many years as a firefighter for Newton, as well as holding a career position with Thiokol Fire Department, where he would retire as a Crew Chief.

Article003

Newton Fire Department, 1974.  L-R: Jerry Jenkins, Reed Jenkins, Chief Goodsell, Norval Jones, Rod Fabricius, Norris Anderson.  Photo:  CCFD Chief (ret) Lyman Hansen

During Darrell’s tenure, the station moved from the railroad building on Main Street, to the school house converted to a Town Hall.  Additional vehicles would be stationed in Newton – water tenders and a brush truck – to further the ability to fight the variety of fires the department would respond to.  During this time radio activated pager technology came to Cache County, and a new fire engine to Newton in 1985.

Article004

Newton Fire Department Apparatus, 1986.  Photo: CCFD Chief (ret) Lyman Hansen

Chief Goodsell had retired before I joined the department, but I remember a few fires where he was on hand to help where needed.  It was a sad occasion but also an honor for our department to be part of his funeral services after his passing earlier this year.

Reed Jenkins was selected as Chief after Darrell retired, and is our current Fire Chief.  I joined the department in 1991; a tender had just been built by members of the department, to replace an aging, older truck.  A few years later we would place in service another custom built tender; upgrade our brush truck; and add other equipment as needed.  Just this year we received another new structure engine from the Fire District, to better protect the Town and area around Newton.

Article005

Newton Fire Department, 2002.

Article006

Newton's 2008 Kenworth/Pierce Contender Pumper.

In a few months, it will be the 80th anniversary of the fire in Newton’s Meeting Hall that resulted in the creation of the fire squad.  In April of 2009 we will mark our 69th year as a volunteer fire department.  Many things have changed as to the vehicles we use and how fires are fought, but constant is the dedication of those who have and do serve.

Over the years many have served as firefighter in Newton.  Attending station training, attending classes offered by the county, responding to fires.  Their service is appreciated.  It’s a brotherhood of concern for the community that is common in the fire service. I am grateful for the example of those who serve now and those who served before.