LETHBRIDGE e CENTGRY OF FIRE FIGHTING A photograph taken on 5 October 1892, when the Ronald's steam fire engine received its first public test. The 1891 fire hall, at 2nd Avenue and 4th Street South, had been completed earlier in the year and there was much interest in the 39-member volunteer fire brigade, called Lethbridge Fire Brigade No. 1. The chemical fire engine, steam fire engine, and hook and ladder wagon were all pulled by the men. Turnout gear consisted of a rubberized slicker, a sou'wester head covering, and rubber boots. LETHBRIDGE fi CENTURY OF FIRE FIGHTING ALEX JOHNSTON and TED BOCHAN Published by The City of Lethbridge Fire Department Lethbridge, Alberta 1986 Copyright © 1986 by the City of Lethbridge. Crown copyright reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ISBN 0-919224-50-4 (cloth) Cartography. Barry R. Peat Printed and bound in Canada By Graphcom Printers Limited, Lethbridge, Alberta A&toeru Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Johnston, A. (Alex), 1920- Lethbridge, a century of fire fighting Includes Index Bibliography: p. 160-161 I. Fire-departments - Alberta - Lethbridge - History. 2. Lethbridge (Alta.) - Fires and fire prevention - History. I. Bochan, Ted, 1945- II. Lethbridge (Alta.) Fire Dept. Ill Title. TH9507.L48J64 1986 363.3'78'0971234 C86-091019-9 Contents Maps 5 Acknowledgements 6 Foreword 7 Chapter 1. The Bucket Brigade 9 Chapter 2. Volunteer Firemen 23 Chapter 3. The Waterworks 37 Chapter 4. Professional Firemen 49 Chapter 5. Changing Traditions 67 Chapter 6. Depression Years 79 Chapter 7. Wartime Fire Department 89 Chapter 8. Post-war Growth 97 Chapter 9. Out With The Old 113 Chapter 10. Modern Fire Fighters 127 Appendix The 1969 Fire Department 147 The 1986 Fire Department 148 General Policy 156 Maps and Graphs Operating Policy 156 Fire Chiefs 157 Street names and numbers 15 Deaths By Fire 158 Company waterworks system 1883 38 Civic waterworks system 1986 41 Bibliography 160 Fire alarm boxes, ca. 1953 92 Index 162 Fire department statistics 140 Acknowledgements Those who undertake to compile the history of a civic department soon find themselves deeply in debt to the agencies and people that preserve the records upon which the history is based. These include the offices of the City Clerk and Finance Director, where council minutes, published reports, and financial records were filed; the Public Library, where microfilm of Lethbridge newspapers was made available; the Planning Department, which cooperated in the drawing of maps and graphs; the Sewage and Waterworks Department, which provided advice and statistical information; the Sir Alexander Gait Museum archives, where photographs and documents were obtained; and the Fire Department, which retained and made available annual reports and clipping files. A grant to assist in publication was received from Alberta Culture and is gratefully acknowledged. Individuals who read and commented on the manuscript included W. J. Elliott, R. M. Bartlett, Dave Obee, Margaret Wheeler, L. Gregory Ellis. Farley Wuth, James F. Culver, Richard Shockley, and Robert D. Tarleck. Others who helped in various ways included John Kolpak and Kenneth G. Sinclair, photographers; Carlton R. Stewart, photographer-printer; Jean Potts, assistant city clerk; George Higa, engineering design supervisor; Henry Bosman, sewer and water director; David J. Major, research scientist; Tim Lawson, archives volunteer, and Mary Grace Bradley, archives volunteer. Oldtimers who shared their memories with us included Wilfred L. Russell, Ernest H. Holberton, William R. Savage, Ernest (Ernie) Pankhurst, Agnes Short, Nellie Cookshaw (nee Alford), and Albert Cheesman. Foreword Many think that fire and police protection are the most important services provided by local government. Fire protection was the least controversial since encounters with the poUce tended to be impleasant—traffic infractions, jaywalking, or actual arrests. But firemen tended to be seen as benefactors during time of trouble—saving lives and property, or extinguishing fires. Although firemen were trusted and respected by most citizens of the community, an image of men playing checkers or card games, or sleeping during duty hours, plagued the department for many years. Various systems of shift work gave rise to complaints of moonUghting by firemen, particularly from the construction unions. This poor pubUc image manifested itself in a reluctance by successive coimcils to provide adequate financial support to operate the fire department properly. The purpose of this study was to tell the story of the growth and progression of the Lethbridge fire department during its first 100 years. Volunteer fire brigades provided protection from 1886 to 1909, when a professional fire department was organized. It employed 12 firemen of all ranks and cost $30,000 in 1910, its first