| BLOUNTSTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT |
Blountstown Fire Department began in 1910 with a bucket brigade.
Blountstown Fire Department endured 17 years of the bucket brigade until the
City purchased its first fire engine, a 1927 American LaFrance. Mr. D.H.
Stanfill was our first Fire Chief, followed by Mr. John M. Hall. In the 1940's
Mr. Oren Clements, a local businessman, began his term as Fire Chief that
lasted 30 years. In 1973, Mr. Harvey Grantham, a ten year veteran of BFD,
took the reigns as Chief and served until October of 2003, when he set the
record as the longest serving firefighter in Blountstown's history. In early 2004
Ben Hall was promoted to the position of Fire Chief, becoming Blountstown's
first paid career Fire Chief. In the mid-1970s, through the CETA Program,
Blountstown Fire Department was able to hire a full time career firefighter .
Alfred McCoullough served as Assistant Fire Chief for nearly 25 years until his
death in April of 2002.
Blountstown Fire Department endured 17 years of the bucket brigade until the
City purchased its first fire engine, a 1927 American LaFrance. Mr. D.H.
Stanfill was our first Fire Chief, followed by Mr. John M. Hall. In the 1940's
Mr. Oren Clements, a local businessman, began his term as Fire Chief that
lasted 30 years. In 1973, Mr. Harvey Grantham, a ten year veteran of BFD,
took the reigns as Chief and served until October of 2003, when he set the
record as the longest serving firefighter in Blountstown's history. In early 2004
Ben Hall was promoted to the position of Fire Chief, becoming Blountstown's
first paid career Fire Chief. In the mid-1970s, through the CETA Program,
Blountstown Fire Department was able to hire a full time career firefighter .
Alfred McCoullough served as Assistant Fire Chief for nearly 25 years until his
death in April of 2002.
Pictured here is Chief Grantham
driving Engine 2, a '45 Ford during a
Blountstown Homecoming Parade.
driving Engine 2, a '45 Ford during a
Blountstown Homecoming Parade.
Nearly 70 years of Fire Chiefs. Left to right,
Oren Clements (1943-1973), Harvey Grantham
(1973-2003) and Ben Hall (2003-present).
Oren Clements (1943-1973), Harvey Grantham
(1973-2003) and Ben Hall (2003-present).
In February of 1971, Blountstown firefighters fought
one of the largest fires in its history. The Eagle
Theatre in downtown Blountstown, burned,
threatening many of the thriving businesses just
inches away. Fire departments from Liberty County,
Altha and Marianna all assisted Blountstown Fire
Department to extinguish the blaze. Local
businessmen and farmers also rushed to town to
assist the fire departments. Thanks to the
cooperative efforts of many people, the fire was
contained only to the single screen theatre. No
other buildings were damaged.
The pictures below and to the left were taken by
Edwin Strawn.
one of the largest fires in its history. The Eagle
Theatre in downtown Blountstown, burned,
threatening many of the thriving businesses just
inches away. Fire departments from Liberty County,
Altha and Marianna all assisted Blountstown Fire
Department to extinguish the blaze. Local
businessmen and farmers also rushed to town to
assist the fire departments. Thanks to the
cooperative efforts of many people, the fire was
contained only to the single screen theatre. No
other buildings were damaged.
The pictures below and to the left were taken by
Edwin Strawn.
| Department History |
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