Brandon Volunteer Fire Department - Brandon, South Dakota

In 1958, the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) was organized and chartered as a non-profit corporation. Prior to this time, Brandon and the area called upon the Valley Springs or Renner fire departments to fight their fires. Approximately fifteen volunteer firemen manned and early fire department. Their first large piece of equipment was a 1946 Dodge truck (Army surplus) that was purchased

for $600. It was modified into a fire truck with pumper; it proved to be quite clumsy and hard to drive. The truck was damaged while passing a car, caught the soft shoulder of the road and rolled. A 1957 Ford was purchased in 1959 and the equipment of the Dodge was transferred to it. Elmer Erickson became the first fire chief of the Brandon volunteers. The Civil Defense offered a semi-tanker to Brandon if they would go to Detroit, Michigan, to get it. The BVFD found and purchased an old Reo truck trailer so that they could haul the tanker to Brandon. Fire chief Erickson, along with his wife, Lois, made the trip to Detroit and brought the tanker home to Brandon. This truck also was a clumsy, hard-to-handle vehicle. Many of the firemen could not drive it. Even though the BVFD felt fortunate to have the truck, it was strictly a means for hauling water. An old 1946 Chevy pumper fire truck was purchased reasonably and added to the department. It would suffice until a bigger and better truck was affordable. It should be remembered that the BVFD was operating strictly on donations until 1963 when the township board levied taxes for the support of the fire department. Previously a variety of fund-raising events were held in support of the department. In 1967, a new Ford pumper was purchased. It increased the pride of the department and at the same time decreased the stressfulness of the fireman's work. Grass fires were frequent; therefore the BVFD needed a truck that could get to places that their other trucks could not go. A four-wheel drive ¾-ton truck was purchased. The department hired chief Erickson to remodel it into a decent grass fire-fighting truck. This he did by building a platform on the front of the truck so that two men could stand with hoses and fight grass fires. He also build platforms on the other trucks to aid fire fighting. The department trains every first and third Monday of every month. They also attend state fire schools and have hosted the state schooling. The firemen consider themselves lucky and are thankful that no firemen have been hurt at a fire; although, fireman Oscar Pearson died from a heart attack while fighting a fire. Today the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department is well equipped. BVFD is setup to carry up to forty active members some of which are Certified Emergency Technicians. They respond to fires of all kinds as well as accidents and medical calls.