THE HISTORY OF THE GADSDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT

Prior to 1882, fire protection for the City of Gadsden consisted of a loosely organized bucket brigade; generally consisting of whoever happened to be around at the time of a fire and felt inclined to help. There were wells spaced along Broad Street at the intersections of Third, Forth, Fifth and Court Streets for their use.

The question of replacing the bucket brigade for a more organized and dependable volunteer fire department seems to have first come up, officially at least, in 1879 when a committee reported to the City Council that such an organization was not feasible.

In July 1881, there was a popular demonstration in favor of an organized fire department. A large percentage of the City's 4,000 citizens attended and following the meeting Colonel R.B. Kyle, a prominent local businessman, appeared before the City Council to request a fire department. In August, the City Council authorized a fire committee to adopt such means as necessary to protect the City. However, another demonstration was held early in 1882 to promote an organized fire department. Perhaps the citizens felt that the City government was not moving fast enough to provide protection for the City. If so, their worries proved to be prophetic. On June 17, 1882, at 12:30 a.m. a blaze was discovered among a group of wooden, one story houses and stores on the south side of Broad Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets. The bucket brigade made a successful stand at the First Methodist Church and its parsonage on the corner of Chestnut and Fifth Street and the First Baptist Church at Fifth and Broad Street, the fire had destroyed twenty-one houses and several businesses. Both churches were damaged and some buildings on the north side of Broad Street were damaged as well. Among the losers was R.B. Kyle, who lost six houses.

On June 19, 1882, two days after the most disastrous fire in the City's history to that date, the City Council met to set fire limits and encourage the organization of a fire company. Before the month was out Gadsden had its first organized fire department, Etowah Fire Company No. 1. The company consisted of 40 volunteers with J.M. Elliot Jr. as Fire Chief, J.H. Disque as President, and W.P. Lay as Treasurer. All members of the department were declared exempt from police and street duties. At the time of its inception, Etowah Fire Company No. 1 was organized as a fraternal organization with a President, Secretary, and Treasurer to conduct meetings and handle routine matters and a Chief, Foreman and Two Assistant Foremen to command during fires. Originally, membership was held to 40 members and an applicant had to be voted in by the full company.

In August, of that year a hook and ladder truck that had been ordered by the City for the Fire Department arrived and was rejected after inspection. In November, a hand pumped fire engine was ordered complete with hose and hose carriage. The fire engine had long wooden brakes or levers running along each side and during a fire up to twenty men would work the brakes, supplying power to the pump. The cost was $1,100 to be paid in installments at 6% interest. In December, a two story wood engine house was finished on Forth Street for the fire company at the cost of $315. The fire engine and hose carriage were turned over to the fire company, complete with 500 feet of 2-1/4 inch leather hose, 2 Babcock extinguishers, a hose reel, buckets and other equipment. The hook and ladder truck had been brought up to the specifications listed in the contract and was ready for service. Gadsden's first chance to display its new Fire Department came on July 4, 1883. To celebrate Independence Day, a horse swappers convention ws arranged, speeches were made by, among others, J.H. Disque, President of Etowah Fire Company No. 1 and a highlight to the occasion, a parade of the new Fire Department with its bunting array and bannered equipment and the newly organized Etowah Rifles, a militia company.

Over a thousand people traveled to the City for the occasion. As the last speech was ending around noon and the crowds, containing a high percentage of drunks was drifting away, a fire was discovered at a junk store located in a wooden frame house on the corner of Third and Broad. By the time the fire company arrived on the scene, the fire had already broken through the roof of the house and aided by a moderate west wind, quickly ignited the wood shingle roofs of other nearby buildings. The firemen fought the fire as best they could, damaging most of their new leather hose in the process, while store owners carried their goods out into the middle of the streets with drunks hampering the firefighters at every turn. At one point the situation was so bad that police with draw pistols stood guard around the fire engine to prevent interference. The fire engine wasn't the only thing that had to be guarded, as the goods piled in the street were a tempting sight and looting became a problem and more and more store owners carried their goods out of the threatened buildings. The local militia, the Etowah Rifles, were finally posted to guard the goods and were posted the rest of the night and into the following day.

