Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
TPL-4132
Date(s)
- 1890 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
ca. 1890. Station # 3, Tacoma Fire Department. Location of Engine Co. No. 3 was listed at the corner of No. "G" and McCarver in 1889 with Captain Amil Krantz in charge of at least five men. A few weeks after a disastrous Seattle business district fire which saw Tacoma volunteers leap in to assist their Seattle brethren, the Tacoma City Council put its volunteers on salary. Considerable new equipment was purchased from the International Fire Engine Company of Seneca Falls, New York, and Tacoma had the first paid fire department. The 2nd Annual Report of the Tacoma Paid Fire Department, for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1891, listed a complete inventory of both employees and equipment for each fire station. Besides the Silsby steam fire engine and American Fire Apparatus hose wagon, 2 sliding poles, 6 rubber coats, 4 horse blankets, 6 spittoons, and one crowbar were among those listed. Running expenses for the fiscal year totaled $7,341.36 including $336.10 for oats, $8.05 for carrots and the largest expenditure, $5887.76 for salaries. Rosters were also listed, including the men's ages, nationality and former occupations. (2nd Annual Report, Tacoma Paid Fire Department, p. 24-25; 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 17-18)
Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1890-1900; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1890-1900; Horses--Tacoma;