STORY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY

Story's early day fire protection consisted of all Story residents, including women and children, forming a bucket brigade.  The Story School bell sounded the alarm and it could be heard all over Story.

In about 1935 Story residents felt the need for better fire protection and the Story Civic Club organized the Story Protective Association with Andy Raycher, Harry Johns and Ruel Stratsma charged with getting it under way.  With local contributions, a pump, hose and nozzle were purchased.  These were stored at Andy Raycher's store and when needed were loaded into the handiest pickup or wagon available and hauled to the creek nearest the fire.  

An old Dodge pickup was donated to the Story Fire Department in about 1944 by the Story Fish Hatchery at the urging of Dick Bard, the Hatchery Superintendent.  It was kept at the home of Tom Dowling, the Fire Chief at the time.

The County Commissioners held a meeting in Story in 1951 in regards to establishing a Story Fire District.  The district was approved, and in 1952 a board for the new district was elected.  It was composed of Harry Johns, Ruel Stratsma and Fred Douglas.  Later in the year Chris Buck was elected to fill the unexpired term of Ruel Stratsma.

In 1955 the district agreed to solicit funds to purchase a larger truck.  Enough money was raised to purchase a used Dodge Power Wagon and equip it with a 500 gallon tank.

Malcolm Campbell  was elected to the board in 1957 following the resignation of Fred Douglas. Since then a number of Story residents have served on the district board of directors. These individuals are elected during the annual public budget meeting for a three year term. Each year one of the three board positions come up for election.

In January of 1962 the County Commissioners and the State Forestry Department met and organized Sheridan County into fire control zones. The Story Fire District became zone 11. As a result of the organization Story received a large and a medium truck and a jeep equipped with tanks, pumps, and hoses.

With additional equipment, better storage was necessary. In 1963 the fire district obtained a lease from the county on an abandoned street between the Story Woman's Club House and the then Evers' Texaco Station (now Story Art Station). In the fall work began on a 32x40 foot block building, mostly using volunteer labor. Trucks and equipment were able to be moved in January 25. Plumbing, the floor and other work to complete the building were finished over the next year or two. Tom Dowling put the flagstone on the front in 1968. By 1977 the  expansion of equipment created a need for an addition to the fire hall which was paid for by a Sheridan County Public Works Grant.

Improvement on equipment has been an ongoing process. In 1981 a new 1 ton Chevy quick response truck was obtained using a 50% grant and the State Mineral Royalty Fund. In 1987 a 1000 gallon Ford tanker was purchased from the county fire department.  A 1983 Chevy 1 ton crew cab donated by Spring Creek Coal Company in 1990 and refurbished by department members and volunteers from the community was put into service to transport firemen to training and other activities. That truck has since been sold. In 1993 a new structure truck (the big white one) was purchased using money donated by the dissolution of the Story/Banner Ambulance Board and a matching State Farm Loan Board Grant. The truck cost was about $155,000 plus another $40,000 to equip it with hose, nozzles, and other equipment.

Monies to maintain the fire hall and equipment have come primarily from a 3 mill property tax levy on the Story Fire District residents. This money is received from the county by the Board of Directors. The amount received depends on the property evaluations, and over the last several years has been increasing and is now about $20,000.

In addition, over the years donations have also been received to help in the cost of fire equipment and training. Originally, the District Board of Directors kept this money in a separate Fireman Fund account.

In 1989, as a result of a suggestion made by George Lunbeck,    the volunteer firemen organized to form the Story  Volunteer Fire Department, adopted by-laws,  and elected officers. They also applied for and obtained a 501C Tax exempt status with the IRS so that they can receive tax free money.   The Fireman Fund account was turned over to the department, and the department now handles all donated monies, which is to be used for fire protection, equipment and training. The Story Fire District Board of Directors still handles all money obtained from the tax base and money from some grants. The Story Volunteer Fire Department also applies for and receives grant money. The Story Fire District and the Story Volunteer Fire Department work together to pay for the cost of maintaining and equipping the building and equipment.

In 1992 many landowners in the Banner area petitioned to become a part of the Story Fire District. We had been responding to fires in Banner any way so the fire district grew from about 16 square miles to over 30 square miles.