Material Type

Manuscript

Date Range

1901-1985

Physical Description

excellent

Physical Condition

Very Good

History Biographical

The Lethbridge Fire Department began in the town of Lethbridge in 1885 with the Bucket Brigade. There were several factors for this.The buildings were chiefly wood, rainfall in the area was low and the westerly winds were prevalent in the region. One factor to deter fires were the 100 foot wide streets. The first organized fire protection was provided by the NWMP in 1886. In 1887 a volunteer hook and ladder company was formed with W. D. Whitney as chief, A. J. Scot, first assistant chief, E. J. Hoddert, second assistant chief. J. D. Higinbotham was secretary-treasurer. When Lethbridge was incorporated as a town in 1891, the new town council had fire protection as their first order of business. In that same year a Volunteer Fire Brigade with William Colpman as chief was formed. In subsequent years other Fire Brigades were organized each with their own chief, assistant chiefs and members. The fire brigade was reorganized in 1902 and those elected became paid members. By 1909 a professional fire department was created. The men were on duty 24 hours per day seven days per week. Minute Books were introduced by Chief Kilkenny in 1909 listing the duty officer, persons on leave, exact time of fire calls and action taken, changes in location of men and equipment. Uniforms were introduced in 1909 and in 1912 the first Firemen's Association Contest between towns took place. As the town grew incorporation was once again realized. In 1906 Lethbridge became a city. The population grew in three directions, north south and east and more fire stations were built to service the areas. No. 2 was built on the north side of the tracks at 2nd Avenue and 13th Street. A third fire hall was built in the 1960's. By 1920 the Lethbridge Fire Department was a fully professional body who could handle any emergency that occurred. Fire Prevention Programs begun as early as 1935 when Chief Lindsay introduced inspections to individual homes and fire drills began in the schools. Through the war years, the fire department held various courses teaching military firemen to handle pumpers and large equipment. The fire Department ambulance was constantly used for transported trainee crash victims to the Galt Hospital. Following the war improvements were made to both the member numbers and equipment including a two-way radio communications system and fire alarm boxes. Restrictions on sales and use of fireworks were were dealt with in the late 1950's and by the early 1970's the sale of fireworks were banned. New fire stations were built in the 1970's. One to replace the old No. 2 which became the fire headquarters and training centre located on 5th Avenue and 28th Street North and another on the west side at Jerry Potts Boulevard. The fire box system was abandoned in favor of a more effective communication-the telelphone. Wooden ladders were replaced by lighter, stronger more servicable aluminum ones. In 1985, computers were introudeced to the fire department to document many of the larger buildings and their closeness to hydrants, sprinkler controls, exits, hazards etc. In 1986 the Lethbridge Fire department celebrated its 100 anniversary. A lot of changes, improvements had occurred and with the modern fire fighting techniques many young mene were becoming fire fighters to protect the public from any disasters such as fire, flood, explosion, cyclone of mechanical diaster.

