Coshocton Fire Fighters IAFF Local 216

09/15/2026

C-Shift, Captain Young, FF Kempf, FF Limburg, and FF Patterson, completed ladder checks yesterday. On Mondays, crews complete a thorough check of our ladder trucks. This includes extending and rotating, checking for proper grease and movement, checking seals in the waterway, nozzles and pumps, and all equipment on the truck. Crews check trucks every morning, but Mondays we go over every inch of the ladders to ensure they are working properly.

09/15/2026

What a beautiful day above the City of Coshocton as seen from the top of Ladder 301! L301 stretches to 100 feet! This apparatus is crucial to members of Local 216 and the community during commercial fires, large residential structures, rooftop rescues and a multitude of other calls we may be summoned for. Fun fact about L301, it has rear steering capabilities. The rear axels turn 15 degrees in the opposite direction of the front wheels to give it the maneuverability needed to access the majority of our city streets!

09/13/2026

Thanks to the Steer family who made cookies for the duty crew!

09/12/2026

🚒 TRAINING TODAY. SAFER TOMORROW. 🚒
You may have noticed our ladder trucks, Ladder 301 and Ladder 302, set up on South 7th Street next to Hale Station recently. What you may not have seen is the valuable training taking place.
Acquired structures provide our firefighters with an invaluable opportunity to train in a real-world environment. These buildings allow us to practice the skills and tactics we use on emergency scenes, including:
🔹 Water flow and hose line advancement
🔹 Forcible entry
🔹 Ventilation
🔹 Search and rescue
🔹 Ladder operations
🔹 Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) operations
🔹 Working from and around aerial apparatus
There is simply no substitute for hands-on training in an actual structure. It allows our members to work together, identify challenges, sharpen their skills, and build the confidence needed when the call is real.
At Coshocton Fire Fighters IAFF Local 216, we take training seriously. Our goal is to continually improve our skills and readiness so that when the citizens of the City of Coshocton and surrounding communities need us most, we are prepared to provide the highest level of service possible.
Train hard. Stay ready. Serve our community.
🔥 Coshocton Fire Fighters IAFF Local 216 🔥

09/11/2026

Today, Coshocton Firefighters Local 216 joins firefighters, police officers, EMS providers, military members, and first responders across our nation in remembering September 11, 2001.
9/11 forever changed the fire service and the way first responders understand sacrifice, duty, and brotherhood. We remember the 343 firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, 37 Port Authority police officers, and all of the other first responders and civilians who lost their lives that day. We also remember the countless responders who carried the physical and emotional effects of that day with them for years afterward.
A special thank you to everyone who helped organize and participate in today's remembrance ceremony. Events like this ensure that we Never Forget and that future generations understand the sacrifices made on September 11th.
Thank you to the members of IAFF Local 216 who participated and represented our department and union with pride.
A special thank you to Local 216 firefighter and Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Brian Stiteler for delivering a meaningful and powerful speech, and to Local 216 Captain Zach Elson for ringing the bell in the traditional Four-Fives pattern.
In the fire service, the Four-Fives is a traditional bell-ringing signal used to mark the end of a firefighter's service. Four sets of five rings were historically used to communicate that a firefighter had completed their assignment and was returning to quarters. Today, it serves as a solemn tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
We Remember. We Honor. We Never Forget.
🇺🇸 🚒 September 11, 2001 — Never Forget. 🚒 🇺🇸
Coshocton Firefighters IAFF Local 216

Photo Credit: Olivia Elson

09/11/2026

Local 216 would like to thank Pat Anderson from Dominos Pizza of Coshocton for supplying lunch today after the 9/11 Ceremony today. Pat and Dominos Pizza have always been a strong supporter of public safety services in Coshocton County. We genuinely appreciate all they have done for the community and first responders in our county! Thanks Pat and the entire staff at Dominos!!!!

09/07/2026

Labor Day began in 1882 as a bold stand by American workers demanding fair hours, safe environments, and the right to organize. Decades after it became a federal holiday in 1894, that exact spirit of solidarity reached the heart of Ohio, sparking a vital turning point for the local heroes protecting our community.
Following the formation of the city's full-time paid department in 1908, local firefighters faced grueling shifts and high-risk conditions without unified representation. Answering the true calling of the labor movement, the Coshocton Fire Department Union stepped forward to build a legacy of brotherhood. Officially established in 1916, this unity eventually paved the way for what we proudly know today as Coshocton Fire Fighters IAFF Local 216.
A Deep-Rooted Labor Legacy
Coshocton's tie to the labor movement runs incredibly deep. Our very own William Green, born right here in Coshocton, rose to become a massive national figure as the President of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) from 1924 to 1952. His lifelong fight for workers' welfare perfectly mirrored the mission of our local first responders. When our union formed in 1916—coinciding with the historic moment the department began trading horse-drawn rigs for motorized fire equipment—it cemented Coshocton's place in labor history. Local firefighters secured a collective voice to advocate for modern safety standards, equitable working hours, and sustainable support for their families.
110 Years Later: Evolving for a Changing World
Just as our founders adapted to motorized trucks in 1916, today's department is changing once again to meet the demands of a modern landscape. Our coverage is expanding rapidly into brand-new areas like high-tech data centers, bringing unique challenges that require advanced training. From mastering the complexities of lithium-ion battery fires and electric vehicles (EVs) to transitioning to next-generation firefighting foams, our crew continues to evolve to keep Coshocton safe.
For over a century, Labor Day has stood as a powerful reflection point for Coshocton’s firefighters. From the historic Walnut Street station days to the modern team operating out of Downtown Coshocton, this day bridges the national fight for workers' rights with the ongoing dedication of the brave men and women who stand ready for whatever tomorrow brings.

09/04/2026

UPDATE!!! THANK YOU for helping us and Coshocton County EMS IAFF 5078 fill the boot for a great cause! By taking over 7th Street in Coshocton today, we raised $3135.00 + uncounted change for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Just a quick, friendly point of history to share: while firefighters are incredibly proud to have partnered with the MDA since 1954 for "Fill the Boot," the March of Dimes was actually founded in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to fight polio!
Firefighters took up the boot for MDA a bit later when a group of families in Boston asked for help. No matter the history, the mission remains urgent. Every single dollar dropped into our boots today stays at work funding ground-breaking research, expanding life-changing care, and helping send Jerry’s kids to MDA Summer Camp.

06/25/2026