After providing firefighting services for 114 years, Rippey fire department has disbanded. The Washington Township trustees made that decision earlier this year.
“In the years past we have been blessed with many faithful volunteers that have been committed to providing fire protection to the Washington Township residents,” a spokesperson for the trustees said. “As time has passed, people have moved, businesses changed and volunteer’s jobs have changed, thus making it impossible to have enough volunteers available to provide the needed fire protections. We are responsible for providing fire protection for our residents, so we have talked with the Grand Junction Fire department that has agreed to cover our residents.”
The Jamaica fire department and other surrounding area departments also cover portions of Washington Township. “We want to thank these departments for providing great fire protection to our township. We also want to extend a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to all those firefighters that volunteered for the Rippey Fire department since 1911, when it started. Your commitment and dedication are recognized and appreciated,” the spokesperson continued.
Much of the personnel protection gear used by the Rippey firefighters was getting outdated and would need to be replaced soon. Equipment has been donated to Midwest Mission for distribution in underdeveloped countries.
Washington Township trustees are chair Neal Dollinger and Greg Jacobs, Mary Ann Hick, and clerk Jean Borgeson.
