La Crosse Tribune, Wis., Larry Olson column: ?Firefighter 5' foundation of Bangor-area volunteer roster

By Larry Olson

BANGOR, Wis., Mar. 31, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Mention the Bangor-Burns Fire Department, and its over-60 senior citizens -- Dick Chapiewsky, Pete Elsen, Gene Freit, Ron Paulus and Richard "Curly" Tenner -- can get pretty fired up.

Together, they have given more than 180 years of service to the volunteer firefighting force established more than 100 years ago. Indeed, this is something to be proud of; but it doesn't hold a candle to the pride the five feel for the 35-plus volunteers on the department's roster.
"We have one of the best volunteer fire departments anywhere," says Chapiewsky, 72, fire chief for 35 years until he had a stroke in 2002. An active volunteer under successor Steve Horstman, Chapiewsky adds: "With no pay scale, it's unreal what the department saves the community each year."

"A huge reason for our success," says Chief Horstman, "is because these five members are our foundation. Our younger volunteers learn a lot from them. They have fought fires the old way, by learning on the job."

A barebones sketch of the department is: The La Crosse County village of Bangor (population 1,400) has a fire station serving not only the village but the townships of Bangor and Burns (for which the department is named). About a dozen years ago, the nearby village of Rockland joined the Bangor-Burns team, and today also has a fire station. The stations have a mutual-aid agreement. Volunteers also play a vital role with the community's first-responder system.

Chapiewsky explains: "Through the years we've kept up with Wisconsin's basic firefighter training, and more recently new members receive group training (whenever available at night or weekends) at Western Technical College, La Crosse."

The five seniors' dedication to the department is of the hometown variety. Each has spent his life in Bangor and graduated from Bangor High -- Chapiewsky in 1953, Elsen, Paulus and Tenner in 1960, and Freit in 1963.

Devotion to keeping a safe community comes from seeing Bangor and its outlying areas transformed from a rural setting of wooden bridges over railroad tracks, train depots and feed mills into a growing bedroom community surrounded by farmland. A friendly community rich in veterans and service organizations, it's a wonderful place to live even though the availability of jobs is limited, says Chapiewsky. He retired in 2001 as owner of Chip's Bar in Bangor.

A Trane Co. retiree, Elsen, 66, has been a volunteer for 45 years and a fire department lieutenant for the past 20. He also is president of the department's club that sponsors several fund-raising functions -- such as the annual firemen's dance held Friday night. Says Elsen: "These funds are kept in our organization for the purchase of new equipment" that otherwise would be dependent on tax dollars.

Between the villages' stations, there are 15 vehicles. Horstman describes them as four pumpers, three water tankers, three brush trucks (to combat grass fires, etc.), three personnel carriers, a Jaws of Life, and an all-terrain unit.

"We've come a long way," offers Freit, 62, an employee with Bangor Municipal Light & Water Co. and a volunteer for 35 years. "I remember when the department had just one old fire truck and a newer pumper."

Tenner, 65, has been a volunteer for 27 years. A retiree of Accelerated Genetics (headquartered in Baraboo, Wis.) since 2005, he describes the fire crew as "very enthusiastic" about its work. "We know how to make good use of our resources. Any state grants we are awarded go toward equipment and training. This allows us to keep up with the times."

A 34-year volunteer, Paulus, 65, retired four years ago as owner of Modern Striping. He credits continued strength of the department with the availability of more classes and tests becoming available at night. "It's tough for our younger members to leave their day-time jobs," he says.

Chief Horstman concludes: "In a volunteer system, you have to have members who work nights and days. Although our members who are retired stay busy with various activities and part-time jobs, they are available when there is a fire (or other emergencies) during the day. What they continue to bring to our department means a lot. They are great to work with."

Larry Olson can be reached at lolson6311@charter.net or at larry.olson@lacrossetribune.com, or by mail addressed to the La Crosse Tribune, 401 N. Third St., La Crosse, WI 54601.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0250-24129338