full year of operation. In 1985, the department employed 122 firemen of all ranks and cost $5.6 million, a matter of concern to city council. The funds provided for the ever-increasing responsibilities assigned to the department, not only for fire protection but for ambulance and rescue services as well plus preventive services such as public education and training, inspections, and investigations. We have attempted to show that, when needed, an adequately- equipped, well-trained group of men saved lives and property and provided protection for the City of Lethbridge against the consequences of uncontrolled fire. In 1986, the Lethbridge fire department entered its second century trained and equipped and confident of its ability to meet future objectives. A prairie fire Chapter 1 The Bucket Brigade The Town of Lethbridge was laid out in 1885 with fire barracks and the.se men with their equipment responded to the protection in mind. Streets were made 100 feet (30 m) wide and more serious fires in the new community. The NWMP also had the blocks were divided into two, often four, parts by 25-foot (7.5-m) power to order able-bodied men out to fight prairie fires, some of wide lanes. These were important precautions in a town where which in the 1880s came dangerously close to the new town. buildings were chiefly of wood, heating systems were primitive, When a fire was detected, the alarm was sounded on a bell the annual rainfall was low, and the region was subject to strong taken from the hulk of the river steamer Alberta (after she docked westerly winds. in Lethbridge for the last time in July 1886). The bell was mounted over the entrance to Higinbotham's drugstore-post office at the The greatest obstacle against securing adequate fire protection corner of 5th Street and 2nd Avenue South and was used until 1892 was an objection, prevalent throughout the North-West, to as a curfew and fire alarm. incorporation of towns and municipalities. Incorporation was unpopular because of the taxes it brought in its wake. How to obtain Lethbridge had its first major fire in February 1887. It started fire protection without the expense attendant on incorporation was in the second of a row of North Western Coal and Navigation an important question of the time. The Lethbridge News in early Company (NWC&NCo) cottages on 1st Avenue between 2nd and 1886 first advocated a procedure similar to the establishment of 3rd Streets South. When first discovered, the fire had made school boards in unincorporated communities. A board of fire considerable headway. Glass hand bombs containing carbon commissioners would be set up with power to levy assessments and tetrachloride were thrown into the flames but all efforts to save issue debentures and, with the funds obtained, to arrange for a the cottage and an adjoining one were futile. An attempt to water supply and to purchase chemical and steam fire engines and demolish and remove the third cottage above the one then burning other essentials. The proposal required passage of an ordinance by was frustrated by strong westerly winds. Driven from there, an the North-West Territorial (NWT) Assembly. impromptu fire brigade tried to save the fifth cottage in the row by covering it with wet blankets but, again, the fire drove them Little attention was paid to these suggestions although those back. Then the wind suddenly shifted from blowing straight east with most to lose—the businessmen—organized an imofficial bucket to northeast. The burning debris was blown toward the railway brigade in 1886. Years later, J. D. Higinbotham, pioneer druggist, tracks rather than toward still more cottages and fighters were recalled the circumstances of its creation and some of those who able to extinguish the fires. Eight cottages were destroyed. served: "Water was conveyed in tank-wagons to the townsite. As In its next issue, the News called again for a NWT ordinance an engine or any other fire fighting equipment was out of the to permit formation of a board of fire commissioners, or failing question, a bucket brigade was formed." Members included C. B. that, to raise funds by subscription. "A chemical engine should be Bowman, Duncan Duff, Harry Fleetwood, E. N. Higinbotham, procured and the necessary arrangements made for its prompt Norman Macleod, Bob and Fred Niven, G. W. Robinson, E. T. (Si) appearance on the scene in the event of fire. A hook and ladder Saunders, Hugh Scott, and Philip Vibert. company should be raised and equipped." The first organized fire protection in Lethbridge was provided This time citizens acted on the suggestions. On 16 February, by the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) later in 1886 after a volimteer hook and ladder company was formed and the following barracks were built in the town. Fire protection for the town was officers were elected; chief, W. D.