Fire Department History

The Superior Township Fire Department, located in Washtenaw County, went into service on February 1, 1953. Apparatus included a 1952 Ford F-8 with a John Bean high-pressure pumper, which carried 750 gallons of water. Curtis Loffler was Chief. Max Marken, William Mulholland, Paul Meyer, and Meyer Margolis were Captains. Fire fighters included William Grapp, Ivan Zeeb, Robert Dunlap, Edward Beck, Donald Sanford, Edward Meyer, Bernard Meyer, Gerald Dunn, Robert Engle, Ken Floyd, and Ray Randolph. Wilfred Juson attended the organizational meetings and then was called into the Army. Upon his discharge he was active as a volunteer fire fighter. Gerald Dunn was the longest serving charter member. He retired in December 1999.

Prior to the formation of the Superior Township Fire Department fire protection was received from Ypsilanti Township in the South end, Ann Arbor Township in the Dixboro area, and Salem Township in the North end. The Township Hall, including the original two truck bays was built in 1953. Before receiving delivery of the first truck all members were sent to Lansing, Michigan to attend the John Bean Fire Engine Company fire fighting and apparatus operation school. This was a two day school with “hands on” training.

When the department went in service a siren was installed on the roof of the Township Hall and on the roof of Max Marken’s garage in Dixboro. These were used along with the telephone to call the volunteer fire fighters. One full time fire fighter was in the station at all times. He would alert the volunteers and drive the fire truck to the scene. Paul Meyer and William Mulholland were the first two full time fire fighters. They served 24 hours on and 24 hours off, and were paid $4,800 dollars annually. If they wanted a day off they had to hire a volunteer to sit in for them. Paul Meyer also ran a dairy farm and hired a volunteer to sit in on his duty days while he went home to do the evening milking and chores.

Dispatch of fire fighters and equipment has progressed from the siren and telephone of the 1950’s to radios and computers in the 1990’s. In 1953 a person had to dial the fire department directly and give the nature of the problem and location to the fire fighter on duty. He in turn would make one phone call that would start a telephone fan out, and blow the big siren. When he left the station it was important that someone replaced him to handle the phone and the base radio. The on duty fireman was very restricted in what he could do and where he could go, because he always had to be ready to answer the phone.

Today when a person dials 911 the location of the telephone where the call originates is instantly displayed on a computer screen, and we automatically know where the problem is located before a word is spoken. We presently contract with the Huron Valley Ambulance Company to handle our dispatch and base communication responsibilities. Both our stations are computerized and tied into dispatch center at the ambulance company. The stations are alerted by computer and radio, and the volunteers are alerted by radio. Alpha numeric pagers were added in the mid 1990’s. Run information is written on the screen, as well as, being voice transmitted. In 2002, as the cell phone technology progressed, cell phones were provided to the Chief, Captains, and each station. The full time firemen now have much more flexibility, the stations need not be manned during a run, and precious seconds are saved in response time.

In March of 1953 the first working fire was reported to the department. This fire was an embarrassment, as the department did not get an early call. The fire was in a dwelling on Clark road and when firemen arrived flames were coming out of the windows. They quickly ran out of water and help was slow to arrive, because of the primitive communications in those days. The City of Ypsilanti sent a truck, which also ran out of water. By the time the trucks refilled and returned the house had burned to the ground.

In 1958 Chief Marken gave the following fire report. $200,000 worth of property was saved by the S.T.F.D. with a loss of only $13.860. Sixty fire runs were reported with only six major fires: Dixboro school -$400 damage, Humane Society – $200 damage, Frains Lake dwelling fire – $1,000 damage, Warren Road Boy Scout cabin $6,000 loss. (This building was a total loss as there was no road within a half mile of the building.), Prop restaurant – $1,400 damage, Whittaker and Gooding garage- $100 damage.

The first fire death reported in Superior Township took place in an apartment dwelling on Stamford at MacArthur. A woman was using gasoline to clean motorcycle parts for her husband in the basement. The gas water heater pilot ignited fumes. When fire fighters arrived the women’s children were upstairs and did not know about the fire. Rescue of the children was successful and the fire was quickly extinguished, but the woman suffered 3rd degree burns over her entire body.

In April of 1975 a working fire in an apartment building on MacArthur Blvd. was reported to the department in the middle of the night. Upon arrival, the roof was totally involved in flames. Mutual Aid was requested from Ypsilanti Township for their ladder truck. No injuries were reported from the fire, although there was extensive damage to the entire building. Later on this same date the department fought a major fire on Ford Road. A soldering iron had been left plugged in on a workbench in the basement of an old farmhouse. The fire burned through the first floor into a bedroom where it was stopped.

On July 14, 1977 at 4:00 a.m. the department responded to a request for mutual aid from the City of Ypsilanti to a fire in the 90-year-old three story Greystone Hotel. This building was a total loss. Mutual aid was also sent from the Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Augusta, and Pittsfield Township Fire Departments.

