Wyandotte Fire Department History

• 1870 First volunteer fire department started.
   
• 1876 A fire house was built in the yard of the Eureka Iron Company. One fire engine was purchased. This was prompted by a near disastrous fire in the Company.
   
• 1883 The first semblance of an organized fire department began in Wyandotte when Mayor J.H. Bishop got an appropriation of $500.00 for the purchase of a city horse-cart and had water tanks built in different sections of town. Half of the volunteer fire fighters manned the pumps attached to the tanks and the other half of the fire fighters manned the hose. In these days it was considered an honor to belong to the volunteer fire department and each member was charged 10 cents dues for each month.
   
• 1885 City of Wyandotte fire station located at old City hall – corner of Elm Street and Biddle Avenue.
   
• 1886 The City of Wyandotte bought a fire engine which was kept at the office of the Eureka Iron Works. The City of Wyandotte decided not to buy any horses and instead offered the first man on the scene after the sounding of an alarm the honor of pulling the engine plus a prize. Never less than seven or eight teams would arrive and the City felt this was as good because the losers could follow to the fire. Captain Charles Millspaugh had the honor of drawing the fire engine to the first fire it went to beating the other fire fighters by only a few feet.
   
• 1892 New water works
   
• 1894 First alarm boxes installed
   
• 1908 Fire Commission created. Fire Fighters placed on full time duty and pay. Captain Charles Millspaugh named first paid fire chief. The members of this department were: Chief Charles Millspaugh, William Roberts, James Sweeny, William Kramer, Fred Yonick and Frank Pawlaczak.
   
• 1908 A volunteer fire department was established in West Wyandotte in the section annexed to the City.
   
• 1916 Goddard Street Station was built but not used by Wyandotte until the annexation of Ford City in 1922. (Station 2)
   
• 1921 Platoon system initiated.
   
• 1927 Oak Street Station built. (Station 3)
   
• 1936 Wyandotte Fire Fighters joined the International Association of Fire Fighters and were chartered as I.A.F.F. Local 356.
   
• 1939 New Central Station built at 266 Maple Street. Equipment and men moved from the Elm and Biddle Station. (Station 1 or Central Fire Station)
   
• 1956 Fire Marshall Office created. Einar Wertanen was City’s first fire Marshall.
   
• 1957 Telephone alarm system installed.
   
• 1972 Goddard Fire Station 2 closed.
   
• 2003 New Fire Station built at 1093 Ford Avenue. Oak Street Fire Station 3 vacated and closed.

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Wyandotte Fire Dept.