International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) was formed on February 26, 1918 to unite firefighters for improved safety, better working conditions, and to create a better service to their communities. The IAFF currently represents 296 000 professional firefighters across Canada and the United States.
On February 20, 1924 Medicine Hat Fire Brigade became a member of this organization and to this day carries its local number 263 with great pride. Locally we have 77 members, representing ranks from fire fighter to training officer.
Medicine Hat Fire Department History
Over the years Medicine Hat Fire Department members have shown great commitment and dedication to thier profession making it one of the best fire departments in Alberta.
In the summer of 1901 the Medicine Hat Fire Brigade was started and would find its 1st home in a room next to council chambers at a location near the entrance to Finlay Bridge. At this time the Brigade consisted of only hand drawn vehicles, it wasn’t until 1906 when the first horse drawn wagon was purchased.
In fact two of the best known firefighters of this time were actually the horses which pulled the wagon, named Tom and Jerry. A specially designed harness was kept in a rack suspended overhead until the alarms rang. At this time the horse stalls would open and they would rush out and place themselves in position under the rack. Once firefighter Jim Clegg pushed a button then the harnesses would drop onto the backs of the horses. The horse drawn wagon would be ready to respond to fires just after a couple of snaps were fastened.
In December 1907 the city council appointed Bill Hatcher as the first permanent Fire Chief. During the period of 1906-1912 two more horse teams were purchased for the Fire Brigade. It was not until 1912 the first modern fire truck was purchased to replace the horses.
.JPG)
After a request from the Fire Chief in 1913 a Webb ladder truck was added to the fleet of vehicles which remained in service until 1949. A year later the truck was sold to a salvage company which dismantled it for scrap metal.
After receiving the truck in brutal condition from the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon, the Medicine Hat Vintage Vehicle Club which consisted of about 30 members took on the project of restoring the first ladder truck in 1987. After nearly 3 years of hard work the club had fully restored the city’s first ladder truck
.JPG)
In 1905 council approved a new municipal building which would be built to accommodate the ever growing needs of the Fire Brigade as well as council chambers and proper offices.
Growth was evident for Medicine Hat who became a city in 1906. The need for two fire stations to be built at the same time was approved in 1914. The location for the new central fire hall would be at the intersection of West Road Access (Dvision Ave) and Toronto Street (3rd Street) The new substation was located at 3rd Ave (Maple Ave) and East Road Allowance (Allowance Ave). Unfortunately, due to the decline of industry and war setbacks the Fire Department never actually occupied either of these buildings.
A new central location was soon needed that would protect the city’s valuable commercial areas and cover the 25.3 miles of city from one station. In 1975 the central fire hall would open (now station #1), located at Maple Ave and 5th Street replacing the old location that was shared with City Hall.
Results from a growth study (in 1974) suggested that there would be a need to augment the central headquarters with a substation. The department later opened a substation (now station #2) in the Crestwood area of the city in 1978. Located on Dunmore Road near the intersection of Southview Drive.
Fire coverage in the south west part of the city was a great need until a third fire station located on Halifax Way near the airport opened in the very late part of 2004.
It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty deaths of following Medicine Hat Fire Department members. Their contributions and service to the fire department and the citizen's which they served will never be forgotten.
1913-1913 – W. Stewart (volunteer), Explosion of Malcolm Canneries
1901-1913 – J Brier (volunteer), Explosion of Malcolm Canneries
1913-1913 – R. Rimmer, Explosion of Malcolm Canneries
1913-1917 – W. Cunningham
1912-1917 – A. Mollinson
1920-1944 – G. Baird, Collapsed during routine duties
1920-1948 – W. Collins, Slipped off the truck and got ran over at a Chicken Coop Fire
1946-1967 – F. Unwin, Overcome by smoke in Astra Building Fire
1948-1978 – H.M. Paulson, Overcome by smoke in a Corbitt Arms apartment building
.JPG)
