Walt Hunziker was presented a fire ax at a surprise party honoring his 52 years of volunteer service for the Langley Fire Department.
After 52 years of responding to alarms, Walt Hunziker retired from the Langley Volunteer Fire Department. The firemen and the city gave their thanks and appreciation during a surprise party for Hunziker on Oct. 27.
Hunziker had been told the party was to celebrate the passing of the bond issue for a new fire truck. He was amazed and a little tearful when he discovered the celebration was really for him.
Hunziker joined the volunteer fire department in 1932. Since he was only 16 he needed a letter from his parents giving permission. He said there was not much of a department at that time. The fire equipment consisted of an old Model T Ford with a 50 gallon chemical tank in the back. “The truck often needed to be towed because it wouldn’t start,” Hunziker said.
Later a hose truck was purchased, but the firemen had to depend on hydrants since the truck wouldn’t carry water.
“We covered all fires on South Whidbey at that time and had to learn to cope with a minimum supply of water,” Hunziker said.
He said they lost a lot of buildings at that time because of the long distances they had to go. They covered an area from Bush Point Road to Glendale because there were no other fire trucks on South Whidbey.
In 1950 an official fire district was started and the city purchased a pressure fog tank, which he carried on his pick-up for years until the district got a truck.
Hunziker often purchased his own equipment such as extinguishers, hoses, and outfits. He also used his own truck to reach fires because he could respond quicker than the fire truck.
Once on a frosty night there was ice on the road when Hunziker left to answer a fire call. When he turned to go down Coles Road his truck slid on the ice and he ended up in a ditch with the truck rolled over. When the fire truck came along he jumped on the truck and went on to the fire.
His wife Emmy had no knowledge of what happened until Dr. Thomas Corlew called to see how he was.
“My heart just stopped, when the doctor said he should have been home an hour ago,” Mrs. Hunziker said. She told the doctor he must have gone on to the fire.
Dr. Corlew replied that Walt was doing his civic duty, so he would do his and come over when he got home.
Hunziker told of the fire at the old Whidbey Record office on Front Street. The firemen were watering down the football field at the high school when the alarm sounded.
Dave McLeod, not knowing the truck was gone, ran back to get the equipment, threw open the door and found Mr. Tiemeyer’s cow standing there in the fire hall.
The hose and truck were finally on the site and the 90 pounds of water pressure coming through a two inch hose “really cleaned out the place,” Hunziker laughed. “The paper moved to Oak Harbor and didn’t return to Langley until we got better equipment.”
Hunziker served as fire chief for several years. He has also served the community on the city council, as president of the Community Club, Commander of the VFW, and Lions Club president.
Hunziker worked as the Standard Oil distributor in Langley for 38 years. He has always felt that “when you get something out of a city you should bring something back.” This was the reason he gave for his long dedication as a volunteer.
Ernie Walters, current Langley Fire Chief, told how Hunziker volunteered his own equipment and absorbed all the cost. “He often extinguished fires before the fire truck could reach it,” Walters said.
“That’s just the kind of dedicated volunteer he was. We will miss him,” Walters said. “He stayed with us a long time.”
Hunziker was presented a Langley fire ax Sunday night, as well as a cassette player. The Langley City Council unanimously passed a proclamation Oct. 27 expressing thanks and appreciation for his long service with the city. Council members Dick Johnson and Dorothy Cleveland were on hand to present the gifts and letter.
Emmy Hunziker was presented a necklace for her long service of cleaning smoky clothes and for “all her great back rubs,” Walt added.
The surprise occasion was organized by the Women’s Auxiliary headed by Vicki Lash.