The Oakdale Area Fire Association (OAFA) will celebrate 75 years of service with an open house Saturday.
Although technically it was first established as the Oakdale Fire Department in 1946 after a fire burned a burned a building in the Town of Oakdale before firefighters from other communities could respond, according to history documented in the 50 year anniversary publication.
Both stations will be represented in two open houses. Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Oakdale. Lunch will be provided at the LaGrange station from noon to 3 p.m. There will be a historical video played each station.
"We've been planning since the beginning of the year," said chief Bob Gnewikow.
Gnewikow knows station leadership faces a challenge common to many rural volunteer emergency services organizations, finding volunteers who will chart the course for the next 25 years of the OAFA 100 year milestone.
"To find new people, it needs to be something they want to do," Gnewikow said.
This is an era where some employers are not as accommodating for their employees at other volunteer departments who leave work to respond to a fire, Gnewikow adds.
The public is invited to attend and enjoy breakfast and lunch compliments of the Oakdale firefighters. It's their way of saying thanks for the public support over 75 years.
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