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The Fort Wright Fire Department
The Fort Wright Fire Department was organized by the Fort Wright Civic Club in 1949 @ 110 Kennedy Road. Our first chief, Vernon Ashcraft, convinced citizens of the need for fire protection and started an organization that has helped save the lives of many loved ones.
At the beginning of 1950, with a roster of 35 volunteers signed up to help others, the first fire engine was purchased. That same year an equipment bay was constructed attached to the civic club building with the construction price of $20,000. Three years later our second fire engine was purchased in 1953. Our third apparatus was not an engine; however, it was the cities very first Life Squad purchased in 1954. The membership was growing.
The 60's and 70's brought great traditions to the city's fire department and set a standard for surrounding fire departments. During the 60's and 70's chiefs like Pete Nienaber and Bob Becker instilled pride into young gentleman, in turn helping them grow to become hardworking leaders in their community. A leader flourished by the name of Bob Hebbeler. Hebbeler went on to become one of the greatest firefighters northern Kentucky had developed and in 2003 was inducted in the Kentucky Firefighters Association Hall of Fame. His son Gary Hebbeler, who carried the same values as his father, became Fire Chief of Fort Wright in the late 80's into the early 90's.
The membership at Fort Wright Fire Department developed strong friendships, a sense of achievement, and pride for the community. The 80's and 90's were a real testament to this tradition. Family days were designated, frequently fellow fire fighters would help in any situation whether it was packing up and moving into a new house or giving advice on day to day topics. The traditions that were the standard in the 80's and 90's still live on to this day. Along the way the fire department has been nurtured with dedication. Another Chief who started volunteering at the fire department when he was 18 years old has become a Fire Marshal for the City of Erlanger. Captain Tim Deye, our last volunteer Fire Chief, plays an integral role at Fort Wright, Erlanger Fire Department, and the Greater Cincinnati Haz-Mat. Dedicating his life to the fire service, he has served as a Lieutenant, Captain, Asst. Chief, and Chief for the City of Fort Wright. Now as a Captain for the City of Erlanger he still finds time for the fire department that he started his career at in the fire service. With leaders like Captain Tim Deye and former Fire Chief and now current Asst. Chief Ron Becker, the training and development of fire fighter's skills have reached an all time high. Asst. Chief Ron Becker began his career at Fort Wright Fire Department in 1979 as an eager recruit following in his uncle Chief Bob Becker's footsteps. While moving up the ranks Asst. Chief Becker has become a valuable asset to not only the Fort Wright Fire Department but an asset to the entire state of Kentucky as a State Fire Rescue Instructor. In addition to his monumental steps towards making Fort Wright one of the safest city's to live in, Asst. Chief Becker continues to inspire young fire fighters as a teacher of Fire Science, while also playing a key role in teaching and developing recruits for the Kenton County Recruit Class.
The modernization of the fire department came to a turning point with the acquiring of a full-time paid staff. The first full time Fire Chief was Marc Muench. In 2000 the fire service changed for the better with the realization that the service the fire department provides should be staffed by a leader that can dedicate at least 40 hours a week to the city for fire and ems protection. After one year as the city of Fort Wright's Fire Chief, Marc Muench decided to leave and help the city of Florence as their new Fire Chief leaving the door open for a 25 year veteran and current Fire Chief of Fort Wright, Steve Schewe. As a Lieutenant, Steve Schewe developed a Public Education program that reached nearly every citizen of Ft. Wright. As a member of the fire department for so many years he learned from some of the best Fire Chiefs in Northern Kentucky on a regular basis. Chief Schewe has staffed the fire department with more paid personnel than any other chief of Fort Wright with the hopes of more staff in the future to supplement the growing population. He has taken a BLS life squad and made it into an ALS life squad loaded with some of the best Paramedics in the Greater Cincinnati Area. With the transformation from BLS to ALS came an additional 3 more full time Lieutenant Paramedics that have a combined 100 years of experience.
Modern times call for a modern fire service that can perpetually safe guard the citizens of Fort Wright. With a denser population than ever before, the Fort Wright Fire Department continues to grow into a fire department that can handle ALS, Hazmat, and Rescue incidents with the help of mutual aid.