The fire company finally made a successful stand at a three story brick opera house owned by R.B. Kyle, the man most responsible for the Fire Department's existence. Twenty-one businesses and several houses were destroyed, about one half of all the buildings on Broad Street at that time. Most of the damage was to buildings on the south side of Broad Street between Third and Fifth Streets. It may be argued that the fire of 1882 provoked the creation of an organized fire department in Gadsden. If so, then the fire of 1883 may have helped bring about another desirable change in Gadsden; in August of 1883, a survey by M.T. Singleton, a Civil Engineer, concluded that water for a city water works could be brought down from Noccalula Falls at a cost of $26,000.

In April of 1884, J.W. Canlin became Chief of the Fire Department and also became its first paid employee. His salary was $100 per year, payable quarterly.

By March of 1885, work had begun on a water works sufficient to provide for a City of 15,000. Fifty fire hydrants would be included in the system which would cost $50,000. (With the completion of the water works about six months later, the main reason for having a hand pumped engine, it's ability to draw water rapidly from deep wells disappeared.) As a result the fire engine was retired by the City, even though it was not quite paid for. In its place the City located 5 hose reels with its own small building and crew to attend to it. The bell from the old fire engine was removed and installed over City Hall to be used as a fire alarm.

The department had gone through several ups and downs during its early years and had reorganized two or three times, finally reorganizing itself as the Gadsden Fire Department on February 16, 1886. In 1889, Zack B. Hardy became the third Chief of the Fire Department and in 1891, Captain W.P. Lay became the fourth Fire Chief in nine years. Apparently the Fire Department suffered from a bad case of politics and just as the major changes in the early existence of the department had followed costly fires, a third fire, this one in Attalla, caused a shift in the progress of the department. The fire in Attalla caused considerable damage to a city block and alarmed citizens led by current Chief W.P. Lay and former Chief J.M. Elliot campaigned for a more effective and less political Fire Department.

The campaign was successful, J.M. Elliot became Mayor and a new one horse wagon was purchased, new hose and equipment were ordered and a two horse reel was soon added, greatly expanding the mobility of the Department. In addition to renewed concern about fire protection by the public, the department itself seems to have improved in morale and efficiency. It was no longer an amateur organization.

Soon after, regular contests began between the North Alabama and the North Georgia Firemen's Associations. Under Chief Gus Woodliff, who took over the job in 1901 when Chief Lay left, flower parades with beauty queens riding the wagons and buggies of the Fire Department or floats made for the occasion were held prior to these contests. Circus stands were erected and hose reels were raced down Broad Street. Chief Woodliff would raise enough money in one afternoon to hire special train to take firemen, horses, rigs, floats and 150 rooters to contests as far away as Georgia. He once took the hose wagon, the steam engine that was purchased in 1903, the Chief's buggy, a racing reel, and all the horses to Anniston, leaving only a one horse dray and a few sections of hose to guard the City. On July 4, 1901, J.M. Bryan became the City horse reel driver at a salary of $35 per month. He was the first permanent employee hired for the Fire Department.

During this period morale was probably as high as it ever became during the volunteer era. Unfortunately it didn't last long. A change in City government and a dispute between the new City Council and the members of the Fire Department over "Chief's rights", which the City at first accepted and then rejected, caused the resignation of nearly every member of the Department. The City immediately accepted an offer from John S. Paden to form a new Fire Department with himself as Chief. Paden had the backing of many people prominent in the society circles of Gadsden and a good many of these society figures joined his department. For the next several months these young men fought fires, often while dressed in top hats and tails. Paden took over as Chief on November 19, 1901, and served until September 21, 1903, when W.P. Gwin became Chief. During this time the equipment for the Fire Department was moved from the privately owned stables of Sullivan and Bramlett to a City owned wooden building on Fifth Street. While Gwin was Chief, a steam three horse fire engine was ordered but by the time the engine was received, Gwin had resigned and Gus Woodliff became Chief again.

Woodliff was named Chief for the second time on February 22, 1903, and the volunteer Fire Department organized by Paden was dissolved. The best of both departments were combined in a newly reorganized department and the era of top hats and tails firefighters ended. The new steam fire engine was placed in service on March 7, 1903. In cost $4,500 and another two horse wagon was soon added as well. In the mayor's annual report dated April 18, 1904, he states that "insurance rates are so heavy to b'~ prohibitive in some instances. Have in past depended only upon a volunteer Fire Department and little pressure furnished by water works company, which is not enough. Fire Company has been reorganized upon a better basis and a fire engine has been purchased and proved adequate." A new brick building replaced the temporary wooden structure on Fifth Street.

