The year was 1924, 50 years after the official creation of the SCFD. BIG STRIDES ARE MADE (S.C. Journal November,1924) Sioux Citys motorized fire department, valued at $300,000, is acknowledged to be one of the finest in the state. Swiftness and efficiency co-operate when a fire alarm is sounded. If the call is at night the firemen spring from their beds and swing down the brass sliding rod to the room below where the motor fire apparatus is in readiness, and the company is well on its way to the fire in less than 55 seconds of time. If the call comes during the day the speed in answering the alarm is increased by reason of the men being awake and fully dressed. Absolute fearlessness is a prime requirement for firemen. They must be free from fear of personal Injury. And ready to undertake the most hazardous tasks if the occasion arises. When the gong of the fire engine sounds its warning notes along the city streets all traffic draws aside to give unhampered room to the vivid red motor in charge of the uniformed firemen, which is speeding to some fire, from which danger might threaten the entire city, if it was not promptly quenched. The sight of the of the fire company, and the sound of the gong never fail to awaken a thrill of excitement as nothing is so terrible as a fire, and death may lurk beyond the smoke and flames. Organized in 1874. Volunteer firemen organized the Sioux City fire department away back in 1874 the first fire fighting apparatus ever operated here was a hook and ladder truck, which was purchased second handed at Council Bluffs for $50, the money being raised by popular subscription. On November 11, 1874 the department was organized in an old courtroom. A. J. Millard long since dead, was nominated foreman, John Dineen, who died about a year ago, was first assistant, R. A. Broadbent was second assistant, E. P. Stone, secretary; James Hutchins, treasurer, and W. W. Dart was steward. The organization was called Sioux City Engine Company No. 1. A steam fire engine and hose carts were added to the equipment, the two-wheeled fire carts were pulled by the firemen but the steam engine was hauled by horses, which were usually used to haul a city truck. When the fire bell sounded the volunteer firemen would rush from whatever occupation they were engaged in and assume their duties as firemen. The city team would snort and gallop to the firehouse to be hitched to the fire apparatus and run pellmell to the scene of the fire. Water was pumped from cisterns located in different sections of the town. Salaries 35 Year Ago. Thirty-five years ago the city had advanced to a point where it could afford to pay salaries to firemen, and from an organization which was composed of part volunteers and part paid men the city hanged the company into a paid fire department having 18 men, including the fire chief and assistant. Three horse drawn carts were added to the equipment. and the department continued to grow until it had 23 head of horses to draw its apparatus About 12 years ago the first motor apparatus was purchased and added to the equipment, It was a motor pumping engine Then came the chiefs first automobile. Previous to that time he had driven to fires in a buggy drawn a spirited bay horse. The use of horses in the department was doomed, as the new motor apparatus was purchased from time to time the horses were discarded. The last fire team was retired in August, 1920. Fifteen motor vehicles, which have succeeded the old styled equipment, are valued at $150,000, including the aerial hook and ladder truck, which cost $11,000. This is the most expensive truck in the department, and has shown its utility at many fires. Eleven of the motors are in active service, and one is held in reserve, ready for emergencies. Real estate owned by the department is valued at $100,000, and includes the eight fire station sites and seven buildings now in the fire system. More Men Needed. Chief Kellogg has recommended to the city council that 22 men be added to the fire department, to supply the increasing needs of Sioux City, which is one of the most rapidly developing cities of the middle west. The force has not been increased since 1918. During the six years since that period many new pieces of equipment have been added, and the department increased in every way except in manual strength. The personnel is divided as follows: One chief, two assistant chiefs, nine captains, 11 junior captains, 24 drivers and 31 hose and ladder men, making up the total of 78 men. The official staff is composed of Fire Chief Kellogg, John Yeager, first assistant chief; Charles B. Kuhl, jr., second assistant chief. No. 1 engine company, John J. Markl, captain; D. P. McDougall, junior captain. No. 2 engine company, J. W. Gunning, captain; J. A. Wulf, junior captain. No. 3 engine company, P. 0. Murphy, captain; Theodore McElhose. junior captain. No. 4 hose company, K. B. Gantt, captain; Oscar Forsman, junior captain. No. 5 hose company, J. J. Malby, captain; R. W. Shelton, junior captain. No. 6 engine company, A. B. Berg, captain; Eric Waldron, junior captain. No. 7 hose company, R. W. Thompson. junior captain. No. 8 hose company, E. Ernst. junior captain. No. 1 hook and ladder company, Harry Colvin, captain; T. D. Donovan, junior captain. No. 3 hook and ladder company, Ed Roth, captain; Fred Bankston, junior captain. No. 4 hook and ladder company, William Brink, captain, A. S. Mackay. Seven Fire Stations. Seven fire, stations are located in different sections of the City. All stations, except No. 6 in Morningside are two story buildings. Morningside is a one-story building in bungalow style. Since the old No.1 station on Water street was abandoned, headquarters have been located in No. 3 station 1211 Fifth street. A new No. 1 station will probably. be erected on the new site, recently secured by the city on Water street, between Fourth and Fifth. street. The, seven stations now in use are No. 2 West Seventh and Sioux streets No. 3, 1211 Fifth street; No.4 1414. Nebraska street; No. 5. 408 South Chambers street; No. 6, 4203 Morningside avenue; No. 7 4016 Floyd avenue, Leeds; No. 8 2001 Riverside boulevard. The apparatus in the department consists of five auto combination hose and chemical wagons; three triple combination gasoline pumping engines; two city trucks, one aerial truck, with an 85-foot ladder; two chief automobiles: one auto pumping engine in reserve, and one first sized steamer in reserve to be hauled to fires by automotive apparatus. The department has 17,000 feet of hose of different kinds.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 00:44:02 +0000
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