Hobart Reed looks back on 60 years as a fireman

By Dawn Treglown

CENTRE — Someone once lit a fire under Hobart Reed. As a result, the Centre native spent the next 60 years dousing all the flames he could find.

Reed, 84, joined the volunteer Centre Fire Department in 1947 at the behest of Ed Davis, a volunteer fireman who also managed the local Pontiac dealership. Reed was working at the car lot when Davis approached him.

Hobart Reed with the City of Centre Volunteer Fire Department's
Engine No. 2 in 1960.

Reed shows off the axe he received from the men in his
department in honor of his 50 years as a firefighter.

“He's the one who talked me into working for the fire department,” Reed said. “We got paid three dollars a month. That was for gasoline to get to fire meetings and fires.”

Reed said the department owned a 1918 American Le France fire truck when he joined. He also said there was a big siren over the fire hall which was used to let the volunteers know their services were needed.

Reed put in 25 years of service as a fireman before accepting the position of fire chief. He served another 25 years before handing the chief's duties back to someone else, but he didn't leave the department.

“I retired as fire chief in 1997, but I just can't seem to stay retired,” Reed said.

A few years ago, Reed bought Fire Engine No. 10 from the city. The vehicle is a 1973 GMC -- still running on its original engine -- that covered a lot of the fire calls around the county for several decades.

“That truck meant so much to me,” he said. “That truck put out more fires in this county that any other one.”

“It was the best fire truck we ever owned,” he added.

Over the years, Reed said he has seen his share of fires and unusual circumstances.
“One time we put out a huge brush fire,” he said. “Nothing was around but a house, and there didn't appear to be anyone in it.”

After putting out the fire, the firemen noticed the flames appeared to have originated near the house. Since no one was around to set the fire, the firemen investigated further.

“One of the firemen stepped on a cat in the debris, and we finally figured out what had happened,” Reed said. “A cat had gotten in the transformer, got electrocuted and started the fire.”

He said he had witnessed fires caused by squirrels in transformers, but this was the first and only time he had come across a cat getting into a transformer.

And then there was the scariest situation he ever had to deal with.

It was many years ago, during the daytime, that the fire hall got a call to go to the old Jordan Gas Company, a propane gas business that was located not far from downtown Centre.

“When we got there, the shop had already caught fire,” Reed said. “There were gas trucks in there, and the building was on fire.”

He said there was no time to order an evacuation of the area. Luckily, the fire was contained before there was a major disaster.

“One explosion would have wiped out a quarter-mile,” he said. “It was 'put it out or die' for us.”

Reed said he is also proud of all the fires the department was able to put out.

“One time, early in the morning, we got a fire call down at Henry Johnson's house,” he said. “I got to the fire hall within a minute. Within three minutes of receiving the call, we pulled into the property.”

He said Johnson and his wife were still asleep. The firemen saved most of the structure and were able to get Mr. and Mrs. Johnson safely out of the burning house.

“I have thousands of stories like that,” he said. “Some are good, some not so good. I'm sure there's some I've forgotten, too. ”

He said the volunteer fire department has always done its best, and he's always been proud of the firemen and their devotion.

“I've worked with some fine firefighters,” he added.

Though humble regarding his contribution to departments throughout the county, Current Fire Chief Kevin Ware said Reed deserves credit for the level of protection he and his men are able to provide. Although Reed has been retired as fire chief for 10 years, Chief Ware said he continues to address Reed as 'chief'.

“I respect the man,” Ware said. “I really do. He's also a good judge of character. And he has single-handedly designed our fire department himself into what it is today.”

Ware has served in the post a little more than a year. One of his requirements is that all his firemen climb the 75-foot-high ladder truck, to get them familiar with the equipment and the height.

“I don't require the older firemen to climb it, but I had this young guy who was reluctant to climb,” Chief Ware said. “Suddenly, one of the guys said, 'Look at that.' I turned and looked, and there was Chief Reed halfway up the ladder. He climbed all the way up and back down and wasn't even out of breath. He just said, 'No big deal.' It certainly convinced the younger guy to do it.”

When asked about his achievements during 60 years of firefighting, Reed said he was most proud that he was “able to answer the calls all those years.” In honor of his dedication, the city dedicated the new fire hall to Reed.

Ware said Reed has more than earned an honorary spot on the Centre Volunteer Fire Department, and can keep it as long as he wants it.

“I just wish I knew half the things he's forgotten,” Ware said. "I don't see how he's done all that he has done.”