Grabill town ledger #1 shows that on August 15, 1914 a payment of $165 for a hand pump was made to American LaFrance Engine Company.  Another purchase of bicarbonate of soda and sulfuric acid was made later that year.  In 1916 a bell was purchased from the old Mission Church to be used as an alarm and the first official fire department was formed.  Howard Klopfenstien was the first fire chief of the new department which was equipped with two chemical tanks on wheels.  The units were pulled by hand and turned upside down to activate.  The first fire engine was a Model-T purchased from Howe and a newer fire station was built on first street in the 1940's.  The current fire station was build about 1969.

The Cedar Canyons Fire Department was founded in 1960 by a bowling team.  A house in Cedar Shores had caught fire and was completely engulfed by flames by the time units arrived from Grabill and Huntertown because of the distance.  The need was very apparent that fire apparatus was needed in the center of these two departments.

Ground was broken on July 31, 1999 for a new fire station just east of Harlan on SR-37.  This station was financed by Springfield Township with the help of the trustee Bruce Amstutz via a bond issue to cover the estimated $580,000.00 cost.  The station opened in early 2000.  It is located on land purchased from Garnet Kenny and John James.  This addition greatly reduced responce times in Scipio and Springfield townships.