Volunteer Fire Department Ornament

The Mansfield Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1901 with fifteen men. A two-inch water main was laid down Main Street with five openings for fire hoses. In 1947, after a fire nearly destroyed the west side of downtown, they reorganized. On January 2, 1948, four men went to Oklahoma to pick up the first factory-built truck, a 1942 pumper, with an open cab. The drove it home in six-degree weather. On July 31, 1968, volunteers fought the Red Ball Gas Explosion and lost 2 firefighters in the horrific fire. The fire station was located by Pond Branch on Broad Street. Many men, their families, and the “The Firemen’s Ladies Auxiliary” spent countless hours serving their community.