It’s been 80 years, but Orville Buehrer still recalls being woken around midnight by a grain elevator fire two blocks from his home in Tontogany.
“The whistle blew and I looked out the window and saw all the flames,” said Buehrer, who was 8 at the time. “It just interested me – the way you had to fight fire back then.”
So when the Washington Township fire chief came to his school seeking volunteers, Buehrer didn’t hesitate to sign up at age 17.
For the last 71 years, Buehrer has been a dedicated volunteer with the Washington Township Fire Department. Earlier this week, he was recognized with the Ohio Fire Service Distinguished Service Award for his continued dedication to firefighting.
When Buehrer started with the fire department, there were three telephones in Tontogany – located at three businesses.
“When a call came in, the business person would run over to the siren box and sound the alarm,” he recalled.
Later on, the fire department had 20 phones connected to firefighters’ homes.
When the calls came in, the firemen “ran to the station, and you’re on your way,” Buehrer said.
At 88, Buehrer still drives the fire pumper to scenes for Washington Township Fire Department.
“He still shows up for a lot of training,” Washington Township Fire Chief Bill Gase said.
“He’s well committed to the organization and to the community,” Gase said of Buehrer.
Buehrer has no plans to stop anytime soon.
“There’s a lot of things I can still do,” he said. “I can still run the pumper and drive. I keep moving. That’s the whole secret to life. Keep your body moving. If you don’t move, you are just going to wither away.”
The award was presented by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal and the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Division of EMS in Columbus.
The ceremony was attended by state officials, first responders, family members of the honorees, and members of the public who came to show their support and gratitude for the work of Ohio’s firefighters and EMS professionals.
There are approximately 50,000 men and women who serve in Ohio’s fire service. The awards ceremony recognized the bravery, commitment and sacrifice those firefighters make on behalf of their communities, as well as members of the public who, at great personal risk to themselves, are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme fire or other emergency rescue situation.
