History of the Norman Fire Department

Norman Fire Department History

Part I - Norman's history goes back to April 22, 1889, the day of the first Oklahoma land run, and for four years its residents had no fire protection worth mentioning.

Local newspapers began editorializing for some preventive action even before formation of the Oklahoma Territory May 2, 1890. Nothing official happened, though, until July 1893, and then it wasn't much. A city ordinance merely required each place of business to make at least a barrel of water available for fighting fires.

"At that time," Womack wrote, "the only practical method of securing the necessary supply was to purchase it from water haulers George Zimmerman or G.E. Howery, at 10 cents a barrel."

It was a wonder Norman's first fire worth mentioning did not come until Jan. 27, 1894, to a small house on East Main Street. Neighbors managed to save the household property, which included a piano.

The first fire department (volunteer, of course) was not established until April 17, 1894, soon after construction of the town waterworks was begun. Thirty-three volunteers quickly signed up.

Although the Indian Territory had liquor prohibition, the Oklahoma Territory did not. Two major distributors were quick to set up operations in Norman.

"The organizers of the department had no hesitance about requesting a contribution to help purchase a hose cart and ladder wagon from the home office of each company," Womack wrote. "The companies contributed $200 each, which represented about 35 percent of the total cost of the two pieces of equipment."

The pioneer firefighters (called firemen then) chose "Victory" as the motto for the hook and ladder and "Get there" for the hose cart. Beginning Dec. 17, 1894, teams of horses always were available for pulling the equipment.

The firehouse was a sheet-iron structure on the north side of Main Street at what is now Jones Avenue.

The first fire chief, G.W. Tackett, reported fire losses for 1894 were $2,350, of which $1,380 was covered by insurance. The department had made 10 runs - to eight fires and to answer two false alarms.

For the first two years the firefighters received no money but got their water at home free. Other citizens paid $5 a year.

In 1896, a petition signed by the "Fire Boys" was presented to city trustees. It requested they be paid a dollar a fire per man and an additional 50 cents an hour if it took more than an hour to put out a fire.

"The trustees approved the request," Womack wrote, "but placed a limit of 18 members in the department."

Part II - The worst fire in Norman history, measured by the lives lost, killed 38 men and boys in the Oklahoma State Hospital for mental patients on April 13, 1918. That may have been the largest fire death toll in Oklahoma history. (The April 19,1995, Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 is considered in the explosion category.)

The State Hospital on East Main Street was a forerunner of l the Griffin Memorial Hospital. The fire broke out at4 a.m. on a Saturday, destroying two large buildings, described by The Norman Transcript as "old frame" structures, and a new building used as the dining hall.

All 38 victims were in a first-floor ward housing 48 boys 10 to 15 years old, the newspaper reported. Apparently some victims were attendants. All 36 patients in a second-floor ward were rescued, led down an outside stairway "by most strenuous efforts."

Eighty patients in the other destroyed ward building were evacuated safely. Firefighters were able to put out the flames in a third ward building, and patients who had been moved out were able to return. Others were covered with blankets on the grounds until they could be placed in other buildings.

The Transcript reporter had high praise for both members of the Norman Fire Department and the hospital's fire department. “There were numerous instances of bravery in going into burning buildings," the story said, "but none of them take any special credit to themselves."

There was speculation that either an electrical defect or spontaneous combustion started the fire. A coroner's jury said the cause was unknown. Property damage was estimated at $25,00).

All but one of the bodies were burned beyond recognition and were buried Monday in one big grave in the northeastern part of the IOOF Cemetery. "Everybody was laid in a neat coffin and given every kindly consideration possible," The Transcript said.

Although the story: put the deaths at 37, The World Almanac calls it 38. Probably an injured patient died later. That's the biggest Oklahoma fire toll the Almanac lists. The 35 deaths in the Christmas Eve 1924 fire at the Babbs Switch schoolhouse in Kiowa County were a close second.

In the early days, some of the worst Norman fires were at the University of Oklahoma. The firefighters had to carry in water for the battles, and victory was almost impossible. The University Building, the first structure on the campus, was destroyed by fire in 1903. If the blaze had come a short time earlier it would have destroyed the priceless original collections of the Oklahoma Historical Society. They had outgrown available space and had been moved to Oklahoma City.

A 1949 OU dormitory fire killed three students and injured 71.

"One of the most dangerous fires to the downtowl1 area of Norman occurred on Sept 2, 1923," a short history of the Norman Fire Department says. "Over half a block on East Main Street, about 225 feet of frontage encompassing eight businesses, was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin."

Part III - In one of the world's most dangerous lines of work for more than a century, the Norman Fire Department has never had a firefighter killed in the line of duty.

That information is from Capt. Greg Roberts of Station No. 7, a firefighter for 25 years who has made a study of the department's history. He agreed when a reporter said that spoke well for its training and efficiency. Teamwork would also seem to be an appropriate factor.

Dangers keep increasing, the proliferation and variety of hazardous products, for example, and the always growing traffic problems. Working fires and wrecks along I-35, Roberts says, is one of the local firefighters' greatest worries.

