Stephenville Fire Department celebrated its 125th birthday Friday, July 7 in grand fashion with guest speakers, citizens and fire department members in attendance.
Friday morning dignitaries and citizens were welcomed to Central Fire Station on Pecan Hill Drive in Stephenville.
The ceremony started with a posting of colors and a welcome by Stephenville Fire Chief Robert Isbell who has been chief since 2021.
He shared appreciation for city administration and said they couldn’t do anything without their support.
“Most importantly the members of our department and our retirees are outstanding,” Isbell said. “These are the folks that built the reputation of this department. Those of us who are standing here today are standing on the shoulders of those who built this reputation.”
“To the rescue” was the motto according to the constitution and bylaws from 1898, a sentiment the department still whole heartedly embraces today.
Former fire chief Jimmy Chew gave the history of the department which started in 1898 after a series of devastating fires impacted the community. Between 1866-1897 there were 10 major fires, Chew said, that tore through Stephenville including two at the courthouse and multiple fires downtown.
A handful of men came together and started a fire company to aid the community in 1897. The bylaws were approved July 5, 1898 by the city council.
Chew said in 1905 the department started to disband because they didn’t have enough money in their budget to operate. Local businessmen donated $559.50 to keep the fire department going. (This compared to an annual budget of $4 million today, Chew said.)
In 1909, the first paid firefighter was hired, he said, basically to hitch the horses and be around to care for them. In 1916, the department received its first motorized vehicle and the fire station began to be changed over to house motorized vehicles.
“That didn’t work very well by the way. It was built to house one wagon and when they finally tore it down it was holding three firetrucks,” Chew said.
In 1954, the new firestation, currently known as Station No. 1 on Belknap Street was completed.
“There are a lot of things that have changed the fire service that you don’t think would change the fire service,” Chew said. “One of the biggest days in the fire service in the United States was Jan. 15, 1972 in my mind when the doors opened to station No. 51 and Johnny and Roy rolled out on Emergency!”
Suddenly, all of America expected when they dialed their fire department two paramedics like Johnny and Roy would show up, he said.
Fire departments started taking over ambulance services right after that and in 1976 Stephenville Fire took over the ambulance service.
When the change happened, those in charge decided if they were going to do this, it needed to be done right, Chew said, so they hired an outside consultant to come in and train the entire department as EMTs.
“Stephenville was one of about three throughout the entire state where everyone was trained as an EMT,” he said.
In the 1980s the transition started to equip SFDs with paramedics. Throughout time, the department had always been a combination department with paid and volunteer firefighters.
In 1983, the first paid chief was hired. In 2013, Central Fire Station was opened which houses fire administration in addition to firefighters.
Currently, SFD averages more than 2,200 calls for service annually, serving the city and Tarleton State University. They also respond to assist in Erath County when requested.
There are nine firefighters per shift that staff one engine, a aerial/ladder truck and two ambulances. Ambulances are basic life support (BLS) with mobile intensive care unit (MICU) capabilities. At least one paramedic staffs each ambulance. Firefighters work 48 hours on duty and 96 hours off duty.
Texas State Representative Shelby Slawson and U.S. Congressman (TX-25) Roger Williams were both at the event along with Stephenville Mayor Doug Svien, who all offered their congratulations and proclamations.
The presentation concluded with rides in the firetruck’s bucket providing aerial views of the city, fun in a bounce house and light refreshments.