History: History of the Eau Claire Fire Department, 1870 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nance Sampson 26 March 1999 ==================================================================== Eau Claire Fire Department Modern, Efficient Today Eau Claire has a modern fire department manned around the clock by 60 trained, professional firefighters using modern equipment designed to fight every type fire. Headed by Chief Dan McQuillan who was appointed in August, 1967, the department has launched an intensive training program plus acquiring more modern equipment and communication facilities. It now has four stations with a fifth to be constructed on the north side near the airport. It has four pumper trucks capable of discharging thousands of gallons of water a minute. There are two aerial ladder trucks, a spare hose truck, a 850 gallon tanker truck and a brush buggy to fight grass fires. Each station is equipped with a boat and motor for water rescue. Two new pumper trucks are on order, one for the new fire station and the other to replace an older truck. The department also has thousands of feet of hose to combat all types of fires. But it was a long hard road to reach the level the department enjoyes today. Eau Claire got its very start from the tall white pines and when fires occurred in those early days they were more likely than not to completely destroy the wooden buildings involved. Prior to 1872 Eau Claire was composed of three villages, West, East and North Eau Claire. The actual beginnings of the fire department are hazy but records show that early in 1870 three six-gallon fire extinguishers were provided for East Eau Claire. They were kept at the residences of each of the three village trustees. B. J. Churchill, one of the trustees, answered many alarms with the container strapped to his back. That same year a hand pumper fire engine was purchased by West Eau Claire. It proved somewhat a failure and in 1874 was sold for $7.50 to Matt Johnson who bought it for his boys to play with. On Jan. 27, 1871, a new third class Silsby steam engine, purchased by West Eau Claire, arrived amid great rejoicing. It was the first substantial fire fighting apparatus purchased in Eau Claire. The steam engine was christened the W. F. Bailey, after the man who furnished some of the funds for its purchase. About this time Capt. A. M. Sherman was identified with the fire department. He was also in charge of the police department. Nathan Rundle, at this time, was the foreman of the only hose company located at the site of the present Water Street fire station. The engine was given its initial test by taking water at the foot of Fourth Avenue and forcing it through 1,000 feet of hose and then over the Baptist Church spire on the corner of Niagara St. and Fourth Ave. W. H. Willard was given charge of the engine and was the first full time paid fireman to serve in Eau Claire. Horses Added In April of 1874, after the city was incorporated, a team of horses was purchased. The trouble with this arrangement was that they were under the control of the superintendent of streets and were also used for street work. Often they were not around when an alarm came in. Frank Ferres was the teamster and was the second paid fireman in the city. In 1875 the city purchased a second steamer and named it the G. E. Porter after the mayor. Many serious fires occurred in those early years. On April 23, 1882, fire destroyed three blocks of buildings on Water St., between Fourth and Sixth Aves. A total of 73 buildings burned. Damage was estimated at $250,000, an astronomical figure for the time. St. Patrick's Church burned on Oct. 8, 1884. The bridge connecting the west and east sides had been washed out in a September flood and the fire engine was taken across the river on an old steam ferry. On Aug. 9, 1885, the first water used for fire fighting purposes was taken from the mains of the newly constructed water works plant. The fire was at the home of A. J. Linmark at the corner of Fulton St. and First Ave. Prior to this, steam engines were the only source of water supply. First Paid Chief J. C. Churchill was chief of the department from 1879 until May, 1887, when the department was organized as a paid department. George Daniels became the first paid fire chief and received $1,200 a year. The members of the first police and fire commission appointed in 1897 were John Ure, president; Matt Anderson, secretary; Albert Schwan and Frank McDonough. The first members of the paid department under Chief Daniels were Garrett Childs, William McKinnon, James Welsh, William Burns, John Schmitz, Millard Tibbetts, Frank Ferris, James Looby, Joseph Eldridge, John Dougherty and G. F. Rawlings. A fire