Fire Department follows one goal

Photo By: Nathan Zangmeister

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – “We always say if you’re not learning something new then you’re stuck,” said Andy Jones.
For a place that is over a half century-old, that’s a lot of learning.
“There is always something new to learn in the fire department,” said Jones
And it’s that thought that the Newton Township Fire Department has nurtured since it was just an ember carried home by a young soldier from the battlefields of W.W.II.
“When the instructor is teaching you something, to a group mostly,” said John Tignor. “He says ‘does everyone understand completely what I just explained. If you don’t hold your hand up’ and he’ll explain a second time.”
John Tignor is a 92 year old World War II veteran and retired Newton Township fireman.
“He’s been a member here for a very, very, very long time,” said Jones. “I’m pretty sure he was one of the founding members here which is something really spectacular. I almost think that he was one of the last ones that are still alive.”
John walks two miles everyday and part-way through his walk he’ll stop by the fire station to drink his coffee and talk with the current members. That heritage and that experience carries a lot of weight around these halls and in these trucks.
“They don’t understand it either so when he’s explaining it to you a second time he can explain,” said Tignor. “I told these guys here,
they’re getting tired of hearing it. Each new class I make sure they hear that part.”
“To be able to sit down with somebody with his knowledge and talk to him about some of the things he’s seen in the earlier days of fire fighting compared to now is something really special to do,” said Jones.
Even though the generations bring new lessons one aspect of the job has stayed the same.
“Knowing that you’re helping somebody that gets to you,” said Tignor.
“Some of the stuff we do is pretty tough there is a lot of runs that we go on that is mentally straining on us, but there are some calls we go to where you know you save someone’s property you save somebody’s life,” said Jones.
“You see somebody that needs help desperately and you’re able to help them, it’s fantastic,” said Tignor.
And for John, Andy, and All the Newton Township Firefighters, that’s a lesson that can never be extinguished.