Norman Zaffater grew up next to Number 7 Fire Station at Wilkinson and Line Ave. He attended his first fire when he was only 4 years old when an older neighborhood kid by the name of Glen Crow took him up to the firehouse. They saw the engine was gone, and Glen read the holes punched in the register tape that indicated a general alarm fire at Creswell and Robinson and grabbed little Norman by the hand and ran the 3 blocks to the fire.

It was the Wales Apartment building. A large number of fire engines were pumping into hose-lines that were strung all over the street, the ladder trucks were there with their aerials up to the roof. Smoke mixed with flames was pouring out the building, windows were being broken out, and holes were being chopped into the roof to vent the smoke, deck pipes were being used and firemen were directing their hose line streams into the building.

It was organized chaos and Norm’s genes had to have been altered causing him to have a lifelong passion for the fire service. Several years later while playing in a vacant lot across the street from the fire station, little Norm had an accident and the firemen from Station 7 saved his life by keeping him from bleeding to death. Obviously, this must have been another contributing factor to his devotion to the fire service.

He spent as much time at the fire station as he did at home. Firefighters were his buddies and mentors. He help with chores around the station and would go to the grocery store for them when ever they asked him, and would get tips for doing so. He once accumulated 25 cents, went to the store and bought 25 cigarettes. Yes, they were a penny a piece back then. Norm went behind his garage at home and smoked all 25 of them. He got so sick that he never smoked another cigarette.

When he was 13 years old and depending on the Captain on duty he was allowed to ride-out when Pumper 7 caught a run. Number 7 had a lot of grassfires at that time as the neighborhood was new and there were plenty of vacant lots and fields in 7’s district. It was not without a price as he was taught early on how to use grass-flaps and the pump can to help his buddies put the grassfires out.

During the latter part of Norm’s junior year at Byrd High School, Norman’s dad, who was friends with all the SFD chief officers, was asked by one of them if he thought that Norman would be willing to work on the fire dept. during the summer. The reason was that many of the firemen were members of the National Guard and were called off to training during the summer months stripping the fire dept. below minimum staffing. “Of course,” his dad said, “yes”. When he told Norman he was obviously extremely delighted. Not only was he hired on, he also was assigned to Station 7. He worked that summer and the summer after he graduated from high school. To Norm it had to be an awesome feeling to be working with many of the guys that he held in such high esteem as he was growing up.

During those summers he was on the SFD he noticed that while fighting fires in the early morning hours, swallowing smoke and being hungry he would get a sick feeling. So he actually carried candy bars in his fire coat so that on those occasions he would have something to help him feel better. He thought how nice it would have been if someone would have had offered a coke, water or coffee to him and other firemen after fighting a fire on an empty stomach.

The day room at the firehouse held a small library. While a teenager and when he was a SFD fireman, Norm would read all of the firefighting books they had. Each month a Fire Engineering Magazine was delivered. One of the monthly articles carried stories about fire buffs written by Paul Detzel. It told mainly about what the different buff organizations would do to help their local fire departments.

Norm learned about the International Fire Buff Associates through Ditzel’s articles and found out that one could become an associate member of the organization in the hopes that the associate would organize a buff club in his region. After working the final summer Norm went off to college to become a dentist, and when he returned home to practice dentistry he was anxious to start an organization to supply refreshments and to aid the firemen after they fought difficult fires.

Norm remembered about becoming an International Fire Buff Associates member and obtained the IFBA Associate Membership application. Chief Dallas Greene indorsed him and he became one of the first associate members of the IFBA.

P. W. Foster, a dental technician that Norm had known most of his life, and lived up the street from #7 Fire Station while he was growing up, was an avid fire buff.

Norm met Ron Aldin at the fire station one time and they became friends. Ron was a teenager at that time was very interested in the fire department and later became a photographer for TV Channel 3.

Enrico Brocato, who owned Brocato’s Restaurant was also interested in the Fire Dept. and antique fire engines. Norm met Enrico at his restaurant and they became very good friends. Later he restored a couple of antique fire engines.

