07/27/2026
What a day yesterday!
For quite some time, we’ve wanted to bring several of our neighboring fire departments together—not to respond to an emergency, but to spend time together as one fire service family. We wanted our firefighters and their families to meet, eat, laugh and have fun! Most importantly, we wanted to say thank you to the families. They sacrifice so much every time their loved one leaves the dinner table, misses a holiday, or gets called out in the middle of the night to help someone in need. Their support, patience, and understanding are what make volunteer fire departments possible. Attending yesterday was North 48, Terlton and Cleveland Fire Departments.
As the saying goes, “Brotherhood isn’t built by the fires we fight—it’s built by the trust we earn, the sacrifices we share, and the promise that no firefighter stands alone.”
That couldn’t be more true. In the volunteer fire service, that brotherhood runs even deeper. Our members willingly leave their families, their jobs, and their personal lives—without expecting a paycheck—to answer the call for their neighbors. It’s a commitment rooted in service, loyalty, and community.
As fire chiefs and leaders, one of our greatest responsibilities is fostering that brotherhood. It isn’t created by a title or a uniform. It’s built every day through training together, serving together, respecting one another, and making sure everyone goes home safely after every call.
Thank you to every department that joined us and to every family who spent the day with us. We hope this is just the beginning of an annual tradition that continues to strengthen the friendships, partnerships, and brotherhood that make our fire service so special.
