The Beginning:

There had been a feeling among the residents of Holloway for sometime that there should be some type of fire protection provided.  This feeling was intensified when the Hedrick’s house, in which the Bryant’s were living, was destroyed by fire in February of 1950.

The initiative for the organization of a volunteer fire department was taken by Allen Blouch who, after talking with several men of the community, called a general meeting that was held on March 8, 1950 in Blouch’s Store.  It was a unanimous decision that a fire department should be established and financed by a donation
of $25.00 from each member of the department and that a solicitation would take place throughout the township.

With this as a beginning the following officers were elected: Don Mitchell,
President; Allen Blouch, Vice-President; Don Jacqua, Secretary and Treasurer.  Under the leadership of these men the Raisin Township Fire Department became
a reality. 
A Chevrolet truck was purchased and, with Laurance Kopke and Earl Bennington
in charge, a tank truck capable of carrying 600 gallons of water and a mounted portable pump were built.  Before the tanker was completed, it was the opinion of the Department that the Township should help furnish fire protection.  With that in mind, a petition was circulated for a special election on the subject.  On May 23, 1950, by a vote of 115 - yes to 12 - no, the Township Board was authorized to
build a fire barn and to furnish the department with a truck.

On May 29, 1950, the Township Board ordered a fire truck from Mr. Barton of the American Fire Apparatus Co. of Battle Creek.  The truck was an F-7 Ford, marine type, two-stage pump and tank truck, capable of carrying 500 gallons of water. 
The truck was delivered on November 18, 1950.  The building was not completed, so the new truck was housed in the Butler’s garage in Tecumseh for a period of about three weeks until a heating unit was installed in the barn.

A lot was purchased from John Youngs by the Township and the construction of the building began.  The building contract was just a verbal agreement and the contractor failed to finish the fire barn.  Many hours were given by the men of the Fire Department so that the new fire barn might be completed.  It was estimated
that two-thirds of the work was done by the firemen.

The first run of the Raisin Township Fire Department was made when the Sutton School caught fire in the winter of 1951.