Language

English

Acquisition Source

Lethbridge Fire Department

Scope and Content

1981.1002/001 Fire Department Estimates and Costs Journal 1915-1924 1981.1002/002 Fire Department Order Book also Staff Records, Salaries, Expenses etc. 1917-1926 1981.1002/003 Fire Department General Orders 1919-1934, Fire Department Expenses 1929-1931, Summonses to Defendents 1913 1981.1002/004 Fire Department Annual Reports 1910-1926 1981.1002/005 Fire Department Annual Reports 1930-1939 1981.1002/006 Fire Department Annual Reports 1940-1949 1981.1002/007 Fire Department Annual Reports 1950-1959 1981.1002/008 Fire Department Annual Reports 1960-1969 1981.1002/009 Fire Department Annual Reports 1970-1978 and Circuit Map 1981.1002/010 Proposals for Sale ofFire Alarm Bell and Fire Extinguishers to Town of Lethbridge 1901 1981.1002/011 Receipt for Fire DepartmentBadges 1903 1981.1002/012 Ribbons: First and Second Annual Fire Brigade Ball 1903, 1904 1981.1002/013 Fire Department: Rules and Regulations Book 1909 1981.1002/014 Lists of Personal Equipment, Length of Service, Age and Pay Rates, Lethbridge Fire Department circa 1945 1981.1002/015 List of Major Fires 1917-1955 1981.1002/016 List of Fire Related Deaths Within City of Lethbridge 1932-1956 1981.1002/017 Fire Reports for December 1925 1981.1002/018 Data on Fire Department Activity 1949 1981.1002/019 City of Lethbridge Ambulance Statistics December 1961-May 1962 1981.1002/020 Cross Section Sketch of Incendiary Bomb 1942 1981.1002/021 Fire Engineer’s Reports 1901 1981.1002/022 Plans for Smokestack, Fire Hall 1901 1981.1002/023 Manuals for Fire Alarm Box Systems 1936-1945 1981.1002/024 Parts List: Motor Fire Apparatus. No Date 1981.1002/025 Catalogue: Edison Electric Hand Lamps. No Date 1981.1002/026 Manual for Cooling, Lubrication and Fuel Systems. No Date 1981.1002/027 Instructions for Operating H. V. Fire Pump 1946 1981.1002/028 Catalogue of John Morris and Sons Fire Extinguishing Apparatus. No Date 1981.1002/029 Manual for Chevrolet Cars, Chevrolet, Maple Leaf and G.M.C. Trucks 1941-1942 1981.1002/030 American LaFrance Operating Manual 1923 1981.1002/031 Practical Training for Firemen Manual 1949 1981.1002/032 Fire Alarm Instructions. No Date 1981.1002/033 Fire Records: Lethbridge Fire Department 1913-1937 1981.1002/034 Fire Records: Lethbridge Fire Department 1938-1948 1981.1002/035 Fire Records: Lethbridge Fire Department 1948-1952 1981.1002/036 Fire Records: Lethbridge Fire Department 1953-1959 1981.1002/037 Fire Call Records August 1909-December 1944 1981.1002/038 Lethbridge Fire Department Occurance Book 1909-1912 1981.1002/039 Lethbridge Fire Department Daily Journal 1913 1981.1002/040 Personnel Files, Sick Leave and Weigh Scale Money Prior to 1953 1981.1002/041 Daily Record Book: Lethbridge Fire Department August 1911-September 1912 1981.1002/042 Lethbridge Fire Department: Outstanding Accounts 1914-1926 And Payroll 1914-1932 1981.1002/043 Personnel Files 1920 and Payroll 1924-1925 1981.1002/044 Fire Department Personnel Record Book 1909-1950 1951.1002/045 Inspector’s Report Book: Boiler Inspector N. Marshall 1924 2010.1000 Report Books of the Lethbridge Fire Department in Books 2 to 73 from Headquarters. Report books from Stations No. 1, No.2 and No.3 2010.1000/001 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #2 May 1909 – Oct 1913 2010.1000/002 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #3 Nov 1913 – Dec 1914 2010.1000/003 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #4 Dec 1914 – May 1917 2010.1000/004 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #5 May 1917 – Jan 1920 2010.1000/005 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #6 Jan 1919 – Jan 1921 2010.1000/006 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #7 Jan 1921 – Sept 1922 2010.1000/007 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #8 Sept 1922 – Apr 1924 2010.1000/008 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #9 Apr 1924 – Sept 1925 2010.1000/009 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #10 Sept 1925 – June 1927 2010.1000/010 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #11 June 1927 – Mar 1928 2010.1000/011 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #12 Mar 1928 – Mar 1930 2010.1000/012 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #13 Mar 1930 – Aug 1931 2010.1000/013 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #14 Aug 1931 – Sept 1932 2010.1000/014 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #15 Sept 1932 – Mar 1934 2010.1000/015 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #16 Mar 1934 – Mar 1935 2010.1000/016 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #17 Mar 1935 – July 1937 2010.1000/017 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #18 Jul 1937 – May 1939 2010.1000/018 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book # 19 May 1939 – Feb 1941 2010.1000/019 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #20 Feb 1941 – Sept 1941 2010.1000/020 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #21 Oct 1942 – Apr 1944 2010.1000/021 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #22 Apr 1944 – May 1945 2010.1000/022 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #23 May 1945 – Dec 1985 2010.1000/023 Lethbridge Fire Dept - Report Book #24 Jan 1946 – Nov 1946

Notes

Report book No. 27 is missing from the run.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19811002, 20101000

Collection

Archive

Less detail