The Camp Springs Volunteer Fire Department has had from the beginning a very active and supportive Ladies Auxiliary. Depicted circa 1950 is a group of the Ladies Auxiliary members presenting the Fire Department Officers with a check to aid in purchasing new equipment. The Camp Springs Volunteer Fire Department was the first rural fire department, that is, non-city fire department, in Campbell County. John Reitman was appointed as first Fire Chief, with Carl Futscher as Assistant Chief.

Depicted below are some of the Charter Members that started the Camp Springs Volunteer Fire Department:

Clockwise from bottom center: Carl Futscher, Frank Enzweiler, Robert Knuehl, Bill Bezold, Former Chief Ed See.

The first permanent station was built into the hillside across from Reitman’s Garage. This building still exists and the fire department uses it today as a storage facility. The Frank Neltner and John Reitman families donated the property on which it sits.

Prior to the existence of taxing districts, funding of rural volunteer fire departments was always a challenge. Most departments relied on soliciting donations door-to-door, raffles, festivals, etc. The Camp Springs Fire Department members, always the innovators, hit upon an unconventional means of raising money – they ran a baseball field! There was a piece of property available at Lower Eight Mile Road and Four Mile Pike, which was purchased, and a first-rate ball field was constructed. Later improvements brought grandstands and a concession stand. The ball field provided for some income on a permanent basis, and the fire department and Auxiliary operated the complex for years. Ultimately, it was decided to sell the property and buy the land where the new station is located.

The present station was built in 1981, and is situated just to the south of and across the road from the first station. In 2001 an office addition was constructed, which includes a large classroom and state of the art computer network.

Fire Protection District #3:

Recognizing the need for a more reliable source of funding for their fire department, the members of the community of Camp Springs petitioned the Campbell Circuit Court for the formation of a Fire Protection District under K.R.S. Chapter 75.010. As a result, Campbell County Fire Protection District #3 was formed on March 1, 1968 by order of Circuit Court Judge Frederick M. Warren. Fire District #3 is the first fire district in Northern Kentucky, and only the third in the entire State. Further property was annexed by Fire Protection District #3 in 1973.

Initially the Camp Springs Volunteer Fire Department operated as a private fire department under K.R.S Chapter 273. After the formation of the tax district, the department, contracted to the District to provide fire protection. This all changed in 1988 when the Camp Springs Volunteer Fire Department was reorganized as a “Chapter 75” fire department under the direct management of Fire Protection District #3. Presently all fire apparatus is owned by, and all firefighters and officers appointed by, the Fire District. The building and grounds are still owned by the members of the Chapter 273 Corporation, which continues to supplement the funding of the Department by sponsoring various functions throughout the year.

The Camp Springs Volunteer Fire Department was the first fire department in Campbell County to convert to a Fire District fire department.

Fire Apparatus:

The first pumper was ordered in 1950 and delivered in 1952. This was an International-Luverne pumper with a 350-gpm positive displacement pump. Later Wayne See donated a 1946 GMC and a 1000-gallon tank was installed. This apparatus was the first fire department tanker in the county. The Camp Springs department has always relied on tankers, as very limited fire hydrants exist even today in our first-response area. Later another tanker, depicted here with some of the members of the day, was constructed on a 1961 Ford chassis using a surplus fuel oil truck body for the tank.

Another pumper was purchased in 1972, a Hendrickson-Pierce. This was the first Pierce apparatus in the State of Kentucky, as well as the first diesel/automatic transmission equipped fire apparatus in the county. Engine 302 is still in service today as the Department’s reserve pumper.

The 1961 Ford tanker was retired in 1991 when the present Tanker 330, an International-Summit 1500 gallon quick dump tanker was placed in service.

In 1994 an International-Ferrara pumper was purchased. This apparatus is the first apparatus in the area equipped with Class-A Compressed Air Foam, and one of first such apparatus built for structural firefighting anywhere. In fact, Engine 303 carries only the seventh such system manufactured by Hale Fire Pump Company.

In 1997 a Ford-Mertz F350 4x4 quick response unit was purchased. This unit is equipped with a 200-gpm pump and a 200-gallon water tank, and is used as a grass fire unit and EMS First Response unit.

Depicted above is the department’s apparatus circa 1975. Left to right: Engine 302, Tanker 330, Brush Truck 332, Engine 301, Brush Truck 331.



Chiefs of the Department:

Listed below are the individuals who have served as Fire Chief, and some of the accomplishments of their administrations:

Chief and Assistant Chiefs:	Term in Office:	Accomplishments:
Chief - John Reitman Asst Chief – Carl Futscher	1949 to 1965	Chief Reitman was appointed the first Fire Chief of the Camp Springs VFD. Saw the purchase of the first pumper and tanker apparatus, and the construction of the first fire station.
Chief - Ervin Enzweiler Asst Chief – Carl Futscher	1965 to 1967	Saw to the continued funding of the Department by means of the purchase of the ball field.
Chief - Edward See Asst Chief – Carl Futscher Asst Chief – Art Heck Asst Chief – Ervin Born	1967 to 1984	Purchased Engine 302, the first diesel/automatic pumper in the area. Fire District #3 was formed during Chief See’s term. Saw to the sale of the ballpark, purchase of the present fire station property, and the construction of the new station.
Chief - George Johnson Asst Chief – Ervin Born Asst Chief – Len Beck	1984 to 1985	Reorganized officer staff and responsibilities. Purchased all new Personal Protective Equipment.
Chief - Len Beck Asst Chief – Ervin Born Asst Chief – Myron Born	1985 to 1997	Purchased Tanker 330 and Engine 303, the first Class-A Compressed Air Foam (CAFS) pumper.
Chief - Myron Born Asst Chief – Ervin Born Asst Chief – Tom Pelle	1997 to Present	Purchased Unit 331 and started the EMS First Response program. Instrumental in the merger of Camp Springs, Silver Grove, and Eastern Campbell Fire Districts.

Current Membership of Camp Springs VFD:

Fire Department Personnel:

Capt. Phil Sauerbeck, Asst. Chief Ervin Born, Chief Myron Born, Asst. Chief Tom Pelle, Capt. Paul See, Lt. Chris Rust.
Firefighter Randy Schultz, Ray Schultz, Roy Yowler, Andy McCafferty, Justin Saner, Jeremy Saner, Ron Ratliff, Garry Brady, Madonna Saner, Jon Saner, Connie Neal, Lou Sendelbach, Ken Smith, Marty Schubert, Bob Schack.
Capt Ed Saner, Safety Officer Len Beck, Firefighters Jason Saner, Jason Neises, Dee Dee Schubert, Gary Landell, Valerie Landell, Bob Ireland, Patty Strickland, Bettina Adams.

Ladies Auxiliary:

Front row left to right: Mary Ann Studer, Lorraine Kremer, Helen Reitman, Irma Futscher, Helen Sandfoss.
Second row left to right: Mary Lou Brady, Donna Born, and Tina Ansera. Back row left to right: Dee Dee Schubert, Dolores See, Gerri Schultz, Vera Ritter, Edna Heiert, Marge See, Barb Witte, Wanda Ramsey, Donna Kremer.
Not pictured: Charlene Frazier, Marietta Knuehl, MaryAnn Neltner, Jane Enzweiler, Barb Futscher, Shirley Pruitt


2004 Fire Department Personnel: