This includes the City of Gallipolis, Addison, Gallipolis, and Green Townships. The Dept has a total of 30 men and women. We operate 4 pumper/tankers, 95’ platform ladder, 2 brush trucks, 1 rescue truck, 1 water rescue boat and 1 wildland RTV. These trucks are housed at 2 stations, with station 1 being manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Brief History of the Gallipolis Fire Department
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e following information was collected by Firefighter Gregory a. Northup and was retyped as he wrote it.
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Information concerning the origin of the Gallipolis Volunteer Fire Department
Please realize this information was taken from the special edition of the Gallipolis Daily Tribune “Sesqui-Centennial Number Forty-Sixth Year,” August 1940. I was unable to print out from microfilm clearly an accurately, so I had to longhand most of the article that follows. All information has been transposed to the best of my ability. Northup
City Fire Department is Endowed Heritage of Almost 100 Years
(Gallipolis Daily Tribune August 1940)
Endowed with a heritage of almost 100 years, the Gallipolis Fire Department has grown from an almost self supporting organization into a modern unit of protection supported and controlled by the municipal government. Although the city at one time suffered for 11 years without adequate fire protection, the organization has evolved into a mechanized fire-fighting unit, descendant of a semi-social organization founded in 1843. Gallipolis first major fire demolished $10,000.00 worth of property when the Warth flourmill was destroyed away back in 1839. The plant, located in the upper section of the city on the riverfront, was afforded no organized protection from fire, and burned to the ground. In 1834 the first fire fighting company in Gallipolis was organized. A semi-social organization, the group adopted the name, the Cerces Fire Company, with Alexander Vance, president and D.B. Hebard, secretary. Cerces Fire Fighters
The Cerces fire fighters, existed until 1845, purchased a rotary force engine. It was propelled by hand. After being drawn to the fire by members of the company, a hose was dropped into a reservoir of water and strong backs furnished the power for the pump. The company first met in the Gallia Academy building, but later transferred their meeting place to the Maguet storerooms, located below the present Ohio Valley bank building. (Old OVB; corner of State & 2nd)
Disbanded in 1845, the Cerces were never revived, and there followed a period of menace for the city. Without protection, Gallipolis suffered several disastrous fires. It was during the years following the disbanding of the Cerces that the famous Gallipolis Bucket Brigade was formed in 1847, remaining the only fire fighting body in the city until 1861. Volunteer Company
In 1861 the Gallipolis Volunteer Fire Company was organized. A breakdown engine, hand operated as was the old rotary pump engine, was acquired. Although Hobson McClurg was appointed to take charge of the engine, no other officers were elected. Still a volunteer company, the Gallipolis fire fighters now number 14 trained men, in charge, their present fire chief, Walter Wise. The city maintains a one-man station operated by Frank Wood, an employee there for the past 23 years. Wood, a member of the company since his youth, serves as driver and pump operator. Listed in the modern equipment of the station are one 1,000 gallon pump truck, a hose truck and chemical combine and a hook and ladder wagon. The station also maintains a portable boat for drowning calls, a breathing machine and five boats for high water service. It is located in the city building on Second Ave. above Locust St. Fire Wards
Although the Gallipolis Fire Department has maintained volunteer companies since its founding. It has undergone several phases of organization. At times the department has been divided into various fire wards with stations in each ward. The department acquired the engine “Washington,” a hand operated device, in 1871 in time to use it fighting the Le Clereq Woolen Mills fire. J.C. Reeve’s was then fire chief and Wileham King acted as captain. The municipal government in December 1871 purchased the city’s first steam fire engine. Drawn by two horses, the engine was used to fight the fires, which destroyed the Wadell Blazer and Company warehouses and the Henking Allemong Company building. Contributions
The engine was purchased with the aid of the citizens of Gallipolis who contributed $436. By 1882 Gallipolis possessed an adequate fire department, made up of two steam fire engines, two hose carts and a hood and ladder wagon. The department boasted of 55 members divided into three companies, and composed of: Hose Company Number One, E. McConnell, foreman, and M. Hern, assistant; Hose Company Number Two, C.S. Friend, foreman, and G.W. Shank, assistant, and the Hook and Ladder Company, Frederick Kuhn, foreman and Thomas Blackburn, assistant. Officers of the fire department at the time were: P.B. Prichett, chief; Thomas L. Bell, assistant chief; T.M. Prose, secretary; T.F. Hott, treasurer; E. Geissier engineer; and E.P Ralph, assistant engineer. The Gallipolis fire department at that time enjoyed an abundance of recruits. Recognizing the necessity of the formation of local fire fighting companies, the State of Ohio had passed legislation providing freedom from compulsory military service in time of peace and other benefits for volunteer firemen. Before 1895 the city’s fires were fought with water pumped from cisterns located at important intersections, but in that year the newly installed city water system was first used by the fire department to fight the blaze destroying the Kerr Hardware building, located on the Ohio Valley Bank corner. Other fire chiefs were Frank Brothes, W.R. White, Spencer Manring, Frank Brown and John Maguet.
