Melbourne Volunteer Fire Department
Information comes from the Campbell County Historical Society
In March 1951, the citizens of Melbourne
started a scrap drive to raise money for a fire department. The 30
chartered members who started the first department were:
Charles L Hehman
James Minshall
Otto Moher
Richard Moher
Pete Koeninger
George Howley
Carl Koechler
Charles Lusher
George Minzenmaier
Joe Reinert
Lynn Rardin
George Tiemeyer
Louis Vieth
Charles Wigglesworth
Tom Donelan
Al Fender
Otto Good
Malvin Strain
William Jones Jr.
Carl Trutchel
Carl Moore
Donald Stephen Jr.
Elmer Ruschman
Robert Huber
Phil Huber
Ben Huck
Harry Reinert
Elmer Kremer
William Douba
John Garlich
The Melbourne Volunteer Fire Department bought
its first fire truck from Augusta. The first chief was;
Chief James Minshall
Assistant Chief Charles Hebman
Captain Al Fender
Lieutenant Otto Moher
In April 1951 the Ladies Auxiliary started. In May a siren was installed on top of Charles Hebman's General Store Building. The first fire call was a grass fire on July 15 at St. Anne Convent grounds. The dedication of a new firehouse was May 30, 1952. Melbourne joined the Kentucky Fireman's Association February 17, 1956. In March 1979, the county formed Melbourne Campbell County Fire District No. 6 and is the first department in Northern Kentucky with lime green fire equipment, which is more easily seen and involved in less accidents.