Lum Fire Dept. history runs deep

Knaggs steps down after five decades of service

 

LUM (ARCADIA TWP.) — The following is Part 3 of the history of the Arcadia Township Fire Department. Also affectionately known as the Lum Fire Department. We would like to thank Shelly and Ray Swain for sharing photos and information for this three-part series that concludes with the following story.

“In 2021 the department had another major fire. It happened in May at Jim’s Recycling, an auto salvage and scrap metal recycling business on Youngs Rd north of Ostrom Rd.

The call came in that a fire had started in the workshop area of the very large pole barn. The fire spread very quickly. There were a lot of fire departments called to assist from Lapeer County as well as Sanilac County.

The departments from Lapeer that came to help were Attica, North Branch, Imlay City, Goodland, Lapeer, Almont and Dryden. From Sanilac County there was Brown City, Elk Twp., Moore Twp., Carsonville, Minden City, Deckerville, Lamotte twp., Croswell, Delaware Twp. and Speaker Twp.

The Lapeer County Command Center, Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department and Lapeer County EMS were also there to help.

The business is owned by Jim and Angie Morris who were able to rebuild and continue the business which is still in operation today.

Also in 2021 (still under Supervisor Howell) a committee was formed to draw up plans once again for an addition to the east side of the existing fire hall.

In December of 2022 the Arcadia Twp. Board approved putting the fire hall addition out for bids beginning January 29, 2023 for a 30 day period and a deadline of March 1, 2023.

In the meantime the twp. got a new supervisor, Patti Lashbrook. Only one bid came in and it was for $791,000, which the board rejected.

The committee was to continue discussion with the architect and DCC Construction for other options like cost cutting measures to reduce the estimated cost. DCC later came back with a bid reduction that was marginal.

In August, 2023 the board approved to put the project out for rebid with a deadline of September 27, 2023. This time, two bids were received, one from Midwest Construction for $559,738 and one from Prather Construction for $490,800.

After discussing more adjustments to the pricing, both companies came back with savings/rebids. Midwest was $548,644 for a savings of $11,094. Prather was $472,800 for a savings of $18,000. The board approved Prather Construction at $472,800.

The project was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (COVID). The new fire hall, the 3rd for Arcadia Township, was a dream in the works for approximately 20 years. It was dreamed about and planned by many Lum firefighters and Twp. Board members, including three different supervisors.

It now houses a pumper, a pumper/tanker, a tanker, a 1 ton pickup truck turned ice rescue/grass rig and 4 military style Jeep grass rigs.

Around the same time as the fire hall was built, the township purchased a Generac 80kw generator at a cost of $40,250 with an additional cost of $2,500 for shipping. Then they approved the gasline/service upgrade to the new generator from SEMCO for a cost up to $4,460.

In addition to that there was approximately an $18,455 cost for new electrical installation service for the new generator. All of this was also funded by ARPA.

In late 2024 Chief Knaggs announced his retirement as Fire Chief (not as a fireman) effective 3-31-25. A committee was formed consisting of two firemen (1 being the chief), two township board members and the township deputy. After interviewing three applicants and much discussion, the board voted to put Brian Lee on as our new Fire Chief beginning April 1, 2025.

Lum Fire Department has belonged to the Lapeer County Fireman’s Association (LCFA) for many years. The LCFA has a Mutual Aid Agreement with all the departments in Lapeer County as well as some departments that surround Lapeer County. This agreement means that each department responds (when called by central dispatch) to the other fire departments fires at no cost to them. (There are more details but this is the short version.)

By belonging to the LCFA, each department takes a turn at hosting monthly meetings, providing a meal for about 50-70 firefighters and guests.

Arcadia Fire Department is known for a delicious old fashioned type meal consisting of 50-60 pounds of beef and pork cooked together, red potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans, salad, dinner rolls and a variety of desserts.

The department, for years, (with the exception of two years during covid) has been known for the fun they have handing out cider, donuts and coffee at Halloween at the old original fire hall in downtown Lum.

They serve around 22 dozen North Branch Bakery donuts, 8-10 gallons of cider and lots of coffee. They also have bags for the kids that contain coloring books about fire safety and other fire prevention materials along with plastic fire hats.

Currently, in April, 2025, the Arcadia Township Fire Department has 11 firefighters. The Chief is Brian Lee and Assistant Chief is Matt Grabowski. They meet for training on the first Sunday morning of the month, unless that falls on or near a holiday, then they meet the next Sunday. They also meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. The department averages around 50 runs each year.

These runs aren’t always house or building fires. They consist of grass fires, wires down, wash down or to protect an accident scene, lift assist to area ambulance service and tornado warning look outs. For a few years in the late 70’s and early 80’s the firemen would set off “tornado bombs” to warn the public. Three bombs meant a tornado warning was in effect and one bomb was the all clear. Today the siren blares for three minutes for a warning and one minute for the all clear.

Arcadia Township is the only township in Lapeer County to experience an F-5 tornado. This happened on June 8, 1953 and it was the Beecher Rd. tornado that came all the way from Flint. If you are interested, you can Google it and learn more.

As of April, 2025 the Arcadia Township Fire Department has two fire halls. The one on Spencer Street and the old original hall in downtown Lum which is still being used for storage and the much loved Halloween tradition.

The two longest serving Lum Firefighters currently on the Arcadia Township Fire Department are Tom Knaggs, 83, and Ray Swain, 70.

Knaggs has been on the department since 1969, 56 years. During this time, Knaggs served as Assistant Chief from 1977-1981 and again from 1995-2002. He then became Chief in 2002 until 2025 when he retired from his position as Chief, but not from being a firefighter quite yet.

Knaggs is the longest running Fire Chief this department had ever had. Swain has been with the department since 1974, 51 years. He served as Assistant Chief from 1982-1985. He then became Chief from 1985-1995.

There is something to be said about the experience of an old firefighter.

THE BEST THING AN OLD FIREFIGHTER CAN TEACH A YOUNG FIREFIGHTER IS HOW TO BE AN OLD FIREFIGHTER.