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The first fire department in Hastings was
organized in the spring of 1878, following a New Years day fire which
destroyed the |
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The worst fire in the history of Hastings occurred a year later on September
14th, 1879. 35 buildings in a two city block were destroyed. On July 16th, 1881 a fire destroyed the Davis Drug Store. Circus hands in town assisted the Fire Fighters and were rewarded by the local businessmen. This angered the Fire Fighters so much that they disbanded the fire department a few days later. |
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In December of 1881 a new fire department
was organized in Hastings. The fire fighters received $1.00 a month for attending drills. They did not receive  any compensation for attending fire calls. The departments total budget was $350.00. Then on April 12, 1887 the first career fire fighters were hired. There was a Fire Chief and 3 Fire Fighters. From that time on the fire department started to grow. |
In 1919 the department consisted of 5 career fire fighters and14 volunteers.In 1936 the department had 12 career fire fighters and 10 volunteers. In 1954 the department consisted of 21 career fire fighters and 19 volunteers. In 1965 the department had 20 career fire fighters, in 1971 the department consisted of 21 career fire fighters and 21 volunteers. Today's department has 27 career and 30 reserve fire fighters. The fire department has a long history of family members on the job. In the 1940's John Brehm was on the department, today his Grandson, Todd Brehm is a Lieutenant on this department. Tom Childers had a 25 year career with the department and today his son Dan Childers is the Training Officer. |
The department has had two fire fighters die in the line of duty. Fred W. Raney died September 5th, 1910 at a fire at the First Presbyterian Church. Harley Mullen died June 17th, 1931 at a fire at the Hastings Regional Center that destroyed 4 buildings. |
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The first Fire Station was built in 1878 for a cost of $1,000.00. This was replaced by a new Fire Station and
City Hall building in 1889 for a cost of $4,565.00. In 1936 City Hall moved to a new location, in 1954 the Police Dept. moved out of the building to their new location. This left the entire building to the Fire Department. In 1985 the Fire Department at 1st & Burlington Ave. was replaced Fire Department at 1st. & Burlington Ave. was by a new building located at Highland Park, 1313 N. Hastings Ave. for a cost of $1,200,000.00. Highland Park is the current location of the Fire Department, housing the duty Captain and four Fire Fighters along with the office staff. A second Fire Station was built in 1992 at a cost of $375,000, housing 1 Fire Lieutenant and 2 Fire Fighters, making the shift compliment of 8 Fire Fighters on duty. |