The Fire Department's 1st Fire

The fire department's first fire was in 1892. It was the Nappanee Furniture and had $3000 dollars in damages. The waterworks was not yet completed so that meant that the hydrants and mains were not finished. They had to resort back to the bucket brigade. The newly-organized fire department was joined by Nappanee citizens. The Nappanee news made some suggestions. That women would provide the men with a pail of hot coffee when there was hard and prolonged work to do. It would prevent the men from looking for something stronger and others from hurting themselves by drinking cold water.