Girard Fire Department

06/28/2023

Please go to the new Girard Kansas Fire Department page and like it. This page will eventually phase out as we'd like you to start using the new Girard Kansas Fire Department page. Thank you for your past support.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021816609

Girard Fire Department provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to citizens of Girard.

05/02/2023

From the Southeast Kansas Firefighters Honor Guard

Today we remember Van Hacket of the Fort Scott Fire Department (No firefighter picture available)
Van Hackett joined the Fort Scott Fire Department on May 2, 1911. On his very first day as a firefighter, he responded to a structure fire just west of the old fort site on Stanton Street and North National Street, at the Fort Scott Gas and Electric Company. Firefighter Hackett was very familiar with the structure as he had just left employment there the day before.
The fire started on the southeast corner of the second story of the building at around 9:30pm. While fighting the fire, Firefighter Hackett was standing near the brick wall of the burning structure bent over to lift and pull a fire hose. Suddenly, without warning, the brick wall collapsed on him. A large solid mass of bricks landed on him, knocking him to the ground and crushing him. Fire Chief Joe Ausman, who was near Firefighter Hackett, was able to jump just far enough out of the way to avoid being crushed but was hit by several falling bricks striking him in the back and knocking him down. Chief Ausman quickly got up yelling that the collapse got one of the firefighters. Sheriff George Cowan, Officer Bill Bloomfield, Arthur Holliday, F.H. Reeds, and others that were near the collapse went to work immediately helping the Chief in removing the bricks off the trapped firefighter.
The bricks were extremely hot and burned the hands of the men as they removed them. Sheriff Cowan found Firefighter Hackett who was transported by ambulance with Doctors Newman and Harrar giving treatment to his injuries while enroute to Mercy Hospital. Firefighter Hackett had multiple fractures of his left limbs, skull fractures, and internal injuries and died on the operating table.
Firefighter Van Hackett had only been a firefighter for about fifteen hours before he died in the line of duty and was survived by his wife and four children. His name is inscribed on the Kansas Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Wichita and the Delta side of the Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Girard

03/29/2023

Today we remember Assistant Fire Chief Frank Enke of the Girard Fire Department
Line of Duty Death March 28, 1983

From Southeast Kansas Firefighters Honor Guard

Pictured: (Assistant Fire Chief Frank Enke)
Assistant Chief Frank Enke was on duty March 28, 1983, when he began feeling ill. Frank told the Fire Chief he wasn't feeling very well and asked him to take him to the Girard hospital. Frank passed away shortly after being admitted to the hospital. Frank was only 44 years old.
Assistant Chief Enke’s daughters, Connie, Deanna, and Kathy, were present at the 31st Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on October 21, 2018, for the unveiling of the memorial and were presented with a Final Alarm medal from the Southeast Kansas Firefighters Honor Guard to honor their father’s service.
Assistant Chief Enke’s name has been placed on the Delta side of the Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial located at the Girard Fire Department.
We thank you for your service, Assistant Chief Frank Enke, you are not forgotten.

12/16/2022

Pete's last call

12/16/2022

Pete's procession to cemetery

12/13/2022

10/11/2022

07/23/2022

BURN BAN IN EFFECT: Pursuant to Resolution 2007-118, the Board of County Commissioners of Crawford County, Kansas have issued a Burn Ban, effective immediately. Any person violating this ban shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined a sum not exceeding $500.00 for each violation or imprisoned, or both.

05/02/2022

Sharing.

Today we pause to remember Firefighter Van Hackett of the Fort Scott Fire Department who died in the line of duty May 2, 1911

Van Hackett joined the Fort Scott Fire Department May 2nd 1911 and on his very first day as a firefighter, Van Hackett responded to a structure fire, just west of the old fort site on Stanton Street and North National Street, at the Fort Scott Gas and Electric Company. Firefighter Hackett was very familiar with the structure as he had just left employment there the day before.
The fire started on the southeast corner of the second story of the Fort Scott Gas and Electric Company building at around 9:30 p.m. While in the process of fighting the fire, Firefighter Hackett standing near the brick wall of the well involved structure bent over to lift and help pull a fire hose, when suddenly without warning the brick wall he was working near collapsed on him. A large solid mass of bricks landed on him knocking him to the ground crushing him. Fire Chief Joe Ausman who was near firefighter Hackett was able to jump just far enough out of the way to avoid being crushed but was hit by several falling bricks striking him in the back and knocking him down. Chief Ausman quickly got up yelling it got one of the boys. Sheriff George Cowan and Officer Bill Bloomfield, Arthur Holliday F.H. Reeds and others that were near went immediately to work helping the Chief in removing the bricks off of the trapped firefighter.
The bricks were extremely hot and burned the hands of the men as they removed them. Sheriff Cowan found Firefighter Hackett and he was transported by Ambulance with Doctors Newman and Harrar giving treatment to his injuries enroute to Mercy Hospital. Firefighter Hackett had multiple fractures of his left limbs, skull fractures and internal injuries. Firefighter Hackett died on the operating table.
Firefighter Van Hackett had only been a firefighter for about 15 hours before he died in the line of duty. Firefighter Van Hackett was survived by his wife and four children.

02/19/2022

Orin playing bagpipes at Sam Haskew’s graveside service