In 1932 the Texas State Fire Marshal threatened to penalize the City of Lubbock Fire Department with a fine for failing to comply with state mandates. The State Fire Marshal wisely studied the solution and relented. The fog nozzle is still the world standard. In 1943 the Lubbock Fire Department improved working conditions for its firefighters by adopting a two platoon system. This system continued until 1960, when the LFD adopted the three platoon system that is still in use today.
Most firefighters work a second full-time job on their days off.
Some spend their time in less lucrative pursuits, such as volunteer work, or writing local histories. The Lubbock Municipal Auditorium and Coliseum caught fire in 1956. They had to tie themselves to the building to keep from being blown off the roof. Over 20,000 people watched the firefighters at work. This fire should rank as one of the highest attendance records for a spectator event in the history of the Lubbock Coliseum.