OTHELLO - A crowd gathered in front of Othello's fire station celebrating the start of a project two years in the making.

The group comprised of volunteer firefighters and other city residents came together for the ground-breaking ceremony of Adams County Fire District 5's volunteer memorial.

Volunteer Lt. Steve Gardner stood on a patch of dirt cut out of the fire station's lawn as he told the group he had a vision something should be done for the volunteer firefighters.

"They give their time and dedication to serve the community of Othello and Adams County," he said. "For those who stand long nights on the side of the road directing traffic ... helping the injured, sometimes even driving the ambulance, hauling truck loads of water, spending long days working the grass fires ... countless hours of training."

The majority of the district's firefighters are volunteers, Gardner said in an interview after the ceremony. The district only has four paid staff members and has about 30 volunteers.

"Ninety percent of the department is volunteers," he said. "When you first start out (as a volunteer) your heart just jumps and you run out the door and you stop whatever you're doing and you make it to the station and you hope you can make it to a truck."

The number of volunteers varies depending on the year, Gardner said, adding the number always fluctuates.

"You get a lot of people from different aspects of life, but I think everyone enjoys helping the community. But sometimes I think it's about the adrenaline rush, too. It's hard to say what it is, but I think we all share that same bond."

Gardner said the project started after they received the city's original fire bell. It had been given to Tom Para, a former chief. The former firefighter's family contacted the district to ask if they could use it.

"Actually in the beginning it was an idea I was just throwing out there," he said in an interview. "I didn't even think it would stick. At the same time, we got the bell back, so everyone got behind it."

The memorial's plans call for several basalt columns. A granite plaque listing the names of volunteer firefighters will be placed between the columns, along with the fire bell. 

"I came up with the rough design one evening and I'm fortunate enough to work with a lady, Trudy Doolittle. She's very proficient with 3-D rendering, she actually built us a 3-D model of the final design. She was a lot of help, helping me with other aspects of the project."

The district plans to put 68 names on the granite plaque, Gardner said. They found the names by searching past records.

"They're not complete records. They're the best that we have," he said. "We're looking at some of the other people to input names."

They selected volunteers who served with the district for seven years, Gardner said. 

The volunteers raised the money to start the project by holding two spaghetti feeds and selling commemorative bricks, which will be placed around the monument, he said, adding the basalt columns, the flag poles and lights were donated to the project. They are still selling the bricks until June at $50 for a small brick and $100 for a large brick.

"That date has been extended, so people holding onto the old letters or the old order forms, they said April 15, it's been extended," he said. "We're right there, getting really close to having all of the funds we need to get it up."

For more information, contact Gardner at 509-989-2615 or the district at 509-488-2951.