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This 16" x 20" drawing is of
Brooks City and Fire Hall
was created
using pastel and graphite pencil.
It was quite an honour to be commissioned for this
drawing of the old Brooks City
and Fire Hall.
As I stared at the reference photograph I was brought back to my
childhood days. The summer days of 1973, when every Sunday afternoon
was spent playing a game of football down at the Fire Hall Field.
If you look at the drawing, just to the left of the bus that's
parked beside the Hall, was the field that we played in. Of course
you can't see the field and It wasn't a regular football field, but
never the less, it was the Fire Hall Field.
Along the outside edges of the field
were trees that were spaced apart 20 feet or so. All in a row too
and they copied each other on the opposite side of the field. We
used these tree's as our field lines. The field was only 150 feet
long by 60 or 70 feet...or so. Well, it was big enough for us to
play our game on, that's all that mattered at the time.
I can remember all the fun and excitement that we always seem to
have. The anticipation that started during the week with the winners
hoisting the trophy, the Fire Bowl Sunday trophy!...In short the
Fire Bowl...Yes the trophy!?...It was this hub cap that one of us
found along the curb while we were walking towards the fire hall one
day....Simple, but Great!
Well, as the saying goes, all good things come to an end. One Fire
Bowl Sunday, when our quarterback through a touch down pass that
didn't quite make it to our receiver...!
You see he over through the ball and it crashed into the middle set
of windows. Breaking the bottom right pane..... Lets just say we
didn't stick around to get our ball back....!
So your probably wondering what playing football on Sundays
afternoon in the middle of 1973 summer has anything to do with this
drawing....Well, if you look at the drawing and focus your site to
the two garbage cans in the doorway. You will see our
Fire Bowl Sunday
football on the floor...waiting for the game
to begin....
History of the
Brooks Fire Department
The following history of the Brooks Fire Department was prepared by
Maurice Landry after reviewing clippings from the Brooks Bulletin
obtained by Joe Yarrow.
Fire Chiefs
J.A. Bosley 1913-1914
Unknown 1914-1936
William Swanson 1936-1937
Graham Anderson 1937-1939
Fred Hansen 1939-1949
Oliver Ingram 1949-1955
George Anderson 1955-1973
Gordon Wilson 1973-1991
Denis Cuninghame 1991-2002
Kevin Swanson 2003-present
Interesting Facts
1911 A large fire destroys a whole downtown block.
Constable Heskath expressed the need to organize a fire brigade and
purchase a reliable fire pump as the existing one is in a state of
disrepair.
1913 November A Fire Brigade was organized with J.A.
Bosley as the Fire Chief.
1914 January The Fire Brigade moved to request Town
Council to purchase a gasoline engine and force pump to be mounted
on a truck which will be used in addition to the present chemical
pump.
1915 January Fire destroys the Town Office, Fire Hall &
Jail.
1920 May Council decides to spend $10,000 for a new fire
hall and Town Office. The old chemical engine was reported in fair
shape.
1937 December Fire Chief Graham Anderson recommends that
Council purchase a new fire truck. The 1928 Model A chemical truck
has been used in Ontario and the price of $750 plus freight is
reasonable.
1938 February Fire Chief Graham Andersons year end
report indicated the department attended 4 alarms and had 44
members. He recommended that the department should be appropriated
$1 per capita instead of the present $0.03. He also stressed the
need for a new fire truck.
1941 Electric fire siren was installed downtown to alert
fireman of an emergency call.
1945 February Town purchased the 1941 Ford for the Brooks
Fire Brigade at a cost of $3,400.00. This was a much needed
replacement for the existing 1928 chemical truck.
1949 A crew from Brooks participated in a hose laying
competition. They laid 200 feet of hose and had water in 34 seconds.
The Provincial record was 27.4 seconds.
1952 December The new Town Office and Fire Hall are
located on First Avenue at First Street West.
1955 Firemen received $5 per month, which was called soap
money. Most times the firemen, after receiving their $5, went to
the local beer parlor for the evening.
1958 February Fire Chief George Anderson reports that the
fire department had 10 calls in 1957.
1961 Brooks Rural Fire Association is formed.
1963 Rural Fire Department purchases a 1963 Dodge fire
truck. It has a 500 gallon water tank and a 500 gpm front mount
pump. The yearend report indicates there were 19 members in the
Department and they attended 13 fire calls in Town.
1966 Firemen to receive $4 for the first hour of a call and
then $3 per hour thereafter. The Fire Chief would get $6 for the
first hour and then $4 per hour thereafter.
1970 The yearend report indicates there were 19 members and
they attended 22 fire calls.
1973 Town appoints Gordon Wilson as the first full-time
fire chief. The Fire Department ordered a new Ford fire truck at a
cost of $29,700. The truck was not delivered until 1975. It was a
1974 Ford which carried 500 gallons of water and had a 840 gpm pump.
1975 The fire department moves to a new building on First
Avenue at Centre Street. The equipment to be stored in the new
building was the 41 Ford, 63 Dodge (Rural), 74 Ford and an
equipment van. Fireman remuneration increased from $4/hr to $8/hr.
