El Paso experienced its first fire in 1881. A meeting was held on January 18th, 1882 and El Paso Fire Company No.1 was organized. At this time there was no water system. The city provided a charter and contract to Sylvester Watts to build a water works supply. On August 22nd, 1882 another meeting was called and El Paso Fire Hose was formed and officers selected. At the next meeting the city council approved the selected officers. On November 11, 1882 there was a fire that destroyed two houses. The week after this fire a re-organizational meeting was held. Creating Hose Co. No. 1, Hose Co. No. 2 and Hook and Ladder No. 1. In 1883 Hose Co. No. 3 was formed. The fire chief leant the caps of the hose company to the actors at the theater for props and led to the disbandment of No. 3.
El Paso Fire Departments biggest fire happened on February 11, 1892. Grand Central Hotel burned down. Firemen were very important in early El Paso parades, much of the time they were the focal point in the parade and not uncommon for them to put on an exhibition. |
Firefighters were mainly volunteers until the department became a fully
paid department in February 1909. |
The end of the century brought a new fire station in 1899. The new fire station which replaced the one built in 1888, shared space with city offices, court rooms, police and the city jail.