Huron Expositor, 2000-08-02, Page 7News
Whitey Broome reminisces about years
of fighting fires and playing pranks
By Scott Hilgsndorff
Expositor Editor
Volumeer•firefighters are known for having fun and showing
a strong sense of camaraderie .as .they do a dangerous and
sometimes thankless job.
The technology and responsibilities of a firefighter have
grown and changed over the. past several decades. but the
camaraderie remains the same.
Retired -firefighter Ron "Whitey" Broome is a. testimony to
-that fact.
Between -1963 until 1983, Broome saw his share of blaze
battling and bonding as a member of the Seaforth Fire
Department-•
From cheating at cards (and h e'll tell you they all did it) to a
now infamous prank involving limburger cheese, Broome
worked with a bunch of guys he still considers friends.
"I think the way we got along, we :had- a lot of .fun -There
were a lot of shenanigans but when the fire alarm went off it
was a different story. They were all firemen," he said. •• •
Broome was on the 'department with the likes of Don.
Coleman, Harry. Hak. Frank Sills, George Gairick (who is now
chief), Bill Eisler, Jack Scott, Frank Case. Bill Willibee, Jack.
_Muir and Gus Bousse and he said they -were all a solid bunch
when the alarm rang.
"They were 103 per Cent, the whole works of them." he said. •
They. worked with older and less -equipment than the
department has today to get the job done: - -
"We didn't have the jaws of life then." said Broome: adding
they had only one or two masks and oxygen tanks for getting
inside serious fires.
With a truck. that held about 1,000 gallons of water, they had
a collapsible tank they could take to rural fires' to help keep a
steady supply of water available.
. And together, they battled some serious fires • while Broome
was with the department:
One he remembers most was the Dublin Hotel.
"It was awful cold the night we were there," he said. The
hotel, now where the Dublin General Store is .Ituated, was lost
that night in tough tire to fight. -
He remembers another cold and snowy night getting stuck on
the way to .a barn fire in McKillop Township when the truck
Under the net
Scoff Hilgendorff photo
The first three -on -three basketball tournament in Seaforth was
held over the weekend at the Community Centres.
NOTICE
OF PROPOSED BY-LAW
TO STOP UP AND CLOSE
A ROAD ALLOWANCE
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Municipal Act
R.S.O.. 1990, the Council of the Corporation of the
Township of Huttett proposes to enact a by-law as described
below to stop up and close a road allowance.
By-law 2000.16 of the Township of Hullett proposes to stop
up and close a road allowance known as Sideroad 20/21
situated and Tying between Concession 7 and Concession
8.
The proposed by-law and descriptions of lands affected may
be viewed al the Hullett Township Municipal Office at the
address hereinafter noted. The Council of the Corporation
of the Township will hear, in person or by counsel or agent,
any person who claims their land will be prejudicially
affected by the said by-law and who applies to be heard at a
meeting to be held at the said Municipal Office on the 22nd
day Of August 2000, at 8:00 p.m.
Dated at the Township of Hullett this 22nd day
of June, 2000.
Rhonda Fischer
Clerk -Treasurer
Corporation of the Township of Hullett
PO Box 226
Londesboro, Ontario
NOM 2H0
got wedged betwebn a bridge and snowbank.
It was when the got back to the finehall to unwind that the
shenanigans would usually start.
He said card playing was a popular way to unwind back then
but every one of the guys would cheat if you weren't watching.
"But just in fun." he said. -
And the fun didn't end there.
A prank guys on the department still talk about involves the
forementioned limburger cheese.
. While Broome, was reluctant to tell the truth behind the'
infamous prank, current member Tom Phillips told- The
Expositor how it worked.
The guys would often eat limburger cheese when they were
hanging out at the hall but someone got the idea of placing a
piece in another firefighter's boot when the fireman wasn't
looking. • .
And, of course, a month could go-by without a fire call.
When the alarm went, the guys were serious and in w rush so
not only did the cheese sit for a month, hut it also went with the
'firefighter, squished inside his boot with his hot. sweaty foot.
Phillips.said the smell was undescribable when they got hack
to the hall and took off their gear.
"But we always got the job done. That was the most
important thing," said Broome. Despite the antics. Broome
said, "When it came to fighting a tire, everybody was on their
toes,'
After about 16 years .on the department. he remembers hest
how well the guys on the department got along and .aid
working with.them is his best -memory of the department.
Could be
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