On February 6, 1905, the City Council asked the Fire Department to organize another company for use in West Gadsden. By November, of that year approval had been given for construction of Station #2, although construction was somewhat delayed. Volunteers were paid $1.00 for each fire attended.

In 1907, a building code was adopted. The March 2, 1908, City financial statement lists the Fire Department equipment as Engine 1 (steam), Hose Wagons Nos. 1 & 2, hand reels, #2 West Gadsden, Chief's Buddy and harness, 2100 feet of hose at No.1, 450 feet of hose at #2, one small hose, eight nozzles, four chemical extinguishers and various other equipment and furniture. The total value at $7,939.50 plus five horses valued at $1,025.

On October 28, 1908, 400 pounds of dynamite exploded at Hammond Mining Company, killing one man. The explosion was heard in Hokes Bluff and Altoona. On November 16, of that year A.W. Woodliff, Chief of the Fire Department for sixteen of the last eighteen years resigned due to deafness suffered as a result of the Hammond Mine explosion. The City Council passed a resolution thanking Chief Woodliff for his service an stated that his direction had saved the City some $6,000 per annum, saved the citizens of Gadsden not less than 90% of property involved in fire and in doing so had decreased insurance rates from 6-3/4% to 2-1/4% and in some instances down to 1%. A gold medal was bought for chief Woodliff by the firemen and the City bought him a gold watch and chain valued at $150 and thus, with Chief Woodliff's retirement an era ended.

Tom Fullington became the next Chief and served until February 21, 1910, when J.T. Farrar became Chief. During this time uniforms and caps were solid white except for broad black belts and shoes. Also, during that year, the City passed an ordinance requiring all houses be numbered which helped firemen find .small fires. During this time Gadsden received its first internal combustion engine fire truck. It was a four wheel hose truck with solid rubber tires that was named after Zera Lyles Appleton, the woman who was most responsible for raising the money to buy it.

On June 4, 1912, the Belluvue Hotel, the largest resort in North Alabama, was destroyed by fire with the loss set at $55,000. Because the firemen's hose didn't have the water pressure to reach the fire at the upper"stories of the Hotel, a railroad car was rolled into position beside the building so firemen could stand on top of the hotel to reach the fire with their hose.

In 1914, A.J. Stallings replaced J.T. Farrar as Chief. In 1918 an old school bell was purchased by the City to be used as a fire alarm. Since radios were not in use then and telephones were scarce, an alarm bell was used to summon volunteer firemen to the station and the bells at both stations were also used when a police patrol car was needed. The firemen would ring the bell and when the police car reported to the station the police would be told what the emergency was and where to go.

Two years later, in 1920, the volunteer part of the Fire Department was disbanded. Part-time firemen were used for nine more years. During World War I, which had just ended, volunteer firemen were scarce. Perhaps the City felt that this would be the appropriate time to end the volunteer part of the service. Around this time J.M. Culpepper became Chief and was later succeeded by Sol T. Green in 1922. When the volunteer segment of the Fire Department ended, the Fire Department consisted of five men who worked seven 21 hour shifts a week. They were allowed one hour for each meal when they might go home, subject of course to call if there was a serious fire. In addition, first one family and then after a four room house was added, two families lived at Station #2. A daughter was born to Assistant Chief A.T. Glenn while his family lived at Station #2. His son, Lanice Glenn, also became an Assistant Chief for the Fire Department before he retired in 1979. Training during this time primarily consisted of assigning a rookie firefighter to an experienced one until he learned the job. In 1921, a plateau of sorts was reached when the employees of the department were each paid $100 per month out of an overall budget for the Fire Department of $10,000. Chief Green, who also doubled as a Warden or Assistant Building Inspector, was paid slightly more. During that year, firemen petitioned the City Council for the right to have one day off a week. The City agreed, providing that arrangements could be made with the Chief.

For over the last decade the Department was slowly changing from a horse. drawn department to a mechanize one. One story recounts how a team of horses that pulled a fire engine were sold to a local farmer and whenever the fire alarm bell over City Hall was rung, the horses would do their best to get to City Hall. The old steam engine was first retired and later, when the Great Depression really began to be felt, was sold to a junk yard in Anniston. Firemen tried to buy it back as a souvenir, but the price was too high. The early fire engines were mostly built by the American LaFrance Company. They had four cylinders with as many as 18 spark plugs connected to both a magneto and a battery. The cabs of the trucks were open so firemen frequently arrived at fires soaking wet if it was raining or half frozen if it were cold. The gear shift was outside the cab but within reach of the driver, as was the "glory pole", the trucks brake. The trucks were steered from the right side and chain driven instead of using a differential. They had large bells mounted so that the motion of the truck as it was moving would ring them. The pumps for the most part were midship, mounted in the middle of the truck, and for a booster tank each truck carried at first 35 gallons of soda and water, which was later replaced with 50 gallons in a small tank. Above each tank was a smaller tank of carbolic acid which when tipped, spilled into the water tank and reacted with the soda to create water pressure.

