Pocatello’s oldest living fireman turns 99

Nearly a decade of memories and stories is what one former Pocatello firefighter has. On Saturday, the Pocatello Fire Department honored John Farnsworth and celebrated his big day with him.

For Pocatello fire crews, gone are the days of the old fireman’s hand bell, the fireman’s pole and the La France Pumper fire engine.

But Farnsworth, a long-retired fireman, remembers it all.

Farnsworth started his firefighting career in Aug. 1948 and retired in June of 1976. A 28-year career where he fought all kinds of fires. Some were big, some were small.

“I was just thinking back a few years, I sure used to chase a lot of grass fires,” Farnsworth said.

On Saturday, Farnsworth’s brothers in blue presented him with an axe. A symbol of honor to firefighters who served their community that is given to retirees. But for Farnsworth, this holds an even more unique meaning.

Farnsworth turned 99 on the Fourth of July, and he is Pocatello’s oldest living fireman.

“We really enjoy John,” said Capt. Shane Grow with the Pocatello Fire Department. “He’s a lot of fun. It’s always great to keep in touch with our past. He’s one of those guys that still comes down and has brunch with us on the weekend and visits with us. It’s really cool to hear some of the stories that he tells us.”

Farnsworth remembers exactly how he got his start and what made him want to be a firefighter.

“I seen them on the street working and I said I thought I’d like it,” he recalled. “So I put my bid in for it and got it. There was supposed to have been ten more people there to take the exam and I was the only one that showed up.”

At 99 years young, he can still pull off his blue fireman’s uniform like it was brand new. So what’s his secret to doing so well?

“I don’t know,” is Farnsworth’s simple response.

He said he just took care of himself and didn’t smoke and he figures that had a lot to do with it.

He said visiting the firefighters and the museum, and just being involved in the community, also keeps him feeling good too.

Farnsworth said the first fire he fought was the mill fire on the corner of 2nd Street. He was a fire engine driver and operator, which he said was the best job in the department.

He said he has two grandsons that took after him and are currently firefighters. One is in Chubbuck and the other in Idaho Falls.

His family, friends, and brothers in blue said they all look forward to throwing Farnsworth a big 100th birthday bash next year.