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History Of the Brighton Fire Department
continued...
Two firemen died in action during the Forties. The
first, was Harry Johnston, Jr., who was killed when a garage
collapsed during a fire in the Home Acres Tract on July 22,
1940. Then, on New Year's Day, 1947, fireman Bernard
McGuire, Jr. died of smoke inhalation while battling a fire
that later destroyed the home of John Willis on Elmwood
Avenue. Both deaths pointed out what it sometimes means to
be a fire fighter.
The most spectacular and awesome crisis to he faced,
however, was still to come and did the afternoon of
September 21,1951 when all Brighton seemed to explode.
Within a matter of hours a malfunction in the gas system had
caused damage to 44 homes in the Twelve Corners area and
fires had broken out everywhere. The Brighton Fire
Department was on the job just moments after the first alarm
sounded and did its utmost to reduce the toll of suffering,
death and destruction which was causing havoc. Eventually,
more than 35 fire companies joined in the battle. Trucks
cruised the neighborhood warning residents to turn off their
gas lines, open windows and leave their homes. An emergency
First Aid and food shelter was set up in Firehouse 2. There,
an equipment pool was organized to provide participating
companies with any additional items needed. According to
then Brighton Police Chief Vincent Conklin, "One of the
worst emergencies Monroe County ever saw" was estimated to
have caused more than $1 million worth of damage. Three
lives were claimed and dozens were injured. However, much
more would have been lost had it not been for quick and
decisive action at the scene.
By now others were hearing of the Brighton Fire
Department One was the National Board of Fire Underwriters,
which in 1952 produced a film featuring the Brighton
volunteers. The film covered all aspects of volunteer fire
fighting from taking salvage covers off furniture to the
actual fighting of a house fire. Shown to volunteer firemen
throughout the country, its director, William Sether, said
that the Brighton department had been chosen as subjects not
only because of the quality of the team, but also "because
of the excellent facilities offered by the town and the
enthusiasm of the fire department and fire officials." But
not all attention had turned to cinematography. There was
still the world of reality with which to contend. During the
mid-fifties radios were purchased for the purpose of
alerting volunteers in their homes. And the department was
tested anew by fires at the Fred Neisner residence on Clover
Street and the pre-dawn blaze at the Enid Knapp Bottsford
Dancing School in which three firemen were injured.
With every decade came greater effort, growth and
challenge On August 2, 1961 the department responded to a
call at 1341 Westfall Road. Within minutes they were at the
scene of what was already a huge fire in the main barn of Gonsenhauser's dairy farm, the largest in Monroe County. The
nearest hydrants were more than two miles away, and by the
time hoses could be connected the barn was engulfed in
flames. Despite such obstacles, spread of the blaze was
limited, thus sparing the surrounding barns and homesite. It
took five days of monitored hosing to completely extinguish
the remains. Not long after that, department members joined
together to form a tournament team called the Hornets.
Patterned after the 1948 team, its purpose was to sharpen
the men's abilities and remain fit. There were several such
teams in the County, all comprised of members of volunteer
fire departments. But the Hornets were recognized as a
consistently fine team and went on to bring home many
trophies from competitions held all over the State.
A spectacular fire early Thanksgiving morning 1966,
razed Allendale School's 40-year old main classroom and
administrative building. However, "brilliant and courageous
work by Brighton firemen," news accounts said, prevented
spread of the fire to the attached cafeteria and gymnasium.
Also spared was a new science and library building. As many
as 150 firemen worked through the night including those of
neighboring companies, the latter providing a splendid
example of the County Mutual Aid System established in 1941.
As usual, the people of Brighton and others rallied to help
get the school going again through the donation of
materials, money and manpower.
On January 10, 1967, nearly 13 years to the day it
opened in 1954, a flash fire rapidly spread out of control
to demolish Don & Bob's Monroe Avenue restaurant. More than
75 firemen, along with all Brighton fire fighting equipment
helped fight the blaze and prevented it from spreading to
nearby property. Nearly 1500 feet of hose was laid to pump
water at the height of the operation. Several fire fighters
received minor cuts and one was treated in hospital
emergency facilities for a puncture wound.
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