alarm system was installed in 1887. It consisted of a 2,500 pound bell in the courthouse tower and electical string machinery which operated when alarms were pulled at the fire boxes. The newly organized department made its first run on May 4, 1887 to the home of Dr. E. C. French on Hudson St. It was destroyed. There were many fires in those early years and because most structures were constructed mainly from wood they usually burned to the ground. In 1905 Chief Daniels resigned because of poor health and Joseph Eldridge was named chief. He resigned in 1906 and James P. Welsh was then appointed. The first piece of motorized equipment was purchased July 12, 1912. It was a combination hose and chemical wagon. By 1927 the department was completely motorized. The fire loss in 1918 was listed at $173,619. Fires at the First Congregational Church and the Continental Clothing Store block accounted for a major portion of the losses. From the year of 1910 to 1920 the fire losses totaled $534,444. Many of these were attributed to sparks falling on wood shingle roofs. Platoons Adopted By 1920 the department consisted of 23 men. In 1924 Chief Welsh recommended the department go to the two-platoon system and this was granted by the city council Nov. 1, 1925. In 1933 Eau Claire experienced on of the smallest fire losses in the city's history to that time -- $19,000. Chief Welsh resigned September 7, 1937. He was the oldest fire fighter in the state at that time. Assistant Fire Chief Lawrence Smith was named acting chief for one year. Welsh died Oct. 11, 1948. Smith was charged with incompetence and neglect of duty that same year in connection with the drowning of two boys in Half Moon Lake. He was cleared of the charges by the police and fire commission which noted the fire department had never maintained a life saving unit and was not officially designated as a life saving service. In 1943 the central station was moved from Eau Claire and S. Farwell Sts. to the new safety building. Chief Smith died suddenly April 4, 1944. He served on the department 32 years. Oliver T. Books was appointed chief May 1, 1944. It was in 1948 when a series of fires swept the city and an arsonist was suspected. The City offered a $100 reward for information leading to his arrest. In September 1948, a 10 year old boy admitted starting 10 fires. Five firemen were injured Dec. 5, 1948, when fire gutted the Sears and Walgreen stores. Loss was set at $200,000. Chief Books resigned June 29, 1951. He listed his reasons for resigning as dissatisfation with salaries and indifference of members of the Police and Fire Commission towards efforts to seek a pay adjustment. Assistant Chief Ernest Moss was named Chief Aug. 1, 1951 Available records of the department reveal that only one fireman lost his life fighting fires in Eau Claire. He was Richard John Everson, 36, who was killed in a fire at the Peters Meats Co. on Feb. 11, 1956. It was the final fire of three that broke out in the plant within 10 days. The company offered a $500 reward for information which would lead to the arrest of the person responsible for the fire which claimed Everson's life. It was never claimed. Alarm System Improved The present telephone call box alarm system was put into service in 1957. Fire loss in 1960 totaled $221,000, the highest in 10 years. One of the largest fires on record was that at the White Machine Works March 11, 1961. The loss was set at $1,879,638. On Oct. 22, 1966, a consulting firm issued a report of its evaluation of the fire department. It was highly critical of the leadership, morale and department operation in general. It state the internal affairs of the department were in critical condition. Chief Moss denied all the charges made by the consulting firm on Oct. 21, 1966. In April of 1967 Moss resigned without formal notice. Delbert Ziebell, assistant chief, was named acting chief. On Aug. 18, 1967, Capt. Daniel McQuillan was appointed chief. Over the span of years the highest loss by fire was in 1961 when it was $1,937,343. The lowest recorded was in 1916 when it was $18,364. Records show that a volunteer fire department was organized in West Eau Claire in 1868 and a James Tarrant was the first foreman. Fire Chiefs who have served the department include: William Lea, 1871 - 73 Eugene Bullard, 1873 - 75 A. M. Sherman, 1875 - 76 W. F. Cook, 1867 - 77 J. H. Tinker, 1877 - 78 John T. Tinker, 1878 - 79 Julius C. Churchill, 1879 - 87 George H. Daniels, 1887 - 1905 Joseph Eldridge, 1905 - 06 James P. Welsh, 1906 - 37 Lawrence E. Smith, 1937 - 44 Oliver Books, 1944 - 51 Ernest E. Moss, 1952 - 67 Daniel G. McQuillan, Aug. 18, 1967 - ? --Taken from the Eau Claire Leader / The Daily Telegram, Progress Edition, 1968