Prior to the formation of the Superior Township Fire Department fire protection was received from Ypsilanti Township in the South end, Ann Arbor Township in the Dixboro area, and Salem Township in the North end. The Township Hall, including the original two truck bays was built in 1953. Before receiving delivery of the first truck all members were sent to Lansing, Michigan to attend the John Bean Fire Engine Company fire fighting and apparatus operation school. This was a two day school with “hands on” training.
When the department went in service a siren was installed on the roof of the Township Hall and on the roof of Max Marken’s garage in Dixboro. These were used along with the telephone to call the volunteer fire fighters. One full time fire fighter was in the station at all times. He would alert the volunteers and drive the fire truck to the scene. Paul Meyer and William Mulholland were the first two full time fire fighters. They served 24 hours on and 24 hours off, and were paid $4,800 dollars annually. If they wanted a day off they had to hire a volunteer to sit in for them. Paul Meyer also ran a dairy farm and hired a volunteer to sit in on his duty days while he went home to do the evening milking and chores.
Dispatch of fire fighters and equipment has progressed from the siren and telephone of the 1950’s to radios and computers in the 1990’s. In 1953 a person had to dial the fire department directly and give the nature of the problem and location to the fire fighter on duty. He in turn would make one phone call that would start a telephone fan out, and blow the big siren. When he left the station it was important that someone replaced him to handle the phone and the base radio. The on duty fireman was very restricted in what he could do and where he could go, because he always had to be ready to answer the phone.
Today when a person dials 911 the location of the telephone where the call originates is instantly displayed on a computer screen, and we automatically know where the problem is located before a word is spoken. We presently contract with the Huron Valley Ambulance Company to handle our dispatch and base communication responsibilities. Both our stations are computerized and tied into dispatch center at the ambulance company. The stations are alerted by computer and radio, and the volunteers are alerted by radio. Alpha numeric pagers were added in the mid 1990's. Run information is written on the screen, as well as, being voice transmitted. In 2002, as the cell phone technology progressed, cell phones were provided to the Chief, Captains, and each station. The full time firemen now have much more flexibility, the stations need not be manned during a run, and precious seconds are saved in response time.
