Warren Engine Company volunteers gather together history

Calculate the years of service members of the Warren Engine Company No. 1 have contributed to the community and it's pretty impressive. Their service spans at least six centuries and the company's original roll book first signed June 17, 1863, now holds the signatures of 383 volunteers.

Lawrence Jacobson, of Fallon, served 60 years in Douglas County. Paul Webster, the company's vice-president, says even though there is a decline in volunteer firefighting compared to earlier this century he expects the numbers in Warren Engine Company to continue to grow because of its strong tradition in Carson City and with the families involved. And he can't wait until his 9-year-old grandson can join.

Webster joined several other members of the historic firefighting company Saturday at Ross Gold Park for a pot luck picnic. The members gathered in an effort to add more stories to the company's archives.

"He will join the company, it kinda runs in the family," Webster said.

Webster, a 33-year member of Warren Engine Company, said he became involved with firefighting when he lived in Pleasant Valley.

"In Pleasant Valley you kind of just watched your house," he said. "You had the key to the fire department and if something happened, which it did, you and the neighbors got together and took care of it. That's the spirit of volunteer firefighting. Helping each other."

Currently the company has seven or eight active members and a team of trustees and board members.

Now that the training to become a volunteer is the same as regular firefighter's some use the departments as stepping stones to get into city or forestry fire departments.

"The training is now six months, the same as any other firefighter," said Pete Baker, 1st Assistant Chief for Warren Engine Company No. 1. "They get trained in the latest technologies, and if needed, they can step in at any time, in any situation."