This 1912 photo shows the horse drawn fire wagon in front of Lynn Morris's Livery Stable at the east end of Onondaga Street (Main Street). Lynn Morris was the first Fire Chief, a position he held for 33 years. Art McCoy is the driver of this rig.The first official fire protection came when Town Marshal Wright was given charge of the Babcock fire extinguisher. The Town Hall records for 1871 show a committee was appointed to secure "hooks, poles and ladder" for fires. Subsequently, a bill for $12.45 was honored from a man who built five 12 foot, one 22 foot, two 20 foot, and three 15 foot ones.
... new equipment is added to the Ames Fire Department this week in the form of a new fire wagon. The wagon was built by John Allen and is now standing in front of his establishment near the freight depot. It was ordered by the city last spring and has been under construction for the past few months. |
The Ames volunteer Fire Company is shown in
front of the first city hall prior to 1915.
Chief Lynn Morris is seen top left.
Ames Fire Department Milestones
| 1891
1910 1915
1916 1922 1924 1932
1942 1954 1966
1969 1978
1979 1980 |
Ames forms a volunteer fire fighting unit.
The hand drawn hose reel is replaced by a horse drawn fire wagon. The Municipal Building is constructed at 5th and Kellogg. The Fire Company becomes the Fire Department (volunteer) with headquarters in the new building. Motorized firetruck purchased L.R. Morris becomes the first paid fire chief. The Fire Department becomes a full-fledged paid unit. A fire station is established under Clyde Williams Stadium on Sheldon Avenue to serve the college and west Ames. Sam Long becomes Ames' second fire chief. Kenneth Taylor succeeds Sam Long as fire chief. Voters approve a $140,000 bond issue for a new satellite fire station at Welch and Chamberlain. Iowa State University pays half of the cost. At the December 4, 1966 dedication, the stadium fire station is closed. Ralph Parks Jr. becomes Ames' fourth fire chief. $950,000 bond issue for a new fire station and headquarters on 16th Street is approved by a 69% margin. Construction begins on the new fire station. Fire Station I and Headquarters is dedicated October 26. |
This 1921 postcard image of the Ames Municipal Building shows the first motorized firetruck in Ames, a 1916 American LaFrance model. The city purchased the truck to replace a horse drawn cart, but the men had to raise their own funds to buy uniforms.
From the August 22, 1920, issue of the Ames Tribune: Members of the Ames volunteer fire department believe the city is very much in need of a second fire truck in order to afford adequate fire protection. Last night the department submitted to the council a request for a second truck which request was referred to the fire and water committee to be reported upon at the next meeting.The firemen list six reasons for getting a new truck:
1. The present truck is not mechanically reliable. A chain came off on the way to the college last week and the trip could not be completed.
2. Constant repairs keep the present truck out of service.
3. Sometimes the department has two calls at once.
4. A second truck is needed to lay hose while the present truck is pumping.
5. A second truck could provide a reserve for big fires.
6. A second truck would increase efficiency.
This photo shows the Ames Fire Department in 1924. The ladder truck, new in 1922, at the left and nearest the Ames Laundry wall was Ames's second motorized truck. The American LaFrance truck at the right, new in 1916, was the first. Fire Chief Lynn Morris stands behind the small boy on the toy fire truck. Sam Long, who later would become the fire chief, sits at the left in the LaFrance driver's seat.