Colby Fire Department hosts first Ice Cream Social
October 20, 2025
The Colby Fire Department opened its doors wide on Saturday, October 11, inviting the community inside for a first-of-its-kind Ice Cream Social at the fire station. The afternoon was equal parts history, hands-on fun, and heartfelt appreciation, the perfect way to wrap up a month dedicated to fire prevention across Thomas County schools.
Families lined up for bowls of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, served up by local firefighters who had spent the past several weeks teaching fire safety to children in classrooms from Colby to Rexford, and soon to finish in Brewster and Heartland Christian.
Brought together through funds from local businesses, the event offered residents a chance to tour the station, explore the department’s equipment, and even try their hand at a hose training exercise — a hit with the youngest visitors who donned helmets and took turns spraying water across the driveway under the guidance of the crew.
For many, it was the first opportunity to see inside the station that houses both the City of Colby and Rural Fire District No. 3 operations. For the firefighters, it was a chance to showcase not just their trucks and tools, but the proud heritage of a department nearing its 100th anniversary.
“Technically, we trace our roots back to 1923, when Colby’s first organized firehouse began,” explained longtime firefighter and captain Dwayne Plumisto, who toured a mini museum display for the occasion. “It was officially registered in 1925, so this year, we’ll mark a full century of service.”
Old photographs, helmets, and even hand-labeled fire buckets from the early days were spread across tables for visitors to browse. Each item told a piece of Colby’s firefighting story — from the department’s early bucket brigades to the 1989 ladder truck that still stands ready today.
“We’ve come a long way from leather coats and horse-drawn engines,” said Fire Chief Scott Hilbrink, smiling as a child clambered up into the cab of one of the trucks. “But the mission has always been the same — protect our neighbors, teach safety early, and serve the community however we can.”
That dedication to prevention is part of what makes Colby’s record remarkable. The department has not seen a fatal fire in decades, thanks in part to its aggressive outreach. The fire safety trailer, a mobile classroom that simulates real-life emergencies, sees hundreds of children each October.
“It’s just good to see people coming through the doors,” Plumisto said. “This firehouse belongs to the community, the crew just occupies it for a while.”
By the end, most of the tubs of ice cream had been emptied, every child had climbed through a truck, and the firehouse echoed with laughter. Leftover treats were delivered to local nursing homes, another small act of service that reflects the department’s character.
If the turnout and smiles were any indication, Colby’s first Ice Cream Social might not be its last. It was, as one firefighter put it, “a sweet way to say thanks” — honoring a century of courage and camaraderie that continues to define the Colby Fire Department.