Kansas City Fire Department

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Kansas City Fire Department

Established	1858
Staffing	Career
Stations	34
Engines	33
Trucks	12
Rescues	3

The Kansas City Fire Department is the fire department for Kansas City, Missouri. At this time it operates from 34 fire stations (one at KCI Airport), and covers 318 square miles. There are 33 pumper companies (Engine), 12 Truck (Ladder), 3 Urban Rescues, 1 Hazmat, under 7 Battalion Chiefs, with a total force of 942 for fire suppression. The Headquarters is located at 635 Woodland Ave., Suite 2100, Kansas City, MO 64106.

[edit] History

The first traces of the Kansas City Fire Department was first organized as a volunteer force as early as 1858, with bucket brigades. Church bells would be rung, and everyone would flock to the scene to join in to help. In 1867, the city deemed it necessary to abandon the bucket brigade for a regularly organized, paid fire department. A company was organized, and funds were collected to purchase a Silsby Rotary Engine with hose, and two wheeled hose wagons. Col. Frank Foster was elected as chief. In August, a steamer delivered the new engine. The next day, it was tested, and was able to throw a stream over an opera house at 5th and Main. Late in 1869 a ladder company was organized, and was named McGee Hook and Ladder #1, in honor of ex-mayor McGee. The truck was made locally and placed in service July 1870. By 1872, the department consisted of three steamers, one hook and ladder, one chemical engine, and thirty-six paid professional fire fighters.

After a disastrous fire in the West Bottoms destroyed three buildings, and had threatened the entire block. This was due to the fact in 1877, after the city water works had been established, the city leaders had thought there was sufficient water pressure, and the steamers had been with drawn from service, with the force reduced to fourteen men. Shortly after the fire, George Hale was appointed as fire chief. Chief Hale remains one of the most loved, and most respected fire chiefs ever to head the department. Over the twenty years Kansas City witnessed many wonderful transformations, none more than through the fire department. Fire fighting was completely revolutionized through Hale's leadership, and remarkable inventions, such as the Hale water tower, swinging harnesses, tin roof cutter, door opener, cellar pipe, automatic halter blankets, sliding poles, and others. Politics was eliminated, and a merit system took it's place. During this time The KCFD was invited twice to represent the United States at International Fire Congress, once in 1893 in London, and then at the 1900 expedition in Paris. In one of the competitions, simulated a night alarm. With the men in bed, they had to descend a flight of stairs, harness and hitch the horses, and clear the engine house. The best time in Europe was 77 seconds, but was handily beaten by the team form Kansas City of 8.5 seconds. They were able to do this because it only took them 1.5 seconds to hitch the team of horses.

By the 1920s the fire department had grown to now 30 stations, with 40 companies. In 1928 the first training school was opened, and by now was fully motorized. 1940 saw a new beginning for the department, with 198 being hired, but with WW 2 many enlisted, depleting manpower. In 1956 a third platoon was installed. In August 1959 the Kansas City Fire Department was hit with there largest loss of in the line of duty deaths, when a 25,000 gallon gas tank exploded during a fire on Southwest Boulevard killed five firefighters. This was the first time BLEVE was used to describe a burning fuel tank.

On July 17, 1981, the department responded to the Hyatt Regency Hotel after the skywalks collapsed, killing 113 people. Then on November 29, 1988, the fire department was struck with another tragedy when six fire fighters were killed in an explosion that was felt through out the city. A week later, during a memorial service at Arrowhead Stadium, there were over 5,000 fire fighters in attendance, from not only the United States, but other nations. Soon after a new Hazardous Materials Team was created, and named Haz Mat 71, in honor of the companies, Pumpers 30, and 41. In 1991 a fountain was dedicated to all of those who have been lost. In 1997 the Kansas City Fire Department made history when they made a purchase of 44 fire apparatus from Emergency One.