A bell sitting outside a local fire department has been repainted to symbol the pride firefighters have for the community.

The Dewey Fire Department spent time on a beautiful spring day repainting a bell that has stood outside the station for decades. Fire Chief Chad Schueler and staff watered down the bell, gave it time to dry, then painted the bell a hot red for everyone to see.

Schueler said the exterior of the building starts with the bell. He said the bell is one of the first things people see as they drive down Delaware from the four-way stop at the Dewey Hotel Mueseum.

Dewey Fire has thought about painting the bell for the last several years. Schueler said the bell looked dull and the red paint had fainted as it just sat outside. He said they want people to drive by and see that they take pride in the Station.

The bell on top of other projects is bring the Station back to life, Schueler said.

A chain was purchased for the bell Wednesday. Chief Schuler said they want the bell to be operational. He said kids can come by and ring the bell if they so choose.

Having an opportunity like that for kids is what Dewey Fire wants. Schueler said they want kids to feel welcomed. He said the bell ties the past with their future vision.

Part of that vision is to develop an interest in a younger generation to consider joining the department. Earlier this week, the Dewey City Council approved an ordinance to reduce the age a person can join the department to 18. That ordinance went into affect immediately.

Aside from that, Chief Schueler hopes the community continues to see the pride Dewey Fire takes in their department as they go through a laundry list of improvements at the fire station. In the meantime, the revamped bell outside the station will ring for further changes to come.

Some of the changes to come at the Dewey Fire Department include an extended parking lot to help get fire trucks in and out of the bays they are stationed in. Electric will also be run through to the flag poles next to the freshly painted bell and flags will fly freely on those flag poles. 

Fire Chief Schueler said those changes will come when the new Dewey Police Station is completed next door.