The History of the Derby Volunteer Fire Department
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The following article appeared in the Derby Star newspaper on Thursday, September 13, 1956. It has been re- created by permission of the author. THE HISTORY OF THE DERBY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT For years the “Derby Fire Department” as in most Conrad. Denton York and Ray Conrad have since small American communities, was the friends and moved from Derby and resigned from the neighbors who responded to the general ring or line department. A proud group, they were when they ring on the country phone lines and hurried came toting home that little handful of equipment, barehanded, bareheaded, and barefooted with and they immediately began answering alarms, whatever he had at his disposal to help a neighbor in loading their equipment on a truck, pickup or distress, and cheat the demon fire out of whatever whatever they could find, and going to the fire. they could. Usually, in spite of their earnest and Motivated by their desire to be of further assistance sincere efforts, they arrived too late with too little to themselves and the community, they were and didn’t succeed in saving much, if anything. Of determined to get it mobilized somehow. Their course, their efforts were sometimes rewarded and efforts had gone through many stages when the City they did succeed in saving a house or building much Council, recognizing the growing need for an to their mutual satisfaction, but all too often it was organized Fire Department and better protection really disheartening to stand by helpless, with came to the rescue and sold emergency bonds to nothing to do anything with, and no organization of buy the original truck and put a sizeable tank on it their efforts and see fire consume a neighbor’s (700 gallons). As the City did not as yet, have much household. water available and just a few fire hydrants, now they had a truck to equip and they undertook with a Later the city provided a siren at the switchboard to vengeance to complete it. They sponsored Bingo be activated by the operator when a fire was games, carnivals, raffles, pancake and sausage reported. This resulted in quicker response, but still suppers, and solicited the rural community, with no equipment nor organization their efforts contractors, and anyone else who was inclined to be were too often futile. About this time the County generous, promising only to come if they had a fire. bought a fire truck and tanker, which they kept at The people of the community at large were almost the County Maintenance Shop on south Seneca as enthused as the boys themselves. The response Street in Wichita. Their best time to Derby was 15 was most gratifying and soon the boys had raised minutes flat, at a time of day when there wasn’t almost as much money by these means as the City much traffic, but they again were often too late. put in at that time. They turned “Scotch,” buying a used truck, recapping tires, used pump and having it In the fall of 1953, at the suggestion of County Fire rebuilt, a used siren, and shopping endlessly and Chief Ray Davis, and about the time that Derby tirelessly and doing much of the work themselves, really began to grow, a group of 15 men started they put together a right presentable piece of fire taking the Civil Defense fire instruction course at equipment which has extinguished many fires in the County Fire Station, and upon completion, and around Derby, and is still in top shape for many received the Civilian Defense equipment issued to more to come. Perhaps it is a bit off looking to a such units. The equipment consisted of a portable professional fireman, but it really looked good to pump, 800 feet of two and one-half inch hose, 200 those boys who had worked so hard on it, as well as feet of one and one-half inch hose, nozzles and to most everyone else. other small equipment, plus coats, helmets and boots for 10 men. Thirteen men (unlucky? Well, During the fall of 1954 the Fire Department we don’t think so) of the original fifteen finished undertook the purchase of a “Resuscitator – the course. They were, Chet Smith, Charles A. Inhalator – Asphyxiator (editors note: I believe the Roseberry, W. R. Austin, John Stewart, LaVerne article should have read Aspirator rather than Kanaga, Darrell Butterfield, Harold Sorensen, Asphyxiator) – a very useful and necessary piece of Fredrick Kersting, Ray Conrad, Marion Mattox, First-Aid equipment used in cases of drowning, Sam Austin, Leon Rollins, Denton York, and Ray asphyxiation, strangulation, being overcome by smoke or any other circumstance when a patient needs oxygen. On July 12, 1956, the Derby Volunteer Fire Department took delivery on a new 1956 Ford F-8 With more equipment and more hazards and Fire Engine, equipped and manufactured by the liabilities, the Department needed more men, so Minnesota Fire Equipment Company. Again with another class was started. This group took their more equipment, the need for more men, and the training at Wichita Fire Station No. 6 and consisted following have just completed their training at of the following men: Max Simonsen, Duane Wichita Fire Station No. 6 and qualified as firemen: Kanaga Ward States Jr., Sheldon Mohr, Frank Leon Sallee, Walter Hall, Willis Albertson, James Leonard, Alvin Parks, Wilbert Nelson, Melvin Southard, Willis Rohman, Kenneth Knowles, Bill McCluggage, Gerald Miller, Odas Austin, Kanaga, Lake, and Bill VanRuth. The Fire Department now Austin, and Parks have since moved from Derby. consists of thirty-two volunteer firemen. It consists of two companies, one for each truck. The officers The Fire Department went on answering various consist of one chief, one assistant chief, one captain calls, some of not too serious nature and some for each company, and three lieutenants for each where the damage prevented would be hard to company. Perhaps that compliment of officers estimate, and surely would have totaled thousands sounds a little like the Mexican Army, by many of of dollars. the firemen work out of town, and the Department really isn’t overstaffed with officers. Again the need for more men arose. This time the class taking their training at Wichita Fire Station How do they operate? Just as democratic as No. 6 again, consisted of James Human, Joe possible. Originally the group elected their officers Gasaway, Lee Gilliland, Wesley Hildebrand, and when the two companies were formed the Charles Roseberry II, Roseberry has since moved appointments were made by the senior officers. As from Derby, but has joined a Civilian Defense there was no difference in qualifications, they were Auxiliary Group in Wichita. About this time appointed on the basis of who would be most likely Charles Y. Fields Jr., who had taken his training in be able to make most of the alarms. Wichita, moved to Derby and joined the Department. Fields has also taken Civilian Defense One man is appointed by his Captain to check each Rescue Training. truck each day. He checks tires, lights, gas and oil, brakes, equipment, and starts the engine to make January 1, 1954, when the Sedgwick County Fire sure it is always ready to answer an alarm. Every Department began to enlarge and build more man is instructed in the use of the resuscitator and outlying stations, the City of Derby entered into the Scott Air-Packs and all other safety equipment. County Fire District, a wise move as the city was by Last summer, as many as could attended a Red now growing fast and the local Department still had Cross First Aid class and the Fire Department now only the one piece of equipment and the added boasts eleven qualified First-Aid members. County protection was a bargain, based on 1053 valuation, but as the city grew, it became apparent Pay? None. All they ask is just your thanks for a that we were soon going to be paying a “pretty job well done, and your criticism if ought be due. penny” for auxiliary fire protection that was still too far away, plus the fact that with our original truck Special qualification? Again, none. They come and their assistance, we could not qualify for a from all walks of life – farmers, butchers, builders, favorable insurance rate. The City Council mechanics, salesmen, plumbers, electricians, shop- diligently decided to buy another truck and go out owners, brick-masons, railroaders, telephone men, of the County Fire District as soon as possible, carpenters, mail carriers, and truck drivers, to name which will be next year. The reduction in Fire only a few. Insurance rate will amount to the price of the new truck each year. The City is now in the process of negotiating a mutual-aid agreement with our neighboring city of Mulvane, which will further our protection and be of benefit to both cities. .