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The First Paid Department Page Banner Image
Back To: Salina Fire Department | SFD History

The First Paid Department

In July 1901, the department purchased a Champion fire engine at a cost of $900. Charles Banker, a custodian for the city building, was hired to sleep five nights a week at the fire station and to have charge of the new engine. He was probably the first paid fire department employee in the city's history.

Today's paid Salina Fire Department had its start on April 19, 1909. Tom Anderson, a volunteer, became Salina's first paid fire fighter. The mayor appointed Fred Brodbeck as fire chief. Fred came from Chicago where he had been the head of the General Electric Company's fire department. The paid department consisted of five men: Fred Brodbeck (Chief), Tom Anderson (Driver), Charles Wise, John Hall, and Clarence Rist.

The new department had one team of horses, one hose wagon, two chemical engines and was located at a new fire station on East Ash Street. The horse team had been purchased from a man living near Mentor. The wagon and the chemical engines were the ones used by the volunteer department. The new fire station was in the old Cottage Hotel which had been remodeled. It was a two-story brick building located in the 100 block of East Ash Street. The team, the wagon, and the rest of the apparatus were kept on the lower floor. The wagon stood directly in the center with a horse stall on both sides. The stalls were not closed at either end, so when the alarm was given, both horses could be moved four or five steps forward and be in their places, ready to be hitched to the wagons.

On the west side of the building was the stairway leading to the upper floor, which was the home of the five members of the department. in this large room near the north end, a hole about two feet across was cut through the floor. A large gas pipe that had been made very slick was placed in the center. This fire pole was an improved copy of the first on constructed in 1878 by Chicago Fire Captain David B. Kenyon. A fire pole was a fast way to get to the first floor when an alarm was sounded. A similar system is used at Stations One and Two today. It wasn't long before the first pole injury occurred. The following is taken from the Journal on June 24, 1909.

Trouble was Landing

"Raymond Miller, a new member of the fire department is at home nursing a sprained ankle and will be unable to work for two days at least. Wednesday afternoon, he started to learn to slide down the pole which runs from the upstairs of the fire station to the ground floor. He came down all right, but didn't know how to light, with the result that he sprained his ankle."

Contact Us

Fire Department

Location

222 W. Elm St. Salina, KS 67401

Office Hours

Monday - Sunday (12:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

Phone

(785) 826-7340

The First Paid Department
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In July 1901, the department purchased a Champion fire engine at a cost of $900. Charles Banker, a custodian for the city building, was hired to sleep five nights a week at the fire station and to have charge of the new engine. He was probably the first paid fire department employee in the city's history.

Today's paid Salina Fire Department had its start on April 19, 1909. Tom Anderson, a volunteer, became Salina's first paid fire fighter. The mayor appointed Fred Brodbeck as fire chief. Fred came from Chicago where he had been the head of the General Electric Company's fire department. The paid department consisted of five men: Fred Brodbeck (Chief), Tom Anderson (Driver), Charles Wise, John Hall, and Clarence Rist.

The new department had one team of horses, one hose wagon, two chemical engines and was located at a new fire station on East Ash Street. The horse team had been purchased from a man living near Mentor. The wagon and the chemical engines were the ones used by the volunteer department. The new fire station was in the old Cottage Hotel which had been remodeled. It was a two-story brick building located in the 100 block of East Ash Street. The team, the wagon, and the rest of the apparatus were kept on the lower floor. The wagon stood directly in the center with a horse stall on both sides. The stalls were not closed at either end, so when the alarm was given, both horses could be moved four or five steps forward and be in their places, ready to be hitched to the wagons.

On the west side of the building was the stairway leading to the upper floor, which was the home of the five members of the department. in this large room near the north end, a hole about two feet across was cut through the floor. A large gas pipe that had been made very slick was placed in the center. This fire pole was an improved copy of the first on constructed in 1878 by Chicago Fire Captain David B. Kenyon. A fire pole was a fast way to get to the first floor when an alarm was sounded. A similar system is used at Stations One and Two today. It wasn't long before the first pole injury occurred. The following is taken from the Journal on June 24, 1909.

Trouble was Landing

"Raymond Miller, a new member of the fire department is at home nursing a sprained ankle and will be unable to work for two days at least. Wednesday afternoon, he started to learn to slide down the pole which runs from the upstairs of the fire station to the ground floor. He came down all right, but didn't know how to light, with the result that he sprained his ankle."

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