In 1948, the Fowler School (now Neal Middle School) caught on fire and fortunately the Cortland VFD who offered protection to Fowler at the time was able to save the building although significant damage was done to the roof area of the building. This incident did spark interest in forming a fire department here in Fowler. In 1949, a new fire station was built directly across the road from the gas station and a new fire truck was purchased. Some of the charter members of the department include George McDonald, Robert McDonald, Howard Wood, Harley Griffin, Gordan Beach, Robert Davis, Fern Griffin, Albert Schefeibein, Marc Arnal, Thad Barker, Jack Almburg, Delbert Suverison, Ernest Scott, Don Lewis, Charles Deacon, H.E. Meyer, Russel Jarvis, William Gail Jr, Robert Tupper and Wade Kepner. There may have been others but these are the names that we came up with. The department was chartered with 35 volunteer firemen and 6 officers. The original station met the needs of the community until 1971 when the present fire station was built directly across from the school. The station cost abouyt $58,000 not including the land and a new class A pumper was purchased for less than $37,000. The old fire station was turned over to the township road department for a garage building. The Fowler road department is still quartered in the old fire station building. While the current station has recently had new insulated truck bay doors installed and other upgrades such as advanced radio and computer technology along with a exhaust system added, the structure remains as it was built in 1971. The Fire Chiefs of the Fowler Volunteer Fire Department have been as follows: Fern Griffin Gordan Beach Ralph Rathburn Robert McDonald Gordan Beach Rev. Merlin Shepherd Thomas Rudge Fred Yungbluth Sr. | Major Incidents Heritage Fence Fire August 6, 1989
Crash 305 and 193 June 14,1990
House Fire
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Working Pictures