Members of our paid, reserve and volunteer staff are proud of this department’s history, and would like to share some interesting facts about it with you.

 

Established in the late 1860’s, the Fremont Fire Department was the third fire department in the state of Nebraska.  Several fire companies made up the early Fire Department:

 

Frontier Fire Company, Nov 1868

Fremont Engine Company, Feb 1872

Red Jacket Engine Company, Dec 1874

J.C. Cleland Hose Company, 1883

Mechanic Hose Company, May 1886

G.W.E. Dorsey Hose Company, May 1886

W.G. Mercer Hose Company, Feb 1890

 

These were all volunteer companies, which, in 1890, boasted a membership of 182.  A Board of Directors for the Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1891.  The Board was made up of 16 members (two from each of the seven companies, plus a President and Vice President).  This Board was the governing body of all the volunteer firefighters.

 

In 1888 the Fremont City Hall was built at the corner of 4th Street and Park Avenue.  This building also contained the fire station.  A bell tower was erected in this building to call citizens with teams of horses to pull the fire wagons and hose carts.  When the bell sounded, the first person to get to the station and hook their team of horses to a piece of fire equipment got paid for their services.  In 1900 the city was split into six wards, with one hose reel cart placed in each ward.

 

The City of Fremont purchased a Wilcox Hose and Chemical Truck in 1911.  This was the first motor driven fire truck in the state of Nebraska.  A man was hired for $65.00 a month to run and take care of the truck.  He became the first paid employee of the Fremont Fire Department.  Additional motorized trucks were purchased in 1915, 1919, and 1922.  The position of a paid Fire Chief was created in January 1929, and was held by Harry D. Struve until September 1932.  Since 1929 Fremont has had ten career Fire Chiefs, one (Carl Hansen) died in the line of duty in 1969.

 

In July 1937 the seven volunteer fire companies were reduced to four.  The volunteer fire department remained divided into companies until about 1990 when “companies” were dropped and all members began meeting together under the heading of Fremont Volunteer Fire Department. 

 

The current fire station, at 415 East 16th Street, was built in 1968 for $240,000.00.  It houses three pumpers (two front line trucks and one reserve truck), one aerial, one water rescue/command center unit, and four rescue squads.  We also have two paramedic bicycles and a boat that we keep at this location.

 

Today’s Fremont Fire Department consists of 27 career firefighters, who work three shifts of nine firefighters each.  Shifts are 24 hours long, with 48 hours off.  The paid fire crews are backed up by our volunteer fire department.  A reserve firefighter program was also implemented in 2006.  In 1993 the position of Safety/Training Officer was created and a full time Senior Office Associate position was added. 

 

Our department’s fire protection area covers approximately eight square miles.  Through our Mutual Aid agreements, our rescue squad and fire response does not stop at the city limits, however.  It extends into the rural communities and surrounding areas, and our Advanced Life Support Service allows us to intercept critical patients when requested.  It’s interesting to note that it was in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s that members of the department first became Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s).  The last thirty years have seen tremendous change in our rescue squad service.  Defibrillators were introduced to the department in December 1989 and were a controversial acquisition at the time.  The next year, members of this department saved their first life as a direct result of using a defibrillator.  In 1993 the City approved the department’s request to become an Advanced Life Support (ALS) service.  In 1995 we obtained our paramedic license.  Today, one fourth to one third of all our rescue squad calls are ALS. 

 

We’re proud of our history.  It’s reflected in a sense of tradition and “family” that our firefighters have towards their job and one another.  The most outstanding part of the fire service is the heart of each firefighter.  The best equipment means nothing without the commitment and dedication of our firefighters.  We are determined to provide our community with the best possible service, now and in the future.