[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1053-E1054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE DEDICATION OF THE LIMA FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL G. OXLEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 1999

  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add a few words of praise for 
the dedication of the Lima Fire Fighters Memorial Museum.
  The Lima Fire Department has provided outstanding basic fire fighting 
and safety services to the Lima community since its formation in 1865. 
The museum built in Lincoln Park in Lima OH, will preserve the history 
of the Lima Fire Department as well as all the technological changes 
they have implemented over the past 133 years
  When the Lima Fire Department was first established in 1865, it was a 
volunteer organization consisting of seven men with their only 
equipment being six fire hooks. These hooks were used to pull burning 
thatch from the roofs of buildings. Over the years, however, the Lima 
Fire Department developed into a paid, highly trained force of 88 fire 
fighters and support personnel working in a three platoon system. They 
are housed at the Central Fire Station and four outlying stations. 
Equipment now includes seven pumpers, one aerial platform, two medic 
units and a staff car. Approximately 700 fire fighters have served the 
city of Lima as members of the Lima Fire Department.
  More importantly, this museum will memorialize all fire fighters who 
have served the Lima Community and especially the four Lima fire 
fighters who have given their lives in the line of duty. They are John 
S. Wolf and John Fisher, both of whom died as a result of the Allen 
County Courthouse fire on January 7, 1929; Frank Kinzer, who died 
because of a fire on October 7, 1933, at the Ohio Music Company and 
Page Organ Company; and lastly, Cloyd R. Webb, who died as a result of 
the Marshall Sporting Goods fire on January 21, 1954.
  I wish to offer my sincere gratitude to all who are serving or who 
served as Lima fire fighters. They perform a valuable and dangerous 
task for the Lima community during times of great need. I honor each 
and every fire fighter for their dedication, knowledge, and hard work 
and hope that the Lima Fire Fighters Memorial Museum will stand as a 
tribute to each of them for all time.

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