Arizona Fire Department Celebrates 100 Years

Bisbee Station 2, built in 1914

March 18, 2008 – The Bisbee, Arizona Fire Department is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It is the oldest full-time paid department in the state. The members of Bisbee Local 2146, which has represented the department’s fire fighters since 1972, are planning a big celebration to commemorate the milestone May 9-10.

For more information on the celebration, call Mark Perez at (520) 432-3787 or email 4perez@cableone.net.

The department was created in 1908 after the town burned twice. Many of the houses were built of wood, so fires often spread quickly from house to house. Because there were no fire hydrants, early fire fighters used some unconventional methods, including one that involved mounting a permanent barrel filled with water on top of homes. Fire fighters would simply shoot holes in the barrels to release the water and douse the flames.

Station 2, which was built in 1914, is still operation. From the outside, the old station looks very much like it did the day it was built. In fact, the front still has the original windows.