Below is the history of the Stone Bank Fire Department dating back to its original roots. The first documented history dates back to 1907.
1907
The Stone Bank Volunteer Fire Department was established.
1909
November 19, 1909 A meeting of the Fire Department was held on Tuesday evening at which time they reorganized and decided to erect a new building in which to keep their ladders, buckets, etc.
Officers were elected: Jens Sorenson- Chief, C.C. Holm- Assistant Chief, Edward Counsell- Secretary & Treasurer, Board of Managers: P. Pringle, E. Reynolds and H. Peterson
1920s
All firemen went to Dayton’s store to purchase buckets. Farmers would come with milk cans filled with water. Fire call was 1 long and 8 short rings. Everyone picked up the phone to learn location of fire and reported to the scene with their buckets.
A building was built to house the fire truck. (Tim Klink’s garage)
1928
A four cylinder Chevy and pump were purchased.
1946
Hartland FD visited and demonstrated new fire truck of latest design (price was $6200). SBFD purchased a new Rex 3M pump for $96.
1946
Department purchased a new pumper for $5200 and sold the first truck to a local farmer.
1947
A new truck was purchased. It had a tank on the back for water, a low volume pump on the front, and ladders and hooks on the side. Also a pump to use to pump water from the river was purchased.
1947
December 3, the Stone Bank Volunteer Fire Department was officially incorporated.
1967
The department received its first volume pumper a 750 GPM International.
1971
A new 40′ by 60′ Fire House was built with a kitchen and meeting room attached.
1973
The Stone Bank Firemen’s Community Park was established. Many baseball games and festivals are to be held.
1975
An International automatic tanker was purchased replacing an old chassis.
1978
EMT Service Started-The department purchased a 1977 Dodge Ambulance. A new Ford equipment van was put into service.
1981
A new 32’x60’addition was added to the Fire House.
1983
Addition to Fire House $ 30,000
Tanker Pumper- GMC (4964) 1000GPM put into service with a purchase price of $114,000. 2000 gallon capacity pump @ 1,000 gallons per minute
Roster totaled: 34 Fire Fighters and 11 EMTS
Stone Bank Fire Chief Ralph Fleming receives a check for more than $1,100 from Erwin Juedes to pay for a five-tier aluminum bleacher for the Stone Bank Firemen’s and Lions Park.
1984
17 Certified Emergency Technicians
35 Fire Fighters
4 in EMT Training
New 4×4 Grass Rig Pickup Truck Purchased for $20,000
So far in 1984 30 fire calls, double from last year, and about 80 ambulance calls
Department Officers:
Chief: Ralph Fleming
Assistant Chief: Cy Peterson
Captains: Gib Klokow, Jeff Becker, Scott Peterson, Joe Simons, and Tim Fleming
1985
June 29, 1985 Ralph Fleming retires as Fire Chief after 20 years of service.
New ambulance purchased for $42,000
1 grass fire truck
5 vehicles capable of 6,000 gallons
45 Volunteers
21 EMTS
Department Officers:
Chief: Jeff Becker
Assistant Chief: Cy Peterson
Captains: Gib Klokow, Scott Peterson, Joe Simons, Tim Fleming, Steve Seeley, Bruce Miller and Mark Becker
96 ambulance runs, more than last year
19 fire runs, fewer than last year
1986
An old friend has returned to the Stone Bank Fire Department. The department just purchased the first fire truck the department owned. The 1926 Chevrolet truck was repurchased for $10,000 after a 40 year absence from the department. Repurchased 1926 Chevrolet
May 14, 1986 Training for a tornado disaster became as real as possible Saturday morning as emergency and law personnel were called into action. A command post was set up at the Stone Bank Fire Department to coordinate rescue and relief efforts with about 40 personnel and equipment from Stone Bank, North Lake, Hartland, Delafield and Oconomowoc. As the storm passed north, a blaze broke out on the old Sullivan farm on Highway CW. Several victims were found at the scene.
1987
6-2 Engines, tanker, van, crash vehicles and ambulance
30 volunteers
1988
Department Officers:
Chief: Jeff Becker
Assistant Chief: Cy Peterson
Captains: Gib Klokow, Scott Peterson, Tim Fleming, Steve Seeley, Mark Becker and Jeff Griswold
42 Volunteer Members
Two engines, one tanker, equipment van, crash vehicle, and ambulance
Calls: About 96 ambulance and 26 fire calls in 1988
October 13, 1988; Fire takes lives of five people
1988
Hazardous Material Team formed
Pavillion Funds – The Stone Bank Lions Club presented a check for $4,000 to the Stone Bank Fire Department for use on the expansion of the pavilion in the Stone Bank Lions and Firemen’s Community Park.
1989
Cy Peterson honored for 40 years.
Bob Washburn 39 years
Ethelou Washburn 28 years
1990
Stone Bank Sesquicentennial presented a check of $1,000 toward the defibrillator.
Ice Suits Donated – The Stone Bank Schneelaufers Snowmobile Club donated 2 ice suits
Fund established to buy defibrillator
2000
45 Volunteers
18 EMTS
4 Certified Divers
26 Certified Fire Fighters
2003
Dedicated new Firehouse March 30, 2003
W335N7101 Stone Bank Road
2005
Peterbilt Tender 4995 was put into service. 4995 can hold 3500 gallons of water and carries two portable tanks along with other equipment.
2007
Ford E350 Ambulance 4952 was put into service in June 2007.
2012
Ford F450 Brush Truck 4982 was put into service for use for wildland fires and for use by our members as part of the Waukesha County Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC).
2013
Ford F550 Ambulance 4951 was put into service as our first-out ambulance.
2014
Ford F250 Utility Pickup 4988 was put into service for use as a fire inspection vehicle, support vehicle, for additional manpower, and for our involvement with the Waukesha County RIC team.
2015
1983 Tanker/Pumper 4964 was taken out of service and found a new home with a fire department in Tennessee.
2016
Engine 4961 was put into service. It replaced Tanker/Pumper 4964 and Engine 4966.
PWC 4999 was put into service. This was provided for the season by BRP/Sea-Doo and Rob’s Performance Center through the BRP First Responder Loaner Program.
Engine 4966 was taken out of service and found a new home with a fire department in Tennessee.
2017
SBFD Responded to a total of 441 calls.
- 287 EMS
- 94 Fire
- 41 Mutual Aid Fire
- 19 Mutual Aid EMS
2017 Officers
- Chief- Scott Peterson
- Asst. Chief- Jim Scaff
- Captain- Steve Tidyman
- Captain- Tim Proite
- Captain- Adam May
- Lieutenant- Dave Angove
- Lieutenant- Tim Stadler
2017 Membership: 27 Fire/EMS Members
The LUCAS Fund, started by a pt that was revived by our EMS; raised enough money to assist in the purchase of a New LUCAS CPR Device. Lake Country, Hartland, and Stone Bank Fire Departments came together to created a joint training building called The House of Irons.
December 31, 2019
Due to decisions made by the Town of Oconomowoc and Town of Merton boards, the response area covered by Stone Bank Fire Department was given to Western Lakes Fire District. The Stone Bank Fire Department was dissolved after 112 years of dedicated service.