El Paso Fire History

Early formation
On January 18th, 1882 a meeting was held and El Paso Fire Company No. 1 was organized. There was no water system at this time. The city granted a contract to Mr. Sylvester Watts to build a water works to supply the city's residents. Along with the water works he would supply the city's first 25 fire hydrants.

As the water works neared completion another meeting was held on August 22nd, 1882. El Paso Hose Company No. 1 was formed and officers elected. City Council approved the elected officers at its next meeting. The first test for the new fire department occurred on November 11th, 1882. Two one-story frame lodging houses were destroyed by fire. One of these housed the actresses of the Coliseum and was owned by one of the department's assistant chiefs, W.H. Carter. Although a fire hydrant was located across from the buildings, the infant department had only 100 feet of hose and could hardly do more than splash water on the buildings.

In the following week, a reorganization meeting was held. Hose Company No. 1, Hose Company No. 2, and Ladder No. 1 were formed. City Council passed the fire department ordinance that created and regulated the department. Firefighters were mostly volunteers until the department became a fully paid department in February 1909.

El Paso Fire Chiefs
W.W. Armstrong 1909 - 1915	John Wray 1915 - 1927	John T. "Red" Sullivan 1927 - 1940	W.E. Jackson 1940 - 1942
Joe H. Boone 1942 - 1950	H. A. Davis 1950 - 1962	W. L. Farr 1962 - 1968	Marion Coleman 1968 - 1984
Joe H. Wilson 1984 - 1988	Andew Mehl 1988 - 1994	Glenn Johns 1995 - 2002	Roberto Rivera 2002 - 2009

Miss Flame
Each year a young lady was selected as Miss Flame representing the Fire Department. The duties performed by Miss Flame were to familiarize the citizens with the most effective ways of preventing fires, thereby preventing the loss of lives and property.

Miss Flame was discontinued in the 1970's.

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