On July 30th, 1884, the first fire was reported in the Groton Independent when S.B. Howes house caught fire and was almost consumed. Then in January of 1885, during a blizzard, the Hook & Ladder Company Number 1 was organized. In January of 1886, people were awakened by the sound of an alarm for the first large fire in the Groton area. The town was illuminated by the flames of the Putnam Elevator. One account stated, “Some of the boys showed good grit by starting to the fire before getting their pants on, which would have been all right in certain seasons, but wouldn’t do in a blizzard.” 

Today, over 40 people continue show the same grit shown in 1886 to protect the people and property of the Groton Fire District. The department dispatches from two stations, the Groton Fire Station and the station in Bath. The people of the Groton Fire Team proudly protects 2500+ people living in the area.

Before the Groton Rescue Squad existed, one officer who responded to accidents and other medical emergencies could not direct traffic, investigate, and care for patients at the same time. Firemen were around to help, but they lacked the specialized EMS training to properly stabilize patients. In 1981 and 1982, Eddy Nehls spoke with the right people and spawned the Groton Rescue Squad January 1st 1983. Originally members would receive a telephone call from the wife of an officer when he thought he could use the help, and the personnel would respond in their private vehicles to help out at the scene.

Since then, members have come and gone but the rescue squad still has 10 members, most with EMT training. The squad has also expanded to standing by at all sporting events in the Groton area. And although times have changed, and pagers have come and gone, most members receive their call to action on their cell-phones when a Brown county dispatcher receives a call for help.