Fortunately, technology to protect the safety of firefighters and to provide new fire-fighting techniques also continue to come along.

After the Norman volunteer department was organized in 1894, the next important development came in 1896 when city trustees agreed to pay the firefighters a dollar a fire per man.

City fathers obtained a hook and ladder fire truck by 1895, but didn't obtain a real horse-drawn fire wagon and trained horses until 1910. The horses were put out to pasture in 1916 when the first motorized firefighting equipment came to the firehouse.

From a village of 500 people at the time the fire department was authorized, Norman has grown to a city of about 100,000 with constant rapid growth since the end of World War II in 1945. The department has managed to grow to meet the challenges involved.

Gene Akin, a Norman firefighter from 1954 to 1984 and fire chief from 1973 to 1984, recalled when he arrived on the scene firefighters had to receive permission before leaving town. With more stations, more personnel and better equipment and techniques, such measures are no longer necessary.

In 1954 the only fire stations in town were the main one on the southwest corner of Gray Street and Peters Avenue and the building now a part of the Firehouse Art Center on South Flood. Akin recalled the firefighters did most of the construction work on the Flood Street building. Today there are seven stations.

Akin had 54 firefighters when he became chief, 120 when he retired. Equipment and techniques improved at about the same rate, he said.

In one of the most noticeable changes during Akin's tenure, the traditionally red fire trucks became bright yellow. He says that change probably brought him as much criticism as any other decision. "I'm for safety, not tradition," he explained.

The current chief, Johnny Vaughn, joined the department in 1980 and became chief in 2003. The entire department had about 100 members when he became chief and the number now is 129. Most of the increase came with the opening of Station No. 6 at 72nd Avenue SW and Alameda Street.

Like the other officers interviewed, Vaughn says the most important changes in his time have been technological improvements that make firefighting more efficient while protecting the health of firefighters. He mentions the thermal imaging camera that enables firefighters to see where the fire is before they enter a building.

Akin can remember when firefighters would have to enter a burning building not knowing what they would find, stay as long as they could and leave, then go in again. Now they don't go in until they have the proper breathing apparatus, he said.

That makes for much more efficient firefighting as well as protecting the health of firefighters.

The fact that firefighters all ride to fires inside cabs now instead of having to hang on anywhere they could also makes a difference when they get there.

The 911 calling system, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems and a better-educated public also have been life-savers. Public education is a top priority for the Norman department.

Part IV - “When the first regular horse-drawn fire wagon was purchased in 1910, Norman took its place among the most progressive Oklahoma towns with its ‘modern’ firefighting equipment.”

That statement in a short history of the Norman Fire Department stands up today, and the comparison is appropriate on the national level as well as the state. Any advances since Fire Station 7 was built in 2001 will be included in the Constitution Avenue station about to be built to replace the one on East Lindsey Street.

That’s “one of the best things in a long time,” says Fire Chief Johnny Vaughn, not only because of its strategic location but because of the state-of-the-art improvements it will provide.

In addition to being first responders for fires, emergency medical cases and hazardous material menaces, the firefighters have many other duties, some of which most people may not be aware. They include rescue, fire code enforcement, fire prevention and investigation, arson investigation and public education.

Vaughn, a firefighter since 1980 and chief since 2003, says one of the department’s most far-reaching changes in his time has been its involvement, starting in 1995, in medical services. It’s the main reason calls have increased from 1,100 to about 8,000 in that period.

Keeping abreast of technological and other improvements has always been a challenge. Gene Akin, chief from 1973 to 1984, remembers the power rescue tool, providing “a fast way to free trapped victims,” was an important addition in his tenure and Norman got one of the first.

Homeland security matters, including federal grant money awards, have added significant complications. In a related matter, Norman firefighters no longer have to go to Stillwater for Civil Defense courses. Oklahoma State University sends instructors to Norman for a simpler and more efficient system, and the name Civil Defense has now been changed to the more descriptive Emergency Management.

The Fire Department has no education requirements for firefighters beyond a high school diploma, but some successful applicants are college graduates, and some complete work for their degrees after they become firefighters. Akin says when he joined the department the night staff members were mostly military veterans with a regular firefighter in charge of each shift.

Today each shift includes one or two captains, one or two driver-engineers and from two to five firefighters. A firefighter’s shift is 24 hours, and each is assigned to a bed and a locker. There’s also a bed in the station captain’s office. There have been female firefighters, but there are none at present.

The living area includes a kitchen, tables and chairs and a television set. There’s an exercise room and a garage for fire trucks. Fire Department vehicles are maintained by the City of Norman mechanics at a facility in the old North Norman Navy Base.

Every day must have its cook, and Capt. Greg Roberts of Station 7 says someone always volunteers. The grocery shopping duty usually goes to somebody who has to leave the station on another assignment.

“You live in quarters 24 hours a day with the same people,” former chief Akin says. “You must get along or you won’t do as good a job as you need to and people will get hurt.”