The Fire Hall

The Fire Hall. . , For many years following the founding of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) in 1874, this campus was essentially an isolated, semi-rural community outside the Guelph city limits. The college was responsible for its own fire suppression but was severely undersupplied. In the colleges early years, several campus buildings succumbed to fire., In the early 1950s, OAC staff member Vic Richards suggested that a more efficient fire and emergency response system be organized. Following professional training, he became the first campus fire chief. The college also purchased a truck, built a permanent fire hall and organized a fire brigade., The fire hall was a hub for round the clock response to various emergencies on campus. Weekly training classes were held for the firemen and for a large group of volunteers consisting of faculty, staff and students. Several faculty and staff members who lived in houses across campus were expected to respond to fire calls, day or night. Many students carried their firefighting knowledge home to rural communities. The City of Guelph built a fire substation on Stone Road in 1976 as the city expanded southward. By the late 1970s, the city assumed responsibility for firefighting at the University of Guelph. Norman Hinds, who became campus fire chief in 1975, continued to oversee emergency response and fire prevention programs. Until 1994, the campus chief responded to all alarms, containing many fires before the Guelph Fire Department arrived on the scene., This plaque is dedicated with gratitude to all who have served in firefighting, fire prevention and emergency medical response at OAC and the University of Guelph., In honour of two volunteers who lost their lives in fire service: , Peter Ferguson - Volunteer Deputy Fire Chief - OAC April 9, 1955 , Robert Patten - Volunteer Firefighter - University of Guelph December 19, 1975 ,