Wheeling Fire Department (West Virginia)

==History==
=== Volunteer Era & The Original Department ===
On April 21, 1807 the Wheeling Town Council passed several resolutions aimed at fighting fires. 12 years later, in 1819, after several resolutions were passed, the city leaders would pass a by-law that addressed the need for more aggressive fire department action. The mayor Moses Chapline, would sign the bylaw which appropriated $700 to purchase a land engine, hooks and ladders, and other firefighting equipment. In 1820 boys 16 or older enrolled with the City Recorder to organize a fire company and elect officers. In March of 1820 the town council ordered the construction of the first fire station on the west end of Market House now between 10th and 11th street. At the time the department consisted of a land engine, hooks and ladders, and black leather fire buckets that held 2-1/2 gallons of water. The buckets were used to supply water from a source by the bucket brigade to the engine. The bucket brigade was simply a string of people relaying full buckets of water from a source to the engine and the empty buckets back until the fire was out. That system continued until 1830 when 7 independent Volunteer Fire Companies were organized. By 1869 the town had grown significantly as the gateway to the West on the Ohio River. Because of the growth the demand for service from the independent VFCs became overwhelming and bitter rivalry interrupted firefighting efforts. At this point the council realized that a more efficient system like that of Cincinnati was needed which had combined horses, steam engines, and paid firefighters to form an impressive fire department. In 1869 the council took action and passed an ordinance establishing and regulating a paid department for the now City of Wheeling, West Virginia. The department was formed on December 21, 1869 William Winder, a former member of the Atlantic Engine Company was chosen as chief, and Andrew J. Sweeney and William H. Harrison were chosen as the assistant fire chiefs. Together they formed the Board of Control of the Fire Department.
=== Fire Chiefs & Their Progress ===
==== Chief Winder ====
William Winder was sworn in as the fire chief on December 21, 1869 and immediately started organize the Wheeling Fire Department. First, he divided the city into two districts, everything north of Wheeling Creek including Wheeling Island was Fire District 1 while everything south was Fire District 2. He then organized four companies: United Fire Company Number 1, with one 3rd class steam engine, 800 feet of hose, a first class hose carriage and 3 horses, located at the corner on 24th Street between Main and Market Streets. Atlantic Steam Fire Company Number 2, they operated with a 1868 steam engine, a hand drawn hose carriage, three horses, 500 feet of hose, and a horse drawn carriage on order. Vigilant Fire Engine Company Number 3 was located at 650 Main Street with a steam engine, 500 feet of hose, three horses, a 4 wheeled horse drawn hose car and a 4 wheeled hand drawn hose cart. Last was Hook and Ladder Company Number 1 housed on 21st street with a hook and ladder truck, 500 feet of hose, and one hose carriage. When the first steam engine was at a fire it would send its team of horses to pull the hook and ladder truck.
==== Chief Eccles ====
William A. Eccles became fire chief in 1878 and made several significant improvements. Automatic snap collars and swinging harnesses were installed in the firehouse, allowing the horses to go without their harnesses until needed. When the alarm came in, the horses quickly took their places under three automatic devices and were instantly collared and harnessed off to the alarm. Prior to this the horses would wear collars and harnessed 24 hours a day causing sores on their necks and backs. Eccles established three new companies and a Gamewell Fire Alarm System, prior to that the Western Union Telegraph was used. He installed the alarm system in 1880 with 57 boxes allowing residents to go to a box and pull the alarm to summon the fire department.
==== Chief Dunning ====
On December 23, 1882, James J. Dunning was appointed fire chief. He oversaw the construction of a new firehouse of Wheeling Island in 1886 and purchased the first chemical fire engine in 1889.
==== Chief Healey ====
On December 23, 1890 Frank J. Healy became fire chief. Chief Healy erected a new firehouse in North Wheeling at 650 Main Street and on August 15, 1892 Wheeling Fire Company Number 4 was put in service on South Jacob Street. Firefighters were provided with Loeb Respirators for protection from smoke inhalation. While awaiting the arrival of a new fire engine Wheeling was loaned a steam engine named Blackjack that fought the Great Chicago Fire. A great conflagration occurred in Cameron, West Virginia and Wheeling answered the call for assistance by sending men, Blackjack, and a hose wagon by train. It stopped briefly in Moundsville to pick up additional men and continued to Cameron, however shortly thereafter the train jumped the track near Rosby's Rock killing the engineer and damaging the fire equipment. In 1891 Vigilant Fire Company 2 burned down but the building was quickly replaced.
