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Fire Station No. 1 in 1906 |
Fire Department Vehicles in 1954 |
 | October 2004 marked the centennial of Red Deer's Emergency Services. This milestone gave us the chance to remember and recognize the efforts of this small portion of the population who worked tirelessly to protect the citizens of our city.
In the early 1900s the population of the fledgling town of Red Deer was approaching the 500 mark, and it was at this that time that the first steps were taken to organize an efficient and cost effective force to combat fires. Fear of fire was always prevalent, and as the town began to grow, and the concentration of wooden buildings increased, the likelihood of costly fires increased accordingly.
Before the town had any organized fire department, its firefighting arsenal consisted of twenty-four wooden pails, three ladders and a hand-operated hose reel. In 1902, Red Deer town council began discussions with a Vancouver firm to purchase fire-fighting equipment. These talks apparently lead nowhere. But in 1903, the town council approved the purchase of a second-hand chemical fire engine. Shortly thereafter, a horse stable was attached to a house, and the first fire hall was created. This fire hall also contained two jail cells, and was the site of town council meetings.
Horace Meeres was Red Deer's first fire captain. He and his family moved into the fire hall, putting up a curtain to separate the police cells from the rest of the house. Conditions and equipment during these early years were meager at best. In 1904, residents were asked if they supported the decision to purchase new fire engine, but this motion was defeated. Shortly after residents were asked if they supported the construction of a new fire main system and this motion was passed. However, the same night that the vote took place, a fire broke out in the Michener Block that caused over $22,000 in uninsured damages – a great loss at the time.
The town council soon authorized the creation of a 16-man volunteer fire brigade. Volunteers were used in Red Deer until 1969. Horace Meeres was promoted as the first Fire Chief. By April 1905 the new fire main was completed for Red Deer. It provided 13 hydrants from which the fire brigade could draw water when fighting fires. A year later Fire Hall No. 1 was constructed on in the town square facing Ross Street, in what is now City Hall Park.
Membership in the volunteer force increased from the original 16 to 28 by 1912. Numbers declined between 1914-1918 as many men joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
One of those who left the brigade to fight overseas was Chief Horace Meeres. Archie Taylor a longtime volunteer firefighter replaced him in 1916. Fire Chief Taylor served for 36 years. Under his leadership the department purchased its first motorized fire engine in 1926, instituted first-aid training for all department members, and increased rates of pay. Chief Taylor had the misfortune to be in charge during the Depression, when money was so tight that he could not even replace a worn out fire hose. Once the City Council was so frugal that Chief Taylor and another employee did not receive back pay owed to them for over six months.
In 1952, William Thomlinson replaced Chief Taylor. The duties of a firefighter during the 1950s were quite different than the duties expected of those today. The three full-time firefighters were expected as municipal employees to dispense city gasoline, patrol the ice arena, maintain the public wading pool, and clean city hall and council chambers, all in addition to their firefighting duties.
In 1961, the fire department moved into a new Fire Hall No. 1 that occupied the old Armoury building on 49 Street. They remained at this location until the current Fire Hall on Gaetz Avenue was opened in 1991.
In 1962, the fire department assumed responsibility for ambulance services in the community.
The latest change to the department occurred in 1995, when City Council voted to change the name of the Fire department to Emergency Services.
The evolution of the Red Deer Fire Department is well documented, and deservedly so. Its progression from volunteers manning a bucket brigade to a highly equipped and trained professional unit warrants our recognition and our gratitude.
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