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HISTORY OF THE LACKAWANNA FIRE DEPARTMENT

By William Tojek

When the Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company first came to the area in 1899, prior to the incorporation of Lackawanna as a city, they provided for their own fire department.   Due to the rapid population growth caused by the steel plant, the then Town of West Seneca was prompted to organize several volunteer companies in the District Three area.   The first of these companies being the First Volunteer Company and the Roland Hose Company in 1903 with the Stoney Point Company being added later that same year and Victory Hose in 1907.   This was the district's first line of protection in a time when building was rampant and ire regulations a rarity.   George Avery was responsible for providing the horses that were attached to the hose carts that would travel to the scene.   At this time close to 300 volunteer firemen were working out of these four firehouses.

In 1909, Lackawanna was officially chartered as a City.   The first mayor, Robert H. Reed, chose Joseph Bouley as Chief of the Fire Department.   Due to the commercial activity that kept pace with the growing community and the expanding steel plant, Bouley's first task was to organize a paid fire department.   The fire firehouse was House #1 located on Ridge road and was equipped with a three horse drawn hose and chemical wagon.   Tom, Dick and Bill were these first three Lackawanna Fire horses.   A few years later, Victory Hose became House #2 with a single horse drawn combination hose and chemical wagon.   In the summer of 1915, a new firehouse was added on Abbott Road and was named House #3.   This firehouse was equipped the same as House #2.

The department consisted of two commissioners, one fire chief, two captains, two lieutenants, one electrician and twelve pipe men.   In 1914 alone, these 20 men attended 70 fires via horse drawn transportation.   At this time, the department had a call box system and maintained 35 fireboxes from which alarms could be sent in.   All a person needed to do was break the glass, turn the key, and the fire department would be notified to respond to that location.   One hundred and ten water hydrants were distributed throughout the city of which ten were flush hydrants that the department used for watering down the dirt streets.   The cost of operating the department for the first year was $22,000 and included salaries, maintenance of apparatus and feed for the stock.

As we look back on the past 95 years, we can see many changes from these early days.   The start of the Lackawanna Firefighters Benevolent Association 83 years ago, the replacement of horse drawn carts with motorized fire trucks, the relocation of the three firehouses, and manpower growth up to 120 during the steel mill boom and the modernization of firefighting techniques.   Thousands of lives have been saved and millions of dollars of property loss prevented by these brave men both past and present.   To this day, the more than 40 members of our current Fire Department are proud to uphold and carry out the traditions of bravery and self-sacrifice first demonstrated by our early firefighting brothers.