History of the Arlington Fire Department

Yesterday was the final chapter of Fire Station No. 8. B Shift moved out to outlying stations to make way to demo the old station that opened its doors in 1978. Task Force 8 has seen hundreds of firefighters call her home over its 46 years. The last crews to work in her halls were:

A Shift:
Capt Ryan Shepard #475
Lt Jason Horne #566
AO Kevin Pittmon #703
AO Josh Berkley #769
AO Tyler Franklin #897
FF Gus Salcido #839
FF Bradley Wells #910
FF Nathan Pool #915
FF Jordan Hettinger #1002

B Shift:
Capt Phillip Tucker #603
Lt Darren Henken #501
AO Johnny Arrington #709
AO Brian Draganic #729
AO Chase Ganchow #814
FF Shane Coulston #793
FF Cameron Pullar-Knight #893
FF Hunter Livingston #932
FF Douglas Rush #976
FF Jonathan Carrillo #1000

C Shift:
Capt Eddy Saldivar #439
Lt Mike Joiner #547
AO Robert Green #678
AO Travis Meiners #765
AO Eric Mason #768
FF Dylan Hogg #843
FF Ethan Kelly #901
FF Tyler Voss #929
FF Pedro Melendez #930

As bad luck would have it, just before shift change at 06:30 a two story apartment fire came in with fire through the roof in 8s district. Units arrived on quickly and brought the fire under control.

What are some of your favorite stories of Station No. 8?

In 1920, the Arlington Fire Department purchased its first motorized fire apparatus. The truck was a Ford Model T Chemical Truck. This was a great improvement from the hand pulled carts that the department had until then.

After World War I, the fire department with all its volunteers and equipment was placed under the authority of the City Marshal, who would serve as the fire chief. In 1919, Jim Coke became the first city marshal to serve as fire chief.

Another fire of major proportions hits Arlington on March 10, 1909. This is the oldest known picture of the Arlington Fire Department. The Journal reported on the fire:
Arlington Has $16,000 Fire
There was little insurance on the three buildings which burned. The Fire Company did good work and the Carlisle Military boys helped. Three men were hurt, one seriously. At 9:00 am the fire was discovered in the rear upstairs room of the Home Cafe conducted by C.J. Tomlin and son, Frank.
The flames burned with rapid fury and within a few minutes were eating their way out of the rear windows through to the roof.
The fire whistle sounded promptly and the volunteer Fire Department responded with alacrity. Within a few minutes two streams of water were pouring into the flames but it was soon evident that the fire was too far gone to do anything but contain it. There was barely enough line to run across the street.
A large crowd of over 2,000 people gathered. In fact the school children had become so demoralized that they broke from school to come and watch in spite of the teachers' and the principal's admonitions to stay.
In the early part of the fire, a telephone message was sent to Fort Worth that a great conflagration was imminent. In about a half hour after the phone message was received, firemen with fire fighting machines reached Arlington, but too late to render help. An interurban furnished a flat car and fast motor had made a lightening speed trip over here. It is said they made the run in fifteen minutes after they left Fort Worth city limits. A bucket brigade also helped in every way possible.