Calhoun County MI Archives History .....History Of The Battle Creek Fire Department  (1891 - Present) 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robin Ellis -- July 20, 2007, 10:38 pm

            From The City Of Battle Creek Website.

The Battle Creek Fire Department was organized as a professional department in 
1891. This was the result of growth in both population and industry Battle 
Creek experienced prior to that. The Central Fire Station was located at 28 W. 
Jackson St. from 1891 until its demolition in 1971. Number 2 station was 
located at the corner of College St. and Calhoun St. until its demolition in 
1903 after the disastrous Battle Creek Sanitarium Fire of 1902.

Currently the stations are as follows: Number 1 Station was built in 1971 at 
its present location of 195 E. Michigan Av. It was built close to Kellogg’s and 
Post Cereals to address fire insurance concerns. It was the recommendation of 
the Insurance Services Organization that section of Battle Creek have 3 Engine 
Companies in close proximity to the cereal companies.

Number 2 Station was built in 1903 at its present site, 145 N. Washington St. 
on land donated by the Battle Creek Sanitarium. The station and new horse-drawn 
steamer cost $10,000. It was relocated to provide a larger station with 2 
companies to the north side of the city. It remained a 2 company station with 
Engine and Truck companies until Truck 2 was put out-of-service in 1999.

Number 3 Station was built in 1902 at its present site of 222 Cliff St. and is 
our oldest station. For most of its time in service it housed two companies of 
various types due to its proximity to the cereal plants, tightness of the 
housing in that area, and the isolation of that area by the railroads. In 1952 
it was reduced to a single Engine Station.

On January 1, 1983 the City of Battle Creek and Township of Battle Creek 
merged. With that merger came the merger of their fire departments and the 
closure of Battle Creek’s Number 4 Station. Battle Creek Township’s Number 1 
Station became the present Number 4 Station. It is located at 8 South 20th St. 
Originally the home of the Battle Creek Township Fire Chief, half of it later 
became the township office building with the Fire Department in the other half. 
At the time of the merger the township offices were converted to living space 
for the additional fire fighters. The city’s old Number 4 Station is in private 
ownership at the corner of South Kendall St. and W. Dickman Rd. It was built on 
land donated by the former Advance-Rumley Corp. to provide better fire 
protection to the southwest part of Battle Creek in 1902.

Number 5 Station was opened in 1961 at its present site of 1170 W. Michigan Av. 
It was built to improve service to the western end of Battle Creek after a vote 
of the people to due so. At that time the construction of a station was 
approved by the voters for the Verona area of Battle Creek. That station was 
not built so the money could be used for the present 20th St. Bridge.

Number 6 Station came into the Battle Creek Fire Department with the 1983 
merger. It was constructed in 1974 to improve service to the southern part of 
the then Battle Creek Township. When it came into service as the city’s Number 
6 Station it housed 2 manned companies. These included Engine 6 and the cross-
manned rigs of Squad 6 and Truck 6. These latter companies were disbanded in 
the late 1980’s. The Hazardous Materials Van and Trailer is currently housed in 
this station along with Engine 6.

Many other fire fighters who made a positive impact on our department and city. 
They should be remembered and recognized for their efforts. A fire department 
is a history of the development of its community and is built by the fire 
fighters who belong to it.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/calhoun/history/other/historyo11ms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/mifiles/

File size: 4.2 Kb