==== Chief Klieves ====
In 1897 Chief Charles Klieves took over operation as the department, he rewired the entire fire alarm system and only remained chief for two years.
==== Chief Kline ====
In 1899 Robert D. Kline was appointed as chief. The department gained two companies, the Fort Henry Engine House on McColloch Street in East Wheeling and Fort Kalbitzer Engine House in the 8th Ward.
==== Chief Altmeyer ====
In January of 1909, James P. Altmeyer was appointed as chief. He brough the WFD into the motorized era. They purchased a new Mitchell Roadster for the chief car allowing for a rapid response to calls and better direction of the firefighting operations. The Atlantic Fire Company received a new hose truck and the fire alarm system was upgraded and a repeater was installed so that multiple alarm boxes could be active at once.
==== Chief Rose ====
Edward T. Rose was appointed chief on September 3, 1912 and he saw the end of the horse drawn steamer era. The last companies to use horses were 2, 3, 4, and 10. Four Peerkess combination hose/chemical trucks replaced the hose teams. Rose was also the chief when the fireman's fund was established in 1917.
==== Chief Thompson ====
In 1919 Burley Thompson was appointed chief and the city was expanding by annexing Warwood, Woodsdale, and Elm Grove. He was responsible for expanding the fire service to new sections of the city, and he oversaw the extension of the fire alarm system and the addition of manpower for the new areas.
==== Chief McGranhan ====
Edward A. McGranhan became fire chief in 1922. By this point the department grew to 81 men and 14 firehouses with 88 fire alarm boxes. He oversaw the construction of the current Fire Station 10.
==== Chief Rose ====
Edward T. Rose was reappointed as fire chief in 1932, he constructed a new Wheeling Island Firehouse and was challenged to direct the department through World War II and the Great Depression. 
==== Chief McFadden ====
William S. McFadden was appointed as chief in 1946 after serving in the army during WWII. The WFD had shrunk to 8 firehouses at this point, those being 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, and 11. From his military experience he introduced several new firefighting concepts, including foam, and special nozzles. He constructed the current training tower, a new fire station 11, and a new fire station 4. The department came under civil service laws through an act of the WV Legislature on March 13, 1947.
==== Chief Sligar ====
In 1971 Cliff Sligar was appointed as chief. Chief Sligar continued to modernize and keep the WFD up to date in training and equipment. Firefighters were trained to be EMT's and the paramedic program was instituted. He introduced Rescue Company 1 at Fire Station 2. He constructed Fire Station 1 at 2126 Market Street and disbanded Engine 3, bringing the department down to 7 firehouses. The department went from two platoons to three designated A. B, and C, air masks and walkie talkies were introduced due to the introduction of new gases and to allow officers to communicated at incidents. Training increased in high rise firefighting, hazmat, EMS, and rescue, Chief Sligar continued to replace the apparatus and introduce the modern paint scheme to increase visibility. The box alarm system was phased out and replaced by a 911 system operating out of the fire headquarters, and introducing tones rather than bells. All first alarm assignments include two engines, one ladder, the heavy rescue, and on duty assistant chief. Additional alarms are transmitted when more assistance is required. One engine and one medic respond to EMS calls and the department has mutual aid agreements.
==== Chief Johnston ====
In July 1995 Stephen A. Johnston was appointed as chief and he introduced the modern 95 man, 7 station department. Firefighters work 24 hours on and 24 hours off and after 3 days on are off for four days. This averages to 56 hours a week, the department responds with 6 engines, one ladder, one rescue, 3 medics, and 2 reserve engine, 1 reserve medic, and one reserve ladder.
