The Noble Township Fire Department is an all-volunteer department providing fire protection to a 26 square mile area with a population of 3000. The Township is comprised of residential, farm, and light commercial areas. The department was organized on January 16, 1973 to provide fire protection which had been provided on a contract basis by the City of Defiance. Township trustees Bill Elliot, Ed H
iler, and Al Weber started the drive for a local fire department. First officers were Richard Brown, president; Ronald Goller, Vice-President; John Behm, secretary; Ned Weible, treasurer; Richard Bolman, Fire Chief; Ronald Burdine, Assistant Chief; Ken Hancock, Ed Osborn, and Robert Hulbert, Captains. Fire Chief Robert Ort, Defiance Fire Department, was the instructor for the first basic firefighting course taken by the new firemen. Charter Members were:
James Ankney Jack Clark William Meyer
Danny Ball Millard Compton Donald Moore
James Barney Randal Curtis Otto Nicely
Charles Bartlett Roger Farlee Edward Osborn
Lawrence Becher Hube Hancock Richard Sabo
Charles Bechtol Ken Hancock Leslie Sanders
Charles Behm Roger Hancock Ken Sweinhagen
John Behm Ronald Hancock Marvin Thieroff
Ronnie Belcher Hube Hesselschwardt Paul Warnimont
Richard Bolman John Herr Al Weber
Bradley Brubaker David Higgins Robert Weber
Ronald Burdine, Jr. Robert Laguna John Wiseman
First fire apparatus was purchased in April 1973. A 1947 international 500 GPM mid-ship pumper and a 1949 pumping unit from New Haven, Indiana for $2500. A 1955 Ford GPM front mount pumper was purchased from Wauseon Fire Department in 1973 for $2750. The two bay township garage on the south-east corner of Mill and Market Streets in Brunersburg served as the first fire station. In November 1973 Township residents approved a 1.5 mill tax levy to build a new fire station at an approximate cost of $34,000.00, on the northeast corner of Mill and Market Streets. Land was purchased from the Hellrich family and the new station was dedicated during an open house held in the fall of 1974. Shortly after moving into the new station, firemen built a radio room and a meeting room with kitchen area. Fire Chiefs that have served the department
Dick Bolman (1973-1978)
Ron Burdine (1978-July 1979)
Charles Nagy (July 1979-October 1984)
Charles Weber (October 1984 - Current)