The Fort Wright Fire Department was organized by the Fort Wright Civic Club in 1949 @ 110 Kennedy Road. Our first chief, Vernon Ashcraft, convinced citizens of the need for fire protection and started an organization that has helped save the lives of many loved ones.
At the beginning of 1950, with a roster of 35 volunteers signed up to help others, the first fire engine was purchased. That same year an equipment bay was constructed attached to the civic club building with the construction price of $20,000. Three years later our second fire engine was purchased in 1953. Our third apparatus was not an engine; however, it was the cities very first Life Squad purchased in 1954. The membership was growing.
The 60's and 70's brought great traditions to the city's fire department and set a standard for surrounding fire departments. During the 60's and 70's chiefs like Pete Nienaber and Bob Becker instilled pride into young gentleman, in turn helping them grow to become hardworking leaders in their community. A leader flourished by the name of Bob Hebbeler. Hebbeler went on to become one of the greatest firefighters northern Kentucky had developed and in 2003 was inducted in the Kentucky Firefighters Association Hall of Fame. His son Gary Hebbeler, who carried the same values as his father, became Fire Chief of Fort Wright in the late 80's into the early 90's.
The membership at Fort Wright Fire Department developed strong friendships, a sense of achievement, and pride for the community. The 80's and 90's were a real testament to this tradition. Family days were designated, frequently fellow fire fighters would help in any situation whether it was packing up and moving into a new house or giving advice on day to day topics. The traditions that were the standard in the 80's and 90's still live on to this day. Along the way the fire department has been nurtured with dedication. Another Chief who started volunteering at the fire department when he was 18 years old has become a Fire Marshal for the City of Erlanger. Captain Tim Deye, our last volunteer Fire Chief, plays an integral role at Fort Wright, Erlanger Fire Department, and the Greater Cincinnati Haz-Mat. Dedicating his life to the fire service, he has served as a Lieutenant, Captain, Asst. Chief, and Chief for the City of Fort Wright. Now as a Captain for the City of Erlanger he still finds time for the fire department that he started his career at in the fire service. With leaders like Captain Tim Deye and former Fire Chief and now current Asst. Chief Ron Becker, the training and development of fire fighter's skills have reached an all time high. Asst. Chief Ron Becker began his career at Fort Wright Fire Department in 1979 as an eager recruit following in his uncle Chief Bob Becker's footsteps. While moving up the ranks Asst. Chief Becker has become a valuable asset to not only the Fort Wright Fire Department but an asset to the entire state of Kentucky as a State Fire Rescue Instructor. In addition to his monumental steps towards making Fort Wright one of the safest city's to live in, Asst. Chief Becker continues to inspire young fire fighters as a teacher of Fire Science, while also playing a key role in teaching and developing recruits for the Kenton County Recruit Class.
The modernization of the fire department came to a turning point with the acquiring of a full-time paid staff. The first full time Fire Chief was Marc Muench. In 2000 the fire service changed for the better with the realization that the service the fire department provides should be staffed by a leader that can dedicate at least 40 hours a week to the city for fire and ems protection. After one year as the city of Fort Wright's Fire Chief, Marc Muench decided to leave and help the city of Florence as their new Fire Chief leaving the door open for a 25 year veteran and current Fire Chief of Fort Wright, Steve Schewe. As a Lieutenant, Steve Schewe developed a Public Education program that reached nearly every citizen of Ft. Wright. As a member of the fire department for so many years he learned from some of the best Fire Chiefs in Northern Kentucky on a regular basis. Chief Schewe has staffed the fire department with more paid personnel than any other chief of Fort Wright with the hopes of more staff in the future to supplement the growing population. He has taken a BLS life squad and made it into an ALS life squad loaded with some of the best Paramedics in the Greater Cincinnati Area. With the transformation from BLS to ALS came an additional 3 more full time Lieutenant Paramedics that have a combined 100 years of experience.
Modern times call for a modern fire service that can perpetually safe guard the citizens of Fort Wright. With a denser population than ever before, the Fort Wright Fire Department continues to grow into a fire department that can handle ALS, Hazmat, and Rescue incidents with the help of mutual aid.
