History
The history of Huntsville Fire & Rescue is almost as old as the city itself. The Huntsville Fire Engine Company was incorporated on December 10, 1819. They remained a fire bucket brigade for some time since a fire engine was not acquired until some time later. The Huntsville Fire Engine Company was officially chartered by the legislature in December of 1822.
One of the first pieces of equipment purchased was the old hand pump type and was drawn by the men that manned it. The tocsin for the sounding of the alarm was placed atop the old Market Building and when it sounded, the men dropped their duties and rushed to the old house where the engine was stored.
THE ROLE OF FIRE CHIEF
During most of Huntsville’s early history, independent fire companies handled fires. However in 1867, references are found from that point annually of a fire engineer being appointed as a city officer. He would have been nearly the counterpart of a Fire Chief. The Fire Chief also acted as a City Weigher until 1900.
HUNTSVILLE’S TOP FIVE MOST MEMORABLE FIRES
- Huntsville Industrial Complex (HIC Building) – burned February 1980
- Huntsville Hotel – burned November 1910
- Stone Middle School – burned April 1983
- Dallas Mill – burned July, 1991. The fire lasted three days
- Fairgrounds – at Wheeler Avenue and Church Street.