==== Chief Helms ====
Larry S. Helms was appointed chief in September 2007 by city manager Robert Herron, after Chief Johnstons retirement. He entered the department as a paramedic in 1986, serving many roles before his appointment as chief. He retired in June 2021, he oversaw the design and got the ball rolling of the current fire headquarters and oversaw responses throughout COVID.
==== Chief Blazier ====
Jim Blazier was appointed chief on June 19, 2021 and designed and broke ground on the current headquarters and closed the previous one.
===Fire Stations===
Station 	Address 	In Service 	Notes
Fire Equipment Building 	West End of Market House 	March 1820 - 1830 	Possibly now the west end of Lane 7, used prior to independent fire companies or the proper FD being organized.
United Fire Company Number 1 	24th Street between Main Street and Market Street	December 21, 1869 - ? 	Former United Volunteer Fire Company, demolished.
Atlantic Steam Fire Company Number 2	Jacob Street between 16th and 17th Street 	December 21, 1869 - 1869	Former Rough & Ready Volunteer Fire Company, moved almost immediately, demolished.
Atlantic Steam Fire Company Number 2	Eoff Street and 17th Street 	December 21, 1869 - ? 	Demolished.
Vigilant Steam Fire Company Number 3	650 Main Street 	December 21, 1869 - 1890	Former First Ward Volunteer Fire Company, demolished.
Hook & Ladder Company Number 1 	21st Street 	December 21, 1869 - ? 	Demolished.
Fire Company Number 4 	 	1880 - ? 	Demolished.
Fire Company Number 5 	 	1880 - ? 	Demolished.
Hook & Ladder Number 6 	27 21st Street 	1880 - 193? 	Demolished.
Fire Company Number 7 	41 or 47 Eleventh Street 	1886 - 1932 	Still Standing, also served as Chemical Engine 5 and HQ
Vigilant Fire Company 2 	650 Main Street 	1890 - 1891 	Burned down.
Wheeling Fire Company 4 	South Jacob Street 	August 15, 1892 - 	Demolished.
Vigilant Fire Company 2 	650 Main Street 	1891 - 1974 	Still standing.
Fort Henry Engine House 8 	McColloch Street 	1899 - 193? 	Demolished.
Fort Kalbitzer Engine House 9 	8th Ward 	1899 - 1974 	Demolished.
Engine Company 3 	Center Wheeling 	191? - 1978 	Demolished.
Fire Company 10 	298 Poplar Avenue 	1912 - 1931 	Demolished.
Fire Company 11 	 	1919 - ? 	Demolished.
Fire Company 12 	 	1919 - 193? 	Demolished.
Fire Company 13 	 	1919 - 193? 	Demolished.
Fire Company 14 	 	192? - 193? 	Demolished.
Fire Company 5 	Wheeling Island 	1932 - 2007 	Demolished.
Fire Station 4 	South Wheeling 	1947 - 1954 	Demolished.
Fire Station 11 	Elm Grove 	1947 - 1969 	Demolished.
Central Station 	1610 Eoff Street 	? - 1978 	Now the Greater Wheeeling Soup Kitchen.
Headquarters/Central Station 	2126 Market Street 	1978 - February 15, 2024	Demolished.