On March 7, 1980 a large barn located on the Sugarbush Farm at Ford and Gotfredson Roads burned causing a spectacular fire. This was a petting farm and the barn was used for all sorts of activities. A faulty furnace caused the fire. Mutual aid was requested from Canton Twp., Salem Twp., Pittsfield, Twp., and the Ypsilanti Twp. fire departments.

On November 27, 1984 the department responded to a working fire in the three story Ridgewood Hospital. This vacant 54-year-old building was a total loss. Mutual aid was received from the following departments: Ann Arbor Twp., Canton Twp., Dexter, Northville Twp., Salem Twp., Pittsfield Twp. and Ypsilanti Twp. This fire was fought with a tanker shuttle system as the water to the hospital was shut off, and the nearest hydrant was about 1/2 mile away. Ypsilanti Twp. provided their aerial device to supplement the one from Superior Twp. The cause of this fire was suspicious.

On March 16, 1987 at 6:30 p.m. the department responded on mutual aid to Ypsilanti Township at the Washtenaw Country Club at 2955 Packard Road. Superior Township Fire Dept. was at the location for four hours. Damage to the clubhouse (built in 1899) was $500,000. Ypsilanti City, Pittsfield Twp, Ann Arbor Twp., Ann Arbor City, and Augusta Twp. fire departments also assisted with mutual aid.

In October of 1990 the department responded to a mutual aid request in Ann Arbor Twp. for a fire in a roofing supply warehouse. The fire, fed by very flammable roofing materials stored in a huge wooden building caused several million dollars damage. Most fire departments in the county were involved to some degree in the two-day fire and overhaul.

On January 20, 1991 an apartment fire was reported on MacArthur Blvd. at 10:18 p.m. Upon arrival fire fighters found the apartment fully involved in flames, two family members critically injured, and two more trapped. One of those trapped was rescued. All four eventually died from smoke inhalation and/or injuries received from fire exposure. The cause of the fire was traced to a set of Christmas tree lights that were carelessly left behind a couch in the living room.

In August 1993 spontaneous combustion of stored hay caused a major fire in a feed lot building on the Gill Farm on Ridge road. The loss to the building, contents, and animals was place at $80,000. However, quick control of the fire averted a disaster at the farm that was milking over 400 head of cattle. Numerous fire departments were called to help supply water. Efforts were hampered by ongoing construction of a 60” water line down the middle of Ridge road.

On August 15, 1995 a late afternoon alarm was received at the Barrett Paving Company at 5800 Cherry Hill road. The temperature was in the high 90’s and severe weather was forecast. Upon arrival a column of thick black smoke was rising from the rear of a large maintenance and storage building that contained tires, petroleum products, acetylene, and various other combustibles. In spite of a quick attack by fire fighters, within a very few minutes, the fire spread throughout the entire building and it was totally destroyed. Mutual aid was received from Ann Arbor Twp., Salem Twp., Canton Twp., and Pittsfield Twp. fire departments.

On May 18. 1996 the department responded to a mutual aid call in Salem Township. A large Edison transformer, which was located at a substation near the corner of Joy and Tower Roads, exploded and burned.. The transformer contained several thousand gallons of oil used for cooling purposes. The burning oil caused a tremendous fire ball and the smoke could be seen for many miles. Foam quickly smothered the flames, but it took a while to get sufficient foam and tankers on the scene. Salem received mutual aid from Ann Arbor Twp., Lyon Twp., Northville Twp., Northfield Twp., Scio Twp., South Lyon, and Superior Twp. fire departments.

On May 29, 1996 the department received an alarm at the Plymouth Nursery. It was a hot, windy, and very dry spring day. Upon arrival fire fighters found a large pile of wood chips, which were stored beside a large metal pole barn, burning. Flames were quickly extinguished, but before overhaul of deep-seated burning in the pile could be accomplished the fire spread to highly flammable insulation on the inside of the pole barn. The barn and two attached greenhouses were destroyed before the fire could be contained. Mutual aid was received from Ann Arbor Twp., Canton Twp., Pittsfield Twp., Plymouth Twp., Salem Twp., and Ypsilanti Twp.

On December 21, 1998 the department provided mutual aid in the City of Ypsilanti, where there was a fire in the roof of the old Ypsilanti High School. The building, which covers nearly two city blocks, was being remodeled into senior citizen apartments. Fire fighters were able to contain the fire after it burned the roof off of approximately ¾ of a block of the three-story building. Aerial ladders from the City of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Twp., Pittsfield Twp., Superior Twp., and the City of Ypsilanti were used at this fire scene, which was a first in the county. Damage was estimated at $300,000.

On August 18, 2002 the department responded to a structure fire on Timberwood Court at 11:54 p.m… Upon arrival we found a well involved fire in a 4000 square foot new home that was soon to be occupied. The two story attached garage was all ready destroyed and the fire was burning up into the attic of the house as fire fighters pulled up to the scene. The fire was stopped after it had burned the roof off the $600,000 home, and the loss was set at $400,000. A definite cause could not be determined, but remains suspicious. Mutual aid was received from Ann Twp., Salem Twp., Northfield Twp., Ypsilanti Twp., and the Canton fire departments.

