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Fire Department
The possibility of fires in homes, barns, and other buildings was a constant worry to Bainbridge residents since the very beginning of the settlement. In the early days the chance of putting out a fire depended on how many people were in the area at the time. Bucket brigades were formed, and buckets of water were passed down the line to the blaze. The chances of this succeeding were extremely slim.
In later years the township contracted with the Chagrin Falls Volunteer Fire Department. Although this helped in many cases, their equipment could only hold 90 gallons of water, which was not enough to put out large fires. Also the Chagrin firemen were located half a mile from Bainbridge’s western boundary. Despite these limitations, the Chagrin volunteers helped many Bainbridge families keep their homes.
In 1940 a group of Bainbridge citizens came together and created the Bainbridge Township Fire Department. This establishment existed only in name until 1942 when it received its first fire truck, a Ford font-end pumper. The Ford had a tank capacity of 300 gallons which was filled from rivers, creeks, or ponds.
Help was more difficult to find. During the daytime most of the men worked outside of Bainbridge and were unavailable to volunteer at the fire department. Bill Burns, the first president of the fire station, persuaded a judge to employ the aid of juvenile delinquents to help during the day. Junior members were recruited to help keep them out of trouble and to fill the gap of volunteers in the fire department. However, the first volunteer squad wasn’t formed until 1950.
Today the Bainbridge Township Fire Department proudly protects 10,900 people living in an area of 25 square miles. Bainbridge Township is a rapidly developing area mostly zoned residential of various economic classes. There are some commercial and industrial areas, too. Six Flags World of Adventure is co-protected by our department and our southern neighbors, the Aurora Fire Department. This theme park can generate an additional 60,000 people in our semi-rural communities on any given summer day.
For information please visit the Bainbridge Fire Department site:www.bainbridgefire.com
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First Fire Truck
Fire Chief In Uniform
Ambulance
Fire Chief
Fire Station Flags
 More Fire Pictures
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bainbridgetwp.com
