In May of 1961 the Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department was organized. A committee was appointed to draw up the By-Laws and Ray Chamberlain was elected temporary Fire Chief. Later, the first appointed Fire Chief was Herman Wente.

The membership at the beginning was around 20 and an old Dodge tanker was bought with donations until a levy could be passed for a new truck. Meetings were held in Herman Wente’s basement and the tanker was kept in his garage until the new station was built in 1964

Over the years the fire department has expanded. A second station was built at Ashley Corner for Vernon Rescue. Ambulances were garaged there and after a period of time the membership of both organizations decided to put one engine at Ashley Corner and the second ambulance at the main fire station. This provided better protection to the community for both fire and EMS.

Today the Fire Department has two stations. One at 52 Turkey Foot Road and the Main Station at 3335 Turkey Foot Road. We have 2 pumpers, 1 tanker, 1 Brush Fire Truck, 1 Rescue Truck, and 1 4-wheel drive Mule. We currently have 21 firefighters. We cover 35.3 Square miles. We receive all funding from property tax levies.

VERNON TWP. RESCUE

Vernon Rescue was started in January 1973 answering calls in a 1965 Oldsmobile Modified Hearse ambulance leased from a local funeral home 9 (Jack Davis in South Webster). It was leased for $1.00 a year. In February 1973 The  service was incorporated and a contract to provide ambulance service was established with the Twp. Trustees. Although separate from the Fire Department as far as organization, many of the same members are on both departments and both organizations work together as one.

Today we have one ambulance at each station. We are a Advanced Life Support unit and provide Paramedic care to the residents of Vernon Twp. and those who pass through. We also respond to mutual aid calls to neighboring departments. We have 4 Paramedics, 2 Intermediate EMT’s, 7 EMT’s and 4 First Responders.

We cover 35.3 Square miles. We receive all funding from property tax levies. We currently do not charge anyone for our emergency services.