Then a pediatrician by the name of Harvey Lee Carter, Jr. talked to Chief Greene about how interested he was in firefighting apparatus and Dallas told him about Norman Zaffater. The first time they met they talked for over 4 hours and made plans for organizing a buff club.

Harvey, a founding member, has always been a devoted member of Signal 51 and has been the secretary since its formation. He is responsible for forming the Shreveport Firefighters Museum and has worked tirelessly over the years to collect and preserve fire apparatus and memorabilia for a museum. Harvey was hoping that old Central Station could have been the home for the museum, but because of Hurricane Katrina and un-interested state politician his hopes faded.

But with the opening of the new SFD Maintenance Facility and Chief Crawford’s idea of using its showroom for the fire museum, it must have been like a dream coming true for Dr. Carter. Finally a home for all that historical stuff he had kept for all those years and a most wonderful setting to put it in. He has already placed his 1928 Seagrave pumper and his 1922 alarm console from old Station 5 on permanent loan in the showroom. When the museum is completed it is going to be a grand place to visit and Harvey most certainly will feel like his long effort has been fulfilled.

As a side note, Harvey has been responsible for beautifully restoring several antique fire engines. His determination to stick to accepted restoration guidelines has paid off with some of the best restored fire engines in the world. He is a past president of the International Fire Buff Associates. And doing all this time he was a compassionate, wonderful pediatrician who served the medical needs of thousands of children in the area.

With Harvey as the catalyst, Norm contacted his friends - PW, Ron and Enrico and they were all eager to organize a buff club.

The First meeting was held at Norm’s home with PW, Ron, Enrico, Harvey, and Chief Greene. They had pizza and beer and discussed what the objectives of the organization should be and to name the club. It was decided to name it Signal 51 Group. Because there was a honky-tonk joint out on Hwy 51 that was called the 51 Club, it was decided to name it the “Signal 51 Group” instead of Signal 51 Club. Incidentally, Signal 51 was the police and fire radio code that was used to indicate a fire call.

Just as the meeting was concluding at Norm’s kitchen table a pretty good lightning storm moved through. Then the fire radio broadcast a barn on fire out in Western Hills. Chief Greene finished his beer and put the bottle down on the table and said “Let’s Go!” The buffs all piled into his Chief car and with lights and siren took off for the barn fire.

It has been an amazing 40 years since that first meeting. Over the years we have had some super fire buffs in our group and we have had some that were marginal at best, but they all meant well.

Ron Aldin, Enrico Brocato and P.W. Foster (later known to us as Plez) have all gone to the Big Firehouse in the Sky and have all been sorely missed. They were good friends, fun guys to be with and their service as members of Signal 51 was outstanding.

Over the years there have been many others that have joined and have moved away from the area or passed away.

Kim Burns, was a member for many years and was very interested in fire apparatus and trains. He passed away several years ago.

Cliff Zimmerchid, was a big help when he was a member, attending many fires as a probationary member and later as a full member. Cliff is best known for his strong lemonade that caused even the toughest firefighters to strain to un-pucker their lips after drinking one of Cliff’s concoctions. Cliff passed away a few years ago.

We had Lee Clegg, a Fire Training Chief at Barksdale Air Force Base who was a very wonderful member. Lee opened up Barksdale to us and we had some very nice meetings at his fire station on the base. Lee moved after he retired and now lives on the east coast.

Milton Shober was another outstanding young member who helped fulfill the ideals of the Signal 51 Group. He went out of his way to be a superb member of the group, and even helped with the production of a SFD Yearbook. Milton move to Texas.

Steve Hill and his wife Barbara as members of Signal 51 were a great team and went to many fires providing refreshments to the firefighters.

Later, Fred and Lydia McClanahan joined and served refreshments at a large number of major fires over the years. Fred devised and built a coffee making setup that was used extensively during the 1990’s. He has served on the Caddo Parish 911 commission and is a past chairman. His savvy about the goings on at Caddo 911 has kept our scanners always in tune to monitor the SFD. and he was instrumental in obtaining a talk group for Signal 51. When Fred is too busy to attend a major fire now days, Lydia is often there to give a hand.