In 1923, the Gadsden Car Works was completely destroyed by fire. The plant, which manufactured railroad cars, had been a large industry in Gadsden that employed several hundred people. Shortly before the fire there had been a good deal of labor trouble at the factory and when it burned many people thought that the fire was deliberately set. A $1,000 reward was offered by the City for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist. No one was ever arrested for the crime and the Gadsden Car Works did not rebuild. Today the Agricola Shopping Center now stands on the site.

1925, began a period of rapid growth for the City and the Fire Department, as well with the annexation of East Gadsden and the Rainbow Memorial Bridge was opened at about the same time. The early fire engines were so narrow that they could drive down the middle of the bridge between the two lanes of traffic. On July 9, 1928, the Bellview Highlands were annexed. By 1929, largely as a result of the new Goodyear Plant in East Gadsden and the recent annexations, the Fire Department was expanded to nine men operating out of two stations. In addition, a new station in East Gadsden, No. 3 was nearing completion. A new Seagraves 75 foot aerial which needed two men just to drive it and a 1,000 gallon per minute pumper from American LaFrance were bought to go with the three older pumpers and the Zera Lyles, the old three wheel hose wagon. One of the pumpers and the hose truck were soon retired while ten additional men were hired to help man the new equipment and the new station. 58 fire alarm pull stations were installed in the business district to help summon the Fire Department. Until this time telephones were the only practical way to summon help and telephones were few and far between in those days. When a call did come in by telephone, all three stations would pick up their receivers, but only Station #1 would talk. When the location and nature of the fire had been determined the responding units would tell Station #1 that they had it and were on their way.

A building code was also adopted during this year superseding the earlier 1907 code. During this period unprotected wood shingle roofs were popular because they were cheap and easy to put up. They were also one of the worst fire hazards in Gadsden. Sparks from a faulty stove vent or chimney would ignite one roof and if not contained, quickly spread to others. Firemen became quite adept at scrambling onto roofs and clearing the shingles off, one step ahead of the fire. The department also had several mascots, Chief Green raised pit bulldogs that were very friendly; in fact, firemen at Station #1 would stick money in a dog's's collar and it would go to the grocery store a couple of blocks away and the butchers there would give the dog bones. The pit bulldogs were a common site on Broad Street in those days. The firemen were given several spotted dalmations, however, these dogs tended to be mean.

In spite of the rapid growth from five men to almost twenty men in just a few years, the men were still a close unit and while there were still a few spectacular fights, moral stayed uniformly high. At this time cooperation between the Police and Fire Departments were exceptionally good and citizens were very cooperative. Many fires were fought by a single fireman while people helped drag hose or police carried ladders. In 1932, Alabama City was annexed to Gadsden which increased the department's territory but at the same time added an almost brand new pumper to the force, one that Alabama City Volunteer Fire Department had recently purchased. This raised the Department's total to four engines. By November 19, 1933, the budget for the Fire Department for the coming year had grown to $24,500.

At about the same time the Firemen's Association, which formerly sponsored the firemen's contests of Chief Woodliff's area, had evolved into a sounding board for firemen's opinions. Since the Fire Department had originally been created as a quasi-social organization it is hard to determine when or how the Firemen's Association officially came about; and yet, it served in the place of a union for some time. In 1936, partly as a result of the Firemen's Association's efforts, a sick and accident fund for both firemen and policemen was set up. The City Provided matching funds and the Police and Firemen began an annual ball to raise money. Three years later, the State Legislature created a Police and Firemen's Fund, including a 2% deduction from pay.

Training was taught as classes usually dealing with specific subjects and problems with no regular schedule or teacher. In April, 1937, E.L. Mount became the first Fire Inspector. After six months, in October of that year, Mount asked to be put back on the regular Fire Department. He later retired in 1954, as a Fire Inspector. On December 21, of that year an engine answering a call was wrecked, seriously injuring Assistant Chief Glenn. He never returned to work and died several years later. There were many bad wrecks during this period and another fireman, Curtis McNair, was seriously injured in one of them. In 1938, Station #4 in Alabama City, across from the Cotton Mill was opened and in March, the department went on a two platoon system - 24 hours on and 24 hours off.

