The Advance Volunteer Fire Department has always been comprised of families. Fire Chief Jim Caldwell said, “Advance has a long and proud history of fathers and sons serving the community. In a small town like ours, volunteering is a way of life.”
Caldwell himself is part of four generations of firefighters. “My grandfather was one of the first firemen, and then my dad, now my son serves as a fireman in Avon and he volunteers here on his time off,” he said. Family history is the reason their Facebook profile image includes a historical photo of the department. The photo taken in the 1950s has three engines and a handful of firefighters and their gear. It is this photo that helped bring home one of the department’s most significant pieces of history.
Jim’s son, Mike Caldwell, located one of Advance’s first fire engines and helped to orchestrate its purchase. More details in the Lebanon Reporter.
