History
A Look Back on the Paola Fire Department
| Organized in 1871 the PFD started service with over 50 volunteer firefighters and met the first Saturday of every month. The council was asked for funds for a hose wagon and fire hose. Ethel Hunt’s “History of Paola, Kansas” tells that the fire wagon was horse drawn and firemen all put on red shirts before going to a fire. Water was pumped from nearby wells. 1874 a Disastrous Fire ripped through the St. Charles Hotel and Union Block. Considered at the time the worst fire in the City’s history. A large number of Business Rooms were destroyed with an estimated $75,000 loss. Over our 135 year history of service the Citizen Volunteers of the PFD have been on the ready, twenty four hours a day seven days a week. |
The Peiker & Scheer Fire 1918 .JPG) The Old City Hall Fire House  Firemen in Gear  Paola Fire Dept Volunteers |