Colfax FD plans open house

Sep 05, 20190

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At left: Jim Krouse sits on Whipmy, the Colfax Fire Department's 100 year old fire engine. The department will honor Whimpy and Krouse, who has served for half of Whimpy's term, at an open house Sept. 15.

Colfax Fire Department will host an open house Sunday, Sept. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Colfax Station, 400 N. Mill Street. Members of the department invite the public to come and check out the station and the equipment and to honor Jim Krouse for his 50 years of dedicated service to the department.

Krouse joined the department in 1969. At age 74, Jim is still one of the most active volunteers on the roster and serves on ambulance calls a month as an EMT. He rarely misses a fire call.

Krouse served as chief of the department for 38 years, from 1972 to 2010. He has mentored countless volunteers over the years and many have benefited from his leadership.

The department will also celebrate the 100th birthday of "Whimpy," a 1919 American LaFrance firetruck. Whimpy was the first gas powered fire engine between Walla Walla and Spokane in those days and brought Colfax to the forefront of modern firefighting in the United States.

Many trucks and apparatus will be on display during the open house and live fire demonstrations and extrication events are planned as well as a food vendor, displays, information and a cake and punch reception for Chief Krouse. The department invites the community to come and join the celebration.