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The City of Gillett Volunteer Fire Department Salutes:
Ray Mueller
On January 21, 1947, Ray became a member of the city Fire Department. During Ray's fifty years of service, many changes have come about in firefighting. He remembers the first fire truck that he worked with -- the 1925 Chevrolet. This was the first truck to haul hose -- it had a cart that was pulled behind it. There were no pumpers in those days, it was hydrant pressure only. Next came the 1942 Chevrolet pumper that was subsequently sold to Warvel Products. They still use it today! The 1942 Chevy is quite a bit different from today's more modern trucks. Our present truck carries aluminum ladders -- "back then" firemen had to haul and use 24 foot wooden carpenter's ladders.
Ray compares other equipment such as the Scott Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (S.C.B.A.) to the old Army issue gas masks. The soft oil slicker fisherman's hat and rain coat have evolved into the fire / heat resistant turnout gear made with materials such as Kevlar and Nomax.
The location of the fire department itself has changed with the passing of the years. When Ray was first a member, the fire station was on Main Street in the old Cooperative Educational Services Agency (CESA) and old library location. The trucks entered onto Main Street. Later, they moved to the City Hall building. The department is currently in the process of moving into the new fire station located in the Industrial Park.
Another change was the method of calling firefighters to the fires. First, there was the old bell in front of City Hall. Next, came the siren located in Zipple Park. Now the firefighters carry pagers.
When asked which fires he remembers the most, Ray stated that the Warvel fire, and the blazes that leveled TMJ's Supermarket and the Plywood factory were most memorable. He also stated that he is very happy that we have had no fire related fatalities in more than 15 years. He is very grateful for that.
Way before Ray was in the picture -- February 2, 1902, he heard about a fire in Suring (10 miles northwest of Gillett) where the Gillett Fire Department offered mutual aid. About half of the department's equipment was hauled to Suring on a flatbed railroad car.
Ray served as secretary of the department for approximately 20 years. He also served as Assistant Chief under Rudie Wagner, and Jim Henkel. He never aspired to be chief himself, "having too many irons in the fire." Ray served under other chiefs, Ernest Hilgenberg, Herman Krueger, Tom Wolfgram, Kevin Rudie, Curt Runge, Ron Lambrecht and the present Chief Tom Lietz. Ray said that he found being on the fire department very interesting and he enjoyed it very much.
Ray was serving on the hose company at the time he announced his plans to retire which was on February 18, 1997. He has always been ready to lend a hand and will continue to issue burning permits in the city while remaining with the department as a reserve member.
Ray passed away on January 25, 1999. He will be sadly missed by all.