==Apparatus Roster==
All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
===Staff Offices - 1500 Chaplin Street===
Foundation laid 1958, dedicated January 30, 1960
:Administration Car - 
===Fire Station 2 - 801 Main Street===
Built 1974
:Rescue 1 - 2009 Spartan Metro Star / Hackney walk-around
:Squad 1 - 2021 Ford E-450 / Road Rescue ambulance
:Engine 2 - 2019 Sutphen (1750/500) (SN#HS-6457)
:Squad 4 - 2014 Ford E-450 / Wheeled Coach ambulance
:Duty Chief - 2019 Ford Police Interceptor
===Fire Station 4 - 3618 Jacob Street===
Built 1954
:Squad 3 - 2019 Ford E-450 / Road Rescue ambulance
:Engine 4 - 2005 Pierce Arrow XT (1750/500) (SN#16920)
===Fire Station 5 - 11 North Wabash Street===
Built 2007
:Ladder 1 - 2020 Sutphen Monarch SPH 100 (2000/300/100' mid-mount platform)
:Boat 2 - 2 Tinga inflatable
:Boat 3 - 16' Jonboat / 25HP
:Boat 5 - 2006 24' Almar aluminum / 225HP
:Engine 5 - 2012 Sutphen Shield (1750/500)
:Truck 5 - 2005 Freightliner FL 80 / Hackney (WV State Regional Response Reserve Unit)
:Squad 5 - (Reserve) - 2005 GMC / Hackney walk-around
:Ladder 6 - 2007 Sutphen SPH 100 (1750/300/100' rear-mount platform) 
:Ladder 13 (Parade) - 1973 American LaFrance (-/-/100' Ladder Chief) (Ex-Ladder 6)
===Fire Station 9 - Richland Avenue===
Built 1974
:Engine 3 (Reserve) - 1987 Sutphen Deluge (1500/500)
:Engine 9 - 2022 Sutphen Guardian (1750/500)
===Fire Station 10 - 298 Poplar Avenue===
Built 1931 
:Squad 2 - 2021 Ford E-450 / Road Rescue ambulance
:Engine 12 (Reserve) - 1991 Sutphen Deluge (1500/500)
:Engine 10 - 2005 Pierce Arrow XT (1750/500) (SN#16788)
===Fire Station 11 - 139 East Bethlehem Boulevard===
Built 1969
:Engine 11 - 2010 Sutphen Shield (1500/500)
:Fire Safety House - 2012 Surrey Fire Safety Training House (trailer)
:Maintenance Shop unit
=== Training Center - 778 North Front Street ===
Built 1947
=== Station/Assignment Unknown ===
:Squad 7 - 2019 Ford F-250 4x4
:Engine 8 (Reserve) - 1987 Sutphen Deluge (1500/500)
:Reserve Ladder - 2007 Sutphen aerial (1750/300/100' mid-mount platform) (Ex-Ladder 1)
:Fire Investigation - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4
:201? Ford Explorer AWD
:200? Ford F-350 4x4 
:UTV 6x6
== Retired Apparatus ==
:2011 Ford E-450 / Wheeled Coach ambulance
:2005 Ford E-450 / MedTec ambulance
:2003 Ford E-450 / Wheeled Coach ambulance
:2001 Ford E-350 / Wheeled Coach ambulance
:1994 Sutphen Deluge pumper (1500/500)
:1987 Sutphen Deluge pumper (1500/500) (Purchased originally for Engine 2 then became Engine 11)
:1983 Sutphen SP100 aerial (-/-/100' mid-mount platform)
:1962 Pirsch 41B pumper (1000/500) 
:191? Hose truck (Ex-Atlantic Fire Company 2)
:1909 Mitchell Roadster (Ex-Chief Car)
:1889 Chemical engine
:1870 horse drawn hose carriage (Ex-Atlantic Steam Fire Company Number 2)
:1869 Hook and Ladder carriage (Ex-Hook and Ladder Company Number 1)
:1868 Steam engine (Ex-Atlantic Steam Fire Company 2, ex-First Ward VFC)
:196? Steam engine (Ex-Vigilant Fire Engine Company Number 3)
:186? Hose carriage (Ex-Hook and Ladder Company Number 1)
:186? hand drawn hose carriage (Ex-Atlantic Steam Fire Company Number 2)
:186? First Class hose carriage (Ex-Union Fire Company 1)
:186? 3rd Class steam engine (Ex-Union Fire Company 1)
:1807 Land fire engine
:4 wheeled horse drawn hose carriage (Ex-Vigilant Fire Engine Company Number 3)
:American LaFrance pumper 
:Ford L walk-in rescue
:Ford E ambulance 
:Sutphen pumper 
:Sutphen pumper 
==External Links==
*Wheeling Fire Department
*Wheeling Fire Buffs
==Sources==
*History of Wheeling Fire Department The City of Wheeling, VA.
Category:Ohio County, West Virginia
Category:Marshall County, West Virginia
Category:West Virginia departments operating American LaFrance apparatus
Category:Departments operating Hackney apparatus
Category:West Virginia departments operating Pierce apparatus
Category:West Virginia departments operating Sutphen apparatus
Category:Former operators of Pirsch apparatus