Two of the largest fires during the thirties were the BBS Wholesale Grocery Co. fire and the Martha Washington Apartments, both of which were 75% destroyed. At the BBS Grocery fire Jimmy Waters was fighting the fire from the top of the ladder off the old Seagraves aerial when the roof on the apartment directly underneath him collapsed and enveloped him in flames. Fortunately the ladder operator, Clarence Weatherby, was alert and spun the ladder out of the flames, saving Waters from serious injury.

On February 9, 1946, the Alabama Oil Company located near the intersection of Tuscaloosa and Ewing Avenue caught on fire as a tanker was delivering gas. Static electricity was believed to be the fire's cause. Gas ran off into nearby Town Creek where it ignited, and soon burning gas floated well out into the Coosa River. A bookkeeper for the company escaped from his office but died while trying to return for his car. The total losses for this fire were over $200,000 because as the burning gas floated down the creek eleven businesses and one store were damaged. The County Jail was located beside the creek and as the flames eight feet high roared past the barred windows they seemed to be portals to an unpleasant afterlife; it is popularly believed that several of the prisoners reformed after that day. Rain helped check the fire but firemen remained on the scene from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the next day. This has to be one of the most dramatic fires in the City's history and yet was followed a few days later by another large fire.

On February 12, 1946, the Gadsden Fertilizer and Gin building located at 321 South 2nd Street, next door to the Texaco Oil Company was destroyed by fire. All units in the Fire Department were on the scene as well as units from Camp Sibert and the Air depot. The losses caused by this fire exceeded $35,000. The local oil companies continued to entertain the Fire Department about a month later when, on March 22, 1946, all units were called to the Shell Oil Company just off East Broad Street after gas from a railroad tanker car spilled into a gutter and flowed down into the Quality Laundry whose dryers had gas pilots. The resulting explosion was quite impressive and thick black smoke covered Broad Street up to the Memorial Bridge, blocking traffic. The police blocked off the area and firemen laid hose lines from every available fire hydrant. Thanks to the Fire Department's efforts, six above ground gasoline storage tanks were saved as well as a tanker truck that was right on the edge of the fire. Besides the Alabama Oil Company properties and the Quality Laundry, John-McBride Supply Company was destroyed. Two civilians were severely burned at the start of the fire and later died while three firemen suffered minor injuries in the course of the fire. The total damage caused by this fire was over $500,000.

In June 1946, two hotels in Chicago were destroyed by fire with large loss of life. As a result of these fires and the recent losses of life and property in Gadsden, steps were taken to tighten existing regulations and begin implementing extra precautions. In 1947, Camp Sibert was annexed bringing two almost new Ford 500 g.p.m. pumpers into the City. On October 21, of that year, Chief Sol. T. Green who had been with the Department for 39 years and had been Chief for 34 years retired and was replaced by Assistant Chief Clyde Landers.

During the fifties, the department gradually increased in manpower, equipment and stations. In 1965, a new aerial replaced the 1929 Seagraves and the first rookie school was taught in 1957. This was an organized attempt to teach incoming firemen their duties instead of on-the-job training. There was no one person assigned to teach the school but some firemen who volunteered for the extra work were sent to schools so they could train the department. In 1958, three new stations #5, #6 and #7, on the mountain, in North Gadsden and behind Republic Steel were opened with a corresponding increase in manpower of about 30 men so that by 1960 the department had grown to 90 men.

At first only the Chief's car had a radio. As more radios became available it was feasible to put one man at the radio in No.1 to answer emergency calls and dispatch the engine companies. Police cars often used their radios to summon more help for the Fire Department. In May, 1960 Chief Landers retired and Ed Wright became Chief. In August 1963, Station #8 on Rainbow Driver opened and in 1968 Station #9 was added across from the Goodyear Plant in East Gadsden. Also, in 1968, the total fire loss for the City was $601,925. During the sixties the department changed to a three platoon system where each firemen was on duty for 24 hours and off duty for 48 hours. By the end of the sixties Gadsden had nine stations with 93 men plus the Fire Chief and a Fire Inspector and the operating equipment consisting of ten engines and one aerial. However, most of the engines were between ten and eighteen years old and there wasn't enough equipment for all of the trucks.

