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Fire Prevention
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History - 1891 to the Present
The Battle Creek Fire Department was organized as
a professional department in 1891. This was the result of growth in both
population and industry Battle Creek experienced prior to that. The Central Fire
Station was located at 28 W. Jackson St. from 1891 until its demolition in 1971.
Number 2 station was located at the corner of College St. and Calhoun St. until
its demolition in 1903 after the disastrous Battle Creek Sanitarium Fire of
1902.
Currently the stations are as follows: Number 1
Station was built in 1971 at its present location of 195 E. Michigan Av. It was
built close to Kellogg’s and Post Cereals to address fire insurance concerns.
It was the recommendation of the Insurance Services Organization that section of
Battle Creek have 3 Engine Companies in close proximity to the cereal companies.
Number 2 Station was built in 1903 at its present
site, 145 N. Washington St. on land donated by the Battle Creek Sanitarium. The
station and new horse-drawn steamer cost $10,000. It was relocated to provide a
larger station with 2 companies to the north side of the city. It remained a 2
company station with Engine and Truck companies until Truck 2 was put
out-of-service in 1999.
Number 3 Station was built in 1902 at its present
site of 222 Cliff St. and is our oldest station. For most of its time in service
it housed two companies of various types due to its proximity to the cereal
plants, tightness of the housing in that area, and the isolation of that area by
the railroads. In 1952 it was reduced to a single Engine Station.
On January 1, 1983 the City of Battle Creek and
Township of Battle Creek merged. With that merger came the merger of their fire
departments and the closure of Battle Creek’s Number 4 Station. Battle Creek
Township’s Number 1 Station became the present Number 4 Station. It is located
at 8 South 20th St. Originally the home of the Battle Creek Township Fire Chief,
half of it later became the township office building with the Fire Department in
the other half. At the time of the merger the township offices were converted to
living space for the additional fire fighters. The city’s old Number 4 Station
is in private ownership at the corner of South Kendall St. and W. Dickman Rd. It
was built on land donated by the former Advance-Rumley Corp. to provide better
fire protection to the southwest part of Battle Creek in 1902.
Number 5 Station was opened in 1961 at its
present site of 1170 W. Michigan Av. It was built to improve service to the
western end of Battle Creek after a vote of the people to due so. At that time
the construction of a station was approved by the voters for the Verona area of
Battle Creek. That station was not built so the money could be used for the
present 20th St. Bridge.
Number 6 Station came into the Battle Creek Fire
Department with the 1983 merger. It was constructed in 1974 to improve service
to the southern part of the then Battle Creek Township. When it came into
service as the city’s Number 6 Station it housed 2 manned companies. These
included Engine 6 and the cross-manned rigs of Squad 6 and Truck 6. These latter
companies were disbanded in the late 1980’s. The Hazardous Materials Van and
Trailer is currently housed in this station along with Engine 6.
The following men have been Chief of the Battle
Creek Fire Department:
W. P. Weeks served as Chief for a record 51 years
and served in the department for 62 years. Through his leadership Battle Creek’s
fire department was modernized. The department was the first in the state to
have a motorized apparatus. By 1917 Battle Creek had retired the last of its
horse-drawn equipment and was the first city of its size to be completely
motorized. Chief Weeks retired on July 1, 1942.
Charles Crosier succeeded Chief Weeks in 1942 and
served until 1961. During his tenure the department continued to modernize and
placed its first all-steel 100’ aerial ladders into service.
Don Burrows was Chief from 1961 to 1974 and was
instrumental in keeping the Battle Creek Fire Department in the forefront of the
changing technology during his tenure.
Donald Yarger was Chief from 1974 to 1982. Under
his leadership the department was guided through tight budget constraints while
continuing its quest to provide top-level service. The mandatory use of
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus was one of the improvements initiated during
his leadership.
Rolland Johnson was Chief from 1982 to 1983. He
was the first chief of the merged Battle Creek and Battle Creek Township Fire
Departments.
Douglas Roach was Chief from 1983 until 1988.
During his time of service the Battle Creek Fire Department upgraded its medical
emergency response level to include all reported medical emergencies.
Charles Owens was named Chief in 1988 and served
until 1997. He continued to respond to the ever changing needs of the city by
implementing programs to improve service while maintaining then current budget
levels.
Larry Hausman succeeded Chief Owens in 1997 and
is the current Chief. He oversaw a major reorganization of the department and
increased the manpower on engine companies to four from three.
A fire department is thought of stations and
apparatus yet it is comprised of citizens like yourself. We currently have 84
fire fighters and 5 staff officers including the Chief. We have 2 secretaries to
support us.
Though many fire fighters have given devoted
service to the city and in some cases their lives and health, there have been a
few pathfinders that paved the way for others to follow. Willie Scott became the
first African-American fire fighter in 1963. He retired from our department over
25 years later having worked at No. 1 Station for his entire career. Jennifer
Bradley was the first woman hired by our department as a fire fighter. She
started in 1992 and continues here in her career. Doug Brown became the first
African-American to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1997.
Many other fire fighters who made a positive
impact on our department and city. They should be remembered and recognized for
their efforts. A fire department is a history of the development of its
community and is built by the fire fighters who belong to it.
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