Founding of the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department

Founding of the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department. . By 1866, the City of Kansas (now Kansas City) had outgrown the bucket brigade system for fire protection and decided to establish a fire department for better protection. On March 12, 1867 the Missouri State Legislature passed a bill that gave cities the right to establish paid and volunteer fire departments, and described how to fund them. In the summer of 1867 Colonel Francis M. Foster was appointed Fire Chief. His first act was to ask for bids on a steam fire engine and equipment. The successful bidder was the Silsby Manufacturing Co. of Seneca Falls, NY, with an order placed in August of 1867 for one Second Size Steamer, two 2-wheel hand-pulled hose carts, with 500 ft. of 2½-inch hose on each cart. Delivery was March 12, 1868 for the steamer and January, 1868 for the hose carts and hose. , The City was short of funds to pay for the equipment and proposed selling real estate for delinquent taxes. However, a writ of injunction was issued by a County Court Justice restraining the City from doing so. City Alderman John Campbell stepped forward and paid the $5500 for the steamer and equipment, then presented them to the City. For this generous donation the city named the steamer the John Campbell No. 1. Fire Chief Francis M. Foster, T. B. Bullene (foreman of Neptune Hose Co. No. 1) and volunteers met the steamer on its arrival and escorted it to the Market Square for viewing. , The birth date of the Kansas City, MO. Fire Department, comprised of all volunteers, is considered to be March 14, 1868. On that day, pump tests were held on 5th Street between Central and Main Street. Tests began at 3 p.m. using different lengths of 2½-inch hose from 100 feet to 1000 feet and various sized nozzles. A pond used for water was on the south side of 5th Street and the steamer was placed near Wyandotte Street. , The last test performed used 1000 ft. of hose, with a 1-inch nozzle. With steam at 108 lbs. and water at 122 lbs. of pressure, water went 20 feet higher than the roof of Frank's Hall at 5th and Main Street. Tests were completed at 4:56 p.m. and Fire Chief Foster accepted ownership of the steamer John Campbell No.1. On August 2, 1871 the department hired its first paid firefighter and by the end of 1872 the department was fully paid. Two more steamers were purchased including Dr. Lykins No. 2 and Kansas City No. 3, along with Aerial Trucks No. 1 and No. 2. , George C. Hale became a member of the department November 21, 1871 and was appointed the Department Chief serving from May 2, 1882 to April 21, 1902. Under his leadership the department purchased seven more steamers and built twenty fire stations. In early 1892 the U.S. State Department contacted Chief Hale requesting he and the Kansas City, MO. Fire Department represent the United States at the International Fire Congress held at London, England, June 12-17, 1893. Hale was chosen for his 63 U.S. patents on fire equipment which included the Hale Swinging Harness and Water Tower being exhibited. Hale also represented the United States for the International Fire Congress held at the Paris Exposition in Paris, France, on August 13-19, 1900. At both events the Kansas City, MO. Fire Department came home as world champions. , On March 7, 1887 Captain William H. Craig of Hose Reel No. 1 fell three floors down an open elevator shaft of an unfinished warehouse building in the west bottoms of Kansas City. Captain Craig was the first firefighter to die in the line of duty in Kansas City, Missouri.