The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/owner
It's official, Jerry Brown has retired after 35 years serving on the La Harpe Fire Department, the last 20 as La Harpe District Fire Marshall, or as we like to say, "Fire Chief"!
Assistant Fire Chief of the La Harpe Fire Dept. Jason Siegworth has taken on the position as of January 1, 2024.
Brown, who lives in La Harpe with his wife Pam, joined the department November 10, 1988 under La Harpe District Fire Marshal, "Chief" Terry Housewright.
"There were sixty firemen in the district with a waiting list of other men who wanted to join," he said.
"Today, La Harpe still maintains 30 firemen, while Fountain Green and Terre Haute who had 15 firemen each, now have dropped to 12 in Fountain Green and ten in Terre Haute." That puts the district eight short of their sixty firemen. They would like to see those numbers back up in Terre Haute and Fountain Green. One has to be age 18 and out of high school and attend training meetings to get their 20 hours.
Brown admits the job kept him very busy over the years, but his smile reflects how much he has enjoyed his volunteer service to the community and to the La Harpe Fire Protection District.
The district averages 40-50 calls a year, he said, "some fire, other traffic accidents, and assisting the ambulance as needed," he said.
What takes the most time for the District Marshal is the act of preparation....overseeing the district firemen and care of fire equipment, from uniforms to firetrucks, and making sure firemen are continually and adequately trained by meeting more than the minimum legal requirements. That means lots of meetings.
Brown's job, which has now transferred to Jason Siegworth of La Harpe, includes attending five monthly meetings including the La Harpe Fire District meeting with trustees, three fire department meetings at La Harpe, Fountain Green, and Terre Haute, and a training meeting.
The NFPA requires an annual test of the hoses which they have 6500 feet to unfold and put together in 300 foot sections with a nozzle to run 250 lbs of water pressure for 5 minutes in order to make sure there's no leaks and all is in good repair. This takes a six to eight-hour-day of work by the firemen and Chief.
The pumps on the trucks are also checked annually by Alexis Fire Equipment Company.
Of course, the district's 10 fire trucks have to be maintained, gassed up, and in good working order in preparation for a fire call. District trustees set a goal of replacing a truck every two years. "The oldest truck is a 1999 engine/pumper and the newest is a 2009 tanker to haul a large supply of water."
A good change has been the Dallas Rural Water installing hydrants across the rural area when they brought water through the district "which helped a lot on trips back to town, for water," Brown said. Other changes he has seen is "pumpers have gotten quicker. In 1988 they pumped 750 gallons a minute, and our latest 2004 pumper can put out 1500 gallon a minute," Brown said.
Needed fire equipment are purchased from district taxes, grants, or fund-raisers put on by the firemen.
Brown said the fire district just received a Fire Marshal Small Tools Grant, where they obtained a combination rescue tool "spreader cutter" that runs from a large battery. Their Jaws of Life runs by hydraulic which is over 15 years and still in use. The new tool, however, is much easier to use, he said. "You can grab and go and use it right away – it's much quicker."
Firemen's uniforms for the current 52 firemen must be regularly updated as well. "Our gear is only good for ten years," Brown said.
They donated their used gear to the WIU Fire Academy Program in Macomb a year ago.
Other responsibilities of the La Harpe District Fire Marshal is to see firemen have their twenty hours of training a year. There is a training officer who attends every meeting, (department and district meetings). In 2023, Austin Johnson started having 3-hour training meetings on Sunday for those who couldn't make meetings during the week.
"Trying to make sure everyone got their training hours each year was probably the hardest thing about my job," Brown said.
La Harpe Fire Protection District is tax supported which includes both fire and ambulance, with funds earmarked for each separately.
Brown had also served on the ambulance for 20 years, an EMT for 12, retiring June of 2023.
Jerry and wife Pam have two grown children Jeremy (Chalee) Brown (Carthage, Missouri) and Marissa (Jason) Poulter outside Terre Haute, and 4 grandchildren: Judah and Josiah Brown and Lexa and Bexli Poulter.
Jerry loves fishing and hunting and plans on doing a lot more of it with his grandsons in Missouri.
Jerry's wife Pam works part time in the office at Great River Christian School in Burlington, IA.
Jason Siegworth Is New La Harpe District Fire Marshal
Newly appointed La Harpe District Fire Marshal is former LH FD Assistant Chief Jason Siegworth of La Harpe. Siegworth has been a fireman since March 2010, fourteen years.
He is a 2002 La Harpe High School graduate, is a member of the La Harpe Park District Board and has been in charge of the annual La Harpe 4th of July Fireworks celebration each year. He and his wife Mary Ann have three young children - Maddie, Ali, and Jack.