In May, 1969, Chief Wright retired and George Sizemore was appointed Chief. This caused considerable public comment since Sizemore had never worked in the Fire Department. He was appointed on May 21, 1969, and three days later resigned and was replaced by James R. Speer. Also, in 1969, the first airpacks - war surplus - self contained breathing apparatus were purchased by the Fire Department. After some initial resistance on the part of older hands who thought their use was unnecessary, the use of air packs has greatly expanded throughout the department. In 1971, fourteen men were added making the total manpower 112 men and an additional Fire Inspector was added.

On November 9, 1972, Gadsden High School's main building was destroyed by fire. The two wings that were separated from the main structure was saved. Soon afterwards the City accepted delivery of two new 1,000 g.p.m. pumpers and an aerial that had been ordered before the fire. In 1972, Gadsden had the highest annual fire losses in the City's history, $3.5 million, mostly due to the Gadsden High School and the Hicks Shoe Store fires.

In 1974, a snorkel, an aerial and four new engines had been added. Two of the engines were also equipped to operate as ladder trucks. In January 1975, the Fire Medic program became part of the Fire Department, largely due to the efforts of several firefighters and Beverly Hill of the Holy Name of Jesus Hospital. This was the third such program in the State. At first the medics rode Engine #1, the "front" truck that operated out of Station #1, but responded to all fires in the city as well as serious wrecks. Also, in 1975, Klinner Furniture Warehouse and Guy Hood's Hardware and Feed Store were destroyed by a serious fire. A total of three buildings were lost and eleven units of the department responded. In the fall of 1975, minimum standards were adopted for new firemen to facilitate training.

On August 31, 1976, a fire and explosion at a service station located outside of the city limits on the Piedmont Highway left three dead - Chief Speer and Fire Medics Mike Patrick and Mike Thornton. One more was mortally injured and twenty seven firemen and civilians were injured. The City declared a period of mourning.

Assistant Chief Jack Thornton was named Chief in September. A new squad truck to be operated as a Fire Medic unit arrived. One-half of its $40,000 cost was paid for by private donations. A few months after the arrival of the new squad unit another squad, using a van, was stationed at Station #2 in West Gadsden and shortly there after two engine companies, #5 on the Mountain and #3 in East Gadsden were also manned by Fire Medics. On March 22, 1977, Central Fire Station was renamed James R. Speer Fire Station and a memorial service was held for the three firemen that died. A central dispatch office was opened for both the Fire Department and Ambulance Services Inc. with four operators/dispatchers.

In 1978, the Fire Prevention Bureau was expanded to three men, a Fire Marshal and two Fire Inspectors; in addition, the position of Training Officer was. created, Merle Conaway became the first Training Officer. On January 26, 1979, Chief Thornton resigned as Chief and reinstated as an Assistant Chief, the rank he previously held before he was Chief. Deputy Chief William G. Mayo became the new Fire Chief. Also, in 1979, the first woman firefighter, Stephanie Shirley was hired, which was unique in the fire service in North Alabama.

In March of 1980, C.D. Jacobs, a Commander on the Fire Department died after suffering smoke inhalation during a house fire. In 1980, Gadsden's fire loss was the lowest in history. Only 1.1% of involved structures were destroyed by fire. In addition, a training tower six stories high was constructed in Burns Industrial Park along with a classroom/station facility next to the tower. Also, in 1980, the department hired a full time mechanic, in order to keep the emergency equipment in continuous working order. The ISO, Insurance Services office, rating for the City was lowered from a five to a four in 1981, the lowest rating in The City's history.

Under Chief Mayo, the Fire Department continued to modernize with the acquisition of more and more new equipment. Everything from engines to hose were replaced with new equipment. Chief Mayo, retired in August 6, 1986, and Deputy Chief Hawkins became the Fire Department's twentieth Chief in 104 years of service to the City. Chief Hawkins was also the youngest Chief in the department's history being 29 years old at the beginning of his term. In the eighties, the department purchased a new ladder/tower apparatus to replace the aerial as the primary ladder truck response unit at a cost of over $300,000. In the summer of 1986, an arsonist was arrested who claimed responsibility for the Dawson Construction fire, a $400,000 loss, and Odell T.V. Repair a $250,000 loss. Roughly a year later, in July 1987, the James R. Speer Central Fire Station which was scheduled to be closed for renovation, had to be closed early when a dangerous level of asbestos was found.