Station 11 Sugar Creek

The Morgan County Fire Department was formed on January 2, 1992. A house in a sub-division close by had burned down, causing a realization if a need for a department closer to the area. Growth was acceleration in this area. There were only two station in Morgan County one in Putnam County that were approximately 10 miles away. Robert Ray donated 1.80 acres for this project.

The following people were instrumental in founding the dept.

Joe Sardonia

Ralph Roberts

David Smith

Mike & Shelby Storey

Fred Jones

Ellison Whitehead

Culyer Kline

Patterson

Harold Vincent

The department received its certification in 1993, the original members were Joe Sardonia, Davis Smith, Mike and Shelby Storey, Fred Jones, Culyer Kline, Jerry Holt, Lawton Miller, Ellison Whitehead, Keith Housworth, Paul Vancleave, Phillip Shelton, Ricky Morrell, Daryl Powers, Hugh Huntley and Harold Vincent.

The station was located on Shadow Lake Lane in an old barn and was called Sugar Creek Fire Station. The first piece of apparatus was on old red knocker received from Morgan County, brought down by Joe Price and Chuck Gulley. We bought one radio and four beepers new. Everything else was old and donated. The first bunker gear was some silver and black “stuff”. To get by in the beginning, when the 4 beepers were alerted and before going to the fire, we had to call by telephone the other firefighters to tell them there was a fire and where it was. We used an old barn to store the struck and supplies in until the firehouse was built in 1993. In the beginning, a lot of out time was spent raising money for needed equipment. The community has been very generous with monetary support and we have always raised money to meet the first needs. We had to raise money to buy gear, equipment, and the original rescue squad. Morgan County purchased a new pumper in 1993 and is currently still in service, Putnam County supplied the station with a use engine that is no longer service. This department has only had 5 chiefs since its development. Henry “Hank” Bauer is currently serving as Volunteer Station Captain.  The Department received the Valued Service Award from Putnam County Board of Directors in October 1993.