History of The Eolia Community Fire Department
On February 5, 1964, approximately 40 residents from the Whiteside, Oak Grove, and Eolia areas gathered at 7:30 p.m. in the Magee-Troutner Building to determine whether there was sufficient interest in establishing a volunteer fire department to serve their communities.
Following strong community support, a second meeting was held on February 17, 1964, for the purpose of formally organizing the department. At that meeting, the organization was established as the Eolia Community Fire Department, Inc.
The departments incorporators and first board of directors include:
Roy Harrelson-President
Max Teauge- Vice President
Alvin Welch-Fire Chief
John R. McCue
Edward Teague
Vincent Lovell
Charles E. Mendonsa- Secretary/Treasurer
First Apparatus & Station
The department's first apparatus was a 1937 Chevrolet open-cab fire truck equipped with a Darley bed and pump. The truck was purchased from the Clarksville, Missouri, Fire Department and faithfully served the community during the department's early years. It was later sold to a collector in Louisiana, Missouri, and in 1985 was purchased by an individual in Minerva, Ohio, where it remains today (as of 2025).
In the spring of 1964, the Board of Directors worked alongside the Eolia Planned Progress Group to construct the Eolia Community Building and Firehouse. The project reflected the strong community spirit and cooperation that helped establish the department. The first meeting of the Board of Directors held in the new building took place in December 1964.
New Fire Station
In 1985 it was determined there was a need for a bigger fire station in the town. The department purchased property on south main street and the Pike Lincoln Technical Center Building trades class built a two bay fire station. At that time the department had a fleet consisting of:
Chevy pumper with a Towers body
Homemade international tanker
Military surplus jeep brush truck
In the early 1990's the two bay fire station was remodeled and a third middle bay door was added.
Fire Protection District
In 2000 the Eolia Community Fire Protection District was formed without a tax levy. Due to not having a tax levy the Eolia Community Fire Department, Inc. continues operations (to this day, 2025) collecting fires dues and providing fire protection and the elected district board of directors were automatically appointed to oversee all business of both the corporation and the fire district.
The fire chief at the time was Mike Capps.
The first elected board of directors include:
Ralph Reuther- President
Robert (Bob) Wright-Vice President
Larry Evans
Robert (Bob) Street
Cecil Hupper
Kathy Reuther- Secretary/Treasurer
Second Fire Station
In 2005 the departments second station was erected to better serve the community of Whiteside. The 3 bay fire station was built by the department on property donated by the Crouse Family specifically for building the building that still serves as Station 2 today (2025)
Outgrowing the Eolia Station
In 2008 and it was determined that the small 3 bay station that had served as the districts headquarters and primary station on south main street in Eolia was getting too small for the growing department. The need for more room for apparatus, training, and personnel began the project of building the new 5 bay firehouse that we are in today (2025.) The fire house was constructed next to the current station one in Eolia. The station was built by the firefighters themselves with help again from the Pike Lincoln Tech school-building trades class. The station was officially opened in fall of 2009. At the time the departments fleet consisted of:
1980's GMC Fire chiefs/First responder truck
1980's M1008 Brush Truck
1991 Ford Towers Pumper
1978 Kaiser Tanker
Homemade International rescue truck
FMC Pumper
Seagrave Pumper