On September 9, 2002 the department responded to a structure fire on Old Oak Drive at 2:06 a.m., where a 4,000 square foot home under construction was totally involved in flames. The neighbors reported hearing an explosion and immediately observed the entire house in flames. The home had been roughed in and was just shingled, and was completely consumed by the fire. The loss was set $150,000. The cause was determined to be arson. Mutual aid was received from Ann Arbor Twp, Canton, and Salem Twp. fire departments.

On November 15, 2002 the department responded to a structure fire at 8387 Ford Road at 9:14 p.m… Upon arrival we found 30’x50′ Carriage House well involved in flames. The building was adjacent to a multimillion dollar home under construction, which is located at the end of a drive approximately 1/3 of a mile off the road. Because of the narrow drive we had to set up a water supply at the road, and laid 1,800 feet of 4″ hose to the fire scene. The building was a total loss and there was minor radiant heat damage to the house. The dollar loss was placed at $850,000. The cause of the fire was accidental. Mutual aid was received from Ann Arbor Twp., Canton, Northfield Twp., Salem Twp., Pittsfield Twp., and the Ypsilanti City fire departments.

On March 21, 2003 the department responded to a reported structure fire in Mystic Forest off Plymouth Road at 3:01 a.m. Upon arrival we found two homes, which were under construction, that were fully involved. One was a 5000 square foot structure located at 3633 Brittanie and the second was a 4000 square foot structure located at 3755 Birch Run Drive. Both homes were roughed in and shingled, and both were completely consumed by the fire. The dollar loss on each was set at $125,000. A neighbor reported hearing an explosion and observed one house burning next door, and the other burning about a block away. It was a very foggy night. This is a new subdivision under construction, which had one occupied home, another nearly completed, and the two that had been just roughed in and shingled. While checking the unoccupied home we found a sign scrawled on the garage door that said “E.L.F. – No sprawl.” E.L.F. is the initials of the Earth Liberation Front, a conservation terrorist group. The State fire Marshal was called, and he in turn involved the FBI and the ATF. Both fires were arson. Mutual aid was received from Ann Arbor Twp.

• 1952 Ford F-8 John Bean high-pressure pumper with a 750 gallon water tank. Approx. cost $35,000. This unit was taken out of service in 1981.
• 1953 Ford F-800 Tanker with a 1200 gallon water tank. A John Bean high-pressure pump was added mid-ship in 1954 and cut the tank capacity to 1000 gallons. A 500 gpm front mounted pump was added in about 1956 giving us our first ability to use large diameter hose to fight fire. This unit was taken out of service in 1983.
• 1964 International Scout ¼ ton 4 x 4 with a 90 gallon water tank. Used for 20 years to fight grass and brush fires. This unit was taken out of service in 1984.
• 1970 American LaFrance 1000 series pumper. The engine had a 1000 gpm pump that could operate in either high pressure or volume, and a 500-gallon water tank. This was a classic custom-built fire truck, and was a departmental favorite for many years. Cost approx. $65,000. This unit was taken out of service in 1993.
• 1976 Ford/Pierce 75’ TelSquirt aerial device with a 1000 gpm pump and a 300-gallon water tank. Water was piped to a remote controlled nozzle at the tip of the ladder through twin 4” pipes mounted on the sides of the ladder. Cost $115,000. This truck was taken out of service in 1999.
• 1980 Chevrolet Tanker with a 1000 gpm pump and a 2,500-gallon water tank. Cost $86,000. This unit was taken out of service in 2007.
• 1981 Chevrolet F.M.C. midi/pumper with a 1000 gpm pump and a 300 gallon water tank. Cost $35,000. This unit was taken out of service in 1990.
• Early 1980’s – a surplus Army 5\4 ton pickup, a used ambulance, and a 1 1\2 ton Ford chassis with a 1500 gallon tank were placed in service for a short period of time.
• 1985 Dodge Power Wagon pickup with a skid mounted tank and pump. The truck was destroyed in 1992 while parked at an accident scene on an icy wintry day. A van type truck struck it head on. Fire fighters Jerry Dunn and Lance Pierce were seated in the truck at the time of the accident and received minor injuries. Cost $10,000. This unit was taken out of service in 1992.
• 1990 Two F.M.C./Spartan 1500 gpm engines with 750 gallon water tanks were purchased at a price of approximately $198,000 each.
• 1993 Ford 350 4 x 4 with a skid mounted brush fire fighting unit. Cost $20,000. This unit was taken out of service in 2006.
• 1999 American LaFrance Eagle TelSquirt 75’ Aerial with a 1500 gpm pump and a 750 gallon water tank. Cost $438,000.
• 2006 Ford 350 4 x 4 with a skid mounted brush fire fighting unit and snow plow. Cost $33,000.
• 2007 American LaFrance Eagle Tanker with a 150 gpm pump and a 2500 gallon water tank. Cost $420,000.00.