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Saint John's Campus Fire Department History

Carpentry Building On the night of January 22, 1939, fire broke out in a carpenter shop building at Saint John's Abbey and University.  Members of the community had only two hose carts and no experience with which to extinguish the blaze.  It was extremely cold that night, twenty below zero, and it took nine hours to put out the fire.  Very little was left of the building.

The following summer the Abbey business manager and the community decided that a fire truck was needed.  A 1936 one and one-half ton Ford truck with a pump that could handle 500 gallons per minute  was purchased. The brothers built the balance of the truck out of available metal parts.  This ford fire engine was used for many years.

In 1956 Brother John Anderl, OSB took over as fire chief.  Many changes had to be made to meet new insurance standards and to improve fire protection.  Bro. John was asked to do the job.  With the help of the St. Paul, MiN, Fire Department he was able to set up a training program for the "monk fire-fighters." 

Old TruckAs the years went by more equipment was added.  The St. Paul Fire Department was more than generous in giving Saint John's some of its old equipment such as boots, coats and helmets. Training also became an important part of the new volunteer department.  Through the efforts of Bro. John and subsequent chiefs, Saint John's Fire Department has been brought up to date.  

New trucks were also added to the department.  In 1963 the community bought a more modern hook-and-ladder truck from the Duluth Fire Department.  Bro. John and his fellow firemen put in 400 hours stripping, painting, lettering and rewiring the truck. 

After the completion of the new fire hall in 1970 there was room for additional equipment.  Over the years newer models have been added.

 Brother John Brudney has worked diligently in acquiring grant money to update turnout gear, radio equipment and new light-weight air tanks.

A new pumper was added in 2004 with a tank holding 750 gallons of water.  The truck is also equipped with an internal generator, foam and enclosed cab with room for three firefighters, an officer and a driver.