The Volunteer Era

1857-1916

History of the Austin Fire Department Volunteer Fire Companies

The Austin Fire Department was organized on September 25, 1857, as Hook and Ladder Fire Company No. 1.   John Bremond, Sr., a prominent merchant and a former fireman in New York, was the founding member of the fire department.  The War Between the States delayed the organization of more fire companies until 1868, when John Bremond, Jr. and several other prominent Austinites founded Washington Fire Engine Company No. 1.  As Austin expanded geographically and grew in population, the volunteer fire companies naturally followed suit.  Colorado Fire Company No. 2 organized in May 1871.  In 1874, Central Engine Company No. 3 organized, but disbanded in 1877. Hope Hook and Ladder Company No. 2 organized in 1875, but disbanded in 1882.  Following the separation of Central No. 3, Protection Fire Company No.3 organized in May 1878 and retained the number three. Another short-lived fire company was Juvenile Hook and Ladder No. 4, which organized in 1880 and consisted of members under eighteen years old. As these boys turned into men and joined the adult fire companies, Juvenile H+L #4 ultimately dissolved, although their first fire is mentioned as being the 1881 Texas Capitol Building Fire. In February 1886, East Austin Fire Company No. 4 incorporated as a fire company. South Austin Fire Company No. 5 organized in March 1895 and remained the only fire station south of the Colorado River until Station 11 was built in 1950. North Austin Fire Company No. 6 organized in August 1896 to protect the expansion of areas north of Austin. In the late 1800s Indians and stagecoach bandits occupied the land west of Austin, but by the turn of the century Austin citizens began developing neighborhoods west of Shoal Creek. West Austin Fire Company No. 7 began protecting the citizens from the destruction of fire in May 1905. By 1908, East Austin No. 4, located at E. 10^th and Lydia St., was the only fire company on the east side of town, but in the era of horse-drawn fire trucks this was inadequate protection for the expanding Holly Street neighborhood. In 1908 this area was called the Tenth Ward; as a result the Tenth Ward Fire Company No. 8 was organized. The last company to organize during the volunteer era was Rescue Hose Company No. 9 in 1913.

In 1912 the fire department purchased its first motorized fire truck leading to the end of two eras of firefighting in Austin, horse drawn fire apparatus and the volunteer firefighter. In May of 1916 the citizens of Austin voted to create an all paid, career fire department. On June 1, 1916 27 firemen, including Chief Clarence Woodward, ushered in a new era of firefighting in Austin, Texas.