OTTAWA — The Ottawa Fire Department is 150 years old today. Firefighters are hosting a come-and-go reception for the public at the Second Street station 1-3 p.m. today. There will be comments and a pinning ceremony at 1:30 p.m. The department started as about 50 volunteers as a bucket brigade, said Fire Chief Tim Mathias. Volunteers were paid per call depending on how close they were in the bucket line to the fire, he said. Among the most memorable fires: Tauy Jones Hall at Ottawa University and a tanker truck explosion downtown that killed the two truckers damaged several buildings after gasoline running in the gutters and storm sewer ignited, he said. The time includes an interval of a few years in which the fire and police departments were merged into a public safety department.
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 10:30 a.m.
