By Jim Ross, Guest Columnist

Curly, Verdy, Rollie, and the Bull. They just don't make names like that anymore. Nor men. Does anyone even know Mr. Husom’s real first name or does his birth certificate actually say Buzzy? These characters, and many more, were founders of, or pioneers in, the Savage Volunteer Fire Department. Men who risked all at any hour to fight the fire, tend to the injured, or search for the lost child.

Next week is Fire Prevention Week and this year the 57th anniversary of a small band of brothers taking the initiative to start a fire department, I got to waxing nostalgic about the men who served and the stories they told.

Gilbert, Warren, and Clem. Men who served before OSHA regulations when you could ride to the scene on the rear running boards of the fire truck at break-neck speeds, holding on for dear life in the driving rain or sub zero temps.

Dwyer , Scholz, Thelen and Belcher. Men who served before the Clean Indoor Air Act when you could not only smoke on the trucks but also chew tobacco and spit. And if you were on the aforementioned bumper, you didn't dare peek around the corner of the rig because you might get an eyeful of snoose.

Founded in 1951, we also covered Burnsville and spent some quality time there every dry spring as the river bottoms burned. Some of the biggest grass fires you'd ever see burned from the railroad tracks along the Minnesota River from the turn south on Highway 13 clear to I-35W, and left a smell that hung over the cities for days. (Like gasoline and white out, I've always loved the smell of a good grass fire.)

Earl, Eugene, Eddie. Men who ran into burning buildings when all others ran out. Men who served before class A uniforms and commendations, but would have deserved a chest full of tin and ribbons. Fearless men who approached fully involved structures and stopped the spread of flames. I remember as a child the Minnesota Pollution Control fire on the Fourth of July 1972, watching exploding 55 gallon drums shoot hundreds of yards into the air.

Allen, Egan, Bohn. Men who left their job sites and homes to enter yours in your hour of need. They were city workers, cops, small business owners and blue collars. Men with a sense of civic duty and a great pride in their community. And all they did was put the wet stuff on the hot stuff, stanch the flow of blood, and ease your minds in a time of crisis. I will never forget the Port Bunge explosion in October of 1978 that burned for days and took the life of my friend’s father.

Before we knew of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder they dealt with it through community, bull sessions and Schmitz. Lots of Schmitz, that’s the beer, not another firefighter.

As the saying goes, “Behind every good man is a good woman” thus the Savage Fire Ladies Auxiliary was formed in 1974. Here ladies like Bunny, Gwendy, Audrey and Suzie helped support the efforts of the fireman. Fearless in there own right, and tireless.

So this week, and always, let’s remember those who went before, and recognize that we owe the fact that we have one of the states most respected and talented fire departments, to people with names like McQuiston, McColl, and McCoy.

Now we are considered part-time city employees and paid on-call firefighters. It doesn’t sound quite as impressive with the ladies as saying you’re a Savage firemen. We are also integrated and women have joined the ranks and serve successfully right along side the men. They just put on another bunch of new recruits to the Savage Fire Department. One goes by the name Scooby, another by Angel, and yet another by Heather. I suspect they still do make men (and woman) like our forebears, and I wonder what stories this new batch will tell.

Post script: Sadly, a member of the new guard was recently lost. Dave Anderson served for 14 years from 1994 until his untimely death on Sept. 16. On Sept. 17, a member of the old guard was also taken from us, Joe Thelen served 24 years from 1956 to 1980. They both meant a great deal to Savage Fire and will be sorely missed.

(Jim Ross is a retired member of the Savage Fire Department and a resident of Savage. Guest commentaries are just one of several opinion and commentary pieces appearing regularly in this newspaper.)