Gift brightens firefighter's holidays

A former volunteer fireman will have his wish come true this Christmas thanks to his son-in-law’s resourcefulness.

Patrick Teffs was mindfully listening when his father-in-law Fred Frits reminisced about his years as a firefighter. Back in the late ‘90s Frits lived in the Elmo area and was a member of the Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department. He now lives in Washington state near his daughter and his son-in-law, a former deputy fire chief in Northern California.

Uncertain whether the Chief Cliff Fire Department even still existed but understanding how much that time meant to his father-in-law, Teffs addressed an email to community@dailyinterlake.com (which landed in my inbox,) hoping someone here at the newspaper could provide him with information about the fire department.

“As he enters the twilight of his life, I thought it would be nice if I could find a way to recover some of his memories for him,” Teffs wrote.

Unfortunately, over the years and through several moves, all of Frits’ memorabilia had been lost. Teffs was hoping that for Christmas he could replace some of it.

Coincidentally, just last month I’d written my column about the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Daze fundraiser for the Chief Cliff Fire Department that raised enough money this year to purchase a rescue vehicle. Zoe Lilja had provided me with plenty of history about the event and the fire department.

Lilja has been secretary, treasurer and a trustee for the Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department since 1996 and has been gathering news articles and memorabilia about the department ever since.

I forwarded Teffs’ email request to her the day before Thanksgiving to see if she could help him. That same day she replied and let him know she would do some research and digging.

She remembered who Frits was and, while poring over old records, found a group picture with him in it. She is sending a copy to Frits, along with some current photos and a personal letter.

Teffs was also able to buy his father-in-law, now 76, a couple of member T-shirts and matching hat, as well as a copy of the historical book “Chief Cliff Country” published by the Chief Cliff Homemakers Club in 1990.

Frits will be pleased to learn that the fire department is alive and well. In fact, in past years two new fire halls have been built, and this year the wildlands gear was updated and high visibility jackets were purchased for the firefighters.

“Last year the Chief Cliff VFD added a Quick Response Unit and currently has halls (and trucks) at Lake Mary Ronan, Proctor and (still) Elmo,” Lilja explained. “While many volunteer fire departments in the area are having difficulty maintaining their membership ours is on a roll — growing, improving, expanding operations and building morale.

“For over 40 years, people like you have been willing to pitch in and help during emergencies,” she wrote in her letter to Frits. “We are grateful for all who have volunteered over the years and who live by our motto ‘Neighbors helping neighbors.’”

“Your dad would be proud to see what the department has grown into, and how his early efforts and interest have paid off for these communities!” she said in her email to Teffs.

Such a heartwarming gift is certain to brighten the former fireman’s holidays. Merry Christmas, Fred!