Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter
Marlin Hanneman, Jr. remembers when, while growing up, calls to 911 in Fernley would be routed to his family’s service station on Main St.
Indirectly, many emergency calls still beckon his family.
The North Lyon County Fire Protection District recently dedicated its newest ambulance to the Hanneman family, which has a long and rich tradition of service to the department, dating back to its days as the Fernley Volunteer Fire Department. The ambulance was emblazoned with lettering above the rear doors "Honoring the Hanneman Family".
In those days, before 911 calls began to be routed through the Lyon County dispatch center in Yerington, those calls went to the Hanneman service station, where they would often be answered by Kris Hanneman.
“Ever since I can remember, 911 was our station,” Hanneman, Jr. said “Every call came through our station. When I was probably 13 or 14, my mom had a list of people and phone numbers, and when a call came in we’d start calling. If it was a big fire, I’d run across the street and blow the horn.”
On March 8, the fire district held a special ceremony to dedicate the ambulance to the Hanneman family. The district has previously dedicated fire engines to former chief Marty Jensen and to John Lambert, who was instrumental in starting emergency medical services in Fernley, and an ambulance to Jayme King.
Fire Chief Scott Huntley opened the ceremony by describing the Hanneman family’s service to the department for more than 60 years. Pastor Rick Lynn of Grace Baptist Church and a Lyon County Sheriff’s Office chaplain, offered a prayer of blessing for the ambulance, the district and the Hanneman family. Members of the Hanneman family performed the ribbon cutting, then pushed the ambulance into the bay to symbolize its induction to service.
“They made a tremendous positive impact on this community,” Huntley said. “It’s an honor to do this for the family.”
“My mom and dad did a lot for this town, it’s really an honor to have that,” Hanneman Jr. said. “Everybody worked together.”
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