Russell Teutsch has been a long time member of Signal 51 and has been the treasurer of the group for many years. He has attended many fires over the years and served a lot of Gatorade and coffee to tired firefighters. He has taken many photos that are in Signal 51’s Web site. You could not ask for a better member.

Bob Woody is another long time member, and while he lives in Ruston, has added much support to Signal 51’s ideals. He has been our corresponding secretary to the IFBA for many years. He often has great ideas and suggestions to help Signal 51 meet its mission. He always makes the IFBA Regional meetings in surrounding cities and represents Signal 51 well.

Scott Temple was another member that was nice to have in the group. He helped out a great deal at major fires. He became a SFD Fire Communications Officer, then a Bossier City Firefighter, became a paramedic and is now a surgery nurse at a major hospital in Dallas, Texas.

Robert Blue, a security technician with a local alarm company, has been a member for a long time. He is a reliable member and lived close to the Salvation Army Canteen, When we were using the Disaster Canteen to respond to incidences he would always have the gates opened and Unit 51 ready to go by the time the rest of us got there. He is always willing and able to help in anyway he can to promote the ideals of Signal 51.

The Florsheim’s – Brian, Sr. and Jr. were members of the organization and did a lot for the organization. Brian, Sr. became an Assistant Chief with Caddo Fire District 5 and Brian, Jr. co-authored a historical book about the S.F.D. Brian, Jr. also contributed many photos to Signal 51’s Web site.

Grayson Boucher, Fire Chief at Caddo Parish Fire District 5 was a member of Signal 51 for a few years. He added a great deal to the organization and it was nice having him in the group as we had many meetings at CFD 5 and a couple of really nice Christmas Parties.

Bill Ward has been a member for a few years, but has proven to be very helpful in fulfilling the Signal 51 Group’s mission to aid the SFD in any way possible. Using his pickup truck he even hauled fire hose back to a fire station after a serious fire at Calumet Refinery. He has been to many fires and served refreshments and gone for supplies when they were needed and has been a great member for the group.

Mike Gillispie rode out one day with Rescue 1 to a multiple alarm fire at a funeral home and met Norm Zaffater serving refreshments to firefighters and it was not long after that that he became a member of Signal 51. He has aided at many a fire during his long membership in the group. He has served well and is a very nice man to have in the group.
Michael Clikas is another passionate member of Signal 51 and has done a lot to make our meeting at the fire stations interesting and fun. He helped and is still helping to raise money for Chief Tommy Adams and his family. Clikas is an enormous helper and one of the best members we have ever had. He has always been ready and willing to carry out Signal 51’s mission whenever possible.

Member, Karl Brummett who lives in El Dorado, Arkansas has contributed greatly to Signal 51. While he lives out of town and cannot do canteen work he has provided very tasty meals at some of our meetings. He owns a barbeque establishment in El Dorado and has on several occasions supplied the greatest tasting barbeque at our events and some of our fire station meetings.

We had Katie Allen, a SFD Battalion Chief’s daughter as one of our members. She served refreshments at several major fires, and even received an award at the SFD Rewards Banquet one year for outstanding service at particular long lasting incident. When she moved to Texas we lost another excellent member.

Father Guido Verbeck has been a great asset to our group and has served refreshment and food at several large fires. It is very nice to have a chaplain in and for the group. He is an interesting and fun guy to be around. He has contributed many photos of fires to the Signal 51’s Web site. His fire engines are very popular at our regional meetings.

Our newest member, Jerry Hope has been an eager addition to our organization and on his very first fire served refreshments and food at one of the biggest fires we have had in years, The Shreveport Regional Arts Council building fire.

A young guy by the name of Michael Lowe came along many years ago –Yes me. What a time I have had as a member of Signal 51. I have enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie with the other members and to be appreciated by so many SFD firefighters over the years for our service, made my membership in Signal 51 one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

I may have left some names out, but it was not intentional. I am very proud to be a member of the Signal 51 Group.

Long live the Signal 51 Group!

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Like Mike said we may have left some names out, but it was not intentional and we did!

Wesley Reed was a big help to us during his membership in Signal 51. He did a great deal of work sprucing up the Salvation Army Canteen when we first got authorized to use it. He attended many fires and helped in many ways.
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