1977 Purchased a 1952 85 foot Ladder truck. The truck was
used by the Edmonton Fire Department. It was built by the Saskatoon
Fire Engine Co. and had a King Seagrave Chassis with GMC power
train.
1978 The fire department purchased a foam maker for fire
fighting. Council was also requested to purchase pagers for each
fireman.
1979 Fire department equipment consisted of 2 Town pumper
trucks, one Rural pumper truck, an 85 ft ladder truck, equipment van
and a rescue vehicle. The department had 3 two-way radios.
1980 The department obtained additional rescue equipment
which included air bags, an electric winch and an oxygen/acetylene
cutting torch. Also the hose drying tower was added to the firehall.
The fire department purchased a new 1-ton rescue truck. They
responded to 73 fire calls in Town.
1981 The Rural Fire Department receives a new fire truck.
It was a 1981 Ford Louisville with 1000 gallon tank and a 625 gpm
front mount pump. This replaced the 1963 Dodge which was purchased
by the Town. Fire Chief G. Wilson reports that it is difficult to
recruit firemen who are available during the day.
1982 Volunteer fireman, George Anderson, is voted the
Chamber of Commerce citizen of the year, for his many years (34
years) of service to the community.
1984 The fire department purchased a rescue tool called the
Jaws of Life. Also acquired 700 feet of 4 high volume fire hose.
1988 A new Ford pumper truck was purchased at a cost of
$150,000. This truck would replace the 1941 Ford which will be moved
to the museum. It had a 1050 gpm pump and carried 1000 gallons of
water.
1989 The fire siren was taken out of service. All firemen
were now equipped with pagers.
1991 Gordon Wilson retires and Denis Cuninghame is
appointed Fire Chief. The department answered 101 fire calls during
year 71 were in Town and 30 were in the rural area. Volunteer
firemen receive $10.50 per hour while fighting fires.
1993 The Rural Fire Department purchases a Volvo fire truck
at a cost of $170,000 to replace the 1981 Ford. It carried 1000
gallons of water and had a 1050 gpm pump. An addition to the
firehall for a workshop and storage area was completed.
1995 The department purchased a new Volvo truck to be used
as a rescue truck and a mobile command centre at a cost of $144,000.
They answered 109 fire calls during the year 69 were in Town and
40 were in the rural area.
1996 A new law was passed to allow volunteer firemen to use
flashing green lights to advise motorists they were responding to a
fire call.
1997 Fire Chief Denis Cuninghame suggests to Council that a
new fire hall is required as the department is outgrowing the
present building. Kevin Swanson was hired as the second full-time
firemen.
1998 The department purchases water rescue equipment
including a 14 foot Zodiak inflatable boat. In August, all emergency
calls are switched to a 911 service.
1999 A new fire truck was acquired. It had a 1250 gpm pump
and replaces the 1974 Ford Pumper.
2000 The department answered 133 fire calls during the year
90 were in Town and 43 were in the rural areas.
2001 The department responded to 191 calls 145 were in
the Town and 46 were in the rural areas. The staff of 28
firefighters received 1,199 hours of training. Department hosted
Southern Prairie Fire Fighter Combat Challenge.
2002 The department responded to 173 emergency calls. Two
volunteer firefighters, Terry Welsh and Shane Cote, were presented
with Life Saving Awards. Volunteers participated in the Fire Fighter
Combat Challenge in Swift Current. Brooks hosted the Battle of the
Badges Charity Hockey Game. Denis Cuninghame resigns as Fire Chief.
2003 A total of 218 emergency calls were answered this
year. Kevin Swanson is new Fire Chief and Keith Martin is hired as
Assistant Chief. Ten members, Joe Yarrow, Rick Evans, Kevin Swanson,
Maurice Landry, Ron Hagg, Denis Cuninghame, Barry Yokoyama, Liam
Latta, Shawn Bryant and Ron Redelback were presented with Alberta
Emergency Services Medal for 12 years of service. Two members, Denis
Cuninghame and Liam Latta, were presented with the federal Fire
Services Exemplary Service Medal for 20 years of service.
2004 310 emergency calls were responded to this year. Land
purchased for a new fire hall.
2005 A total of 341 emergency calls were answered. Three
members, Jim Bonora, Terry Welsh & Keith Martin, were presented with
the Alberta Emergency Services Medal for 12 years of service. Two
members, Keith Martin & Joe Yarrow, were nominated for federal Fire
Services Exemplary Service Medal for 20 & 40 years of service.
2006 - A total of 355 emergency calls were answered. Received
delivery of the new Rapid Response Vehicle. In May, the new Regional
Fire Training Facility, located at 280 Canal Street, was opened.
2007 - 394 emergency calls were answered during the year. A
2007 109 ft Rosenbauer Aerial/Pumper was purchased. Construction of
New Fire Hall (Protective Services Facility) was approved by City
Council. Ground Breaking Ceremony occurred May 12, 2007.
2008 In January the Brooks
Rural Fire Protection Association disbands and their two trucks were
signed over to the Brooks Fire Department through an agreement with
the County of Newell. The new fire hall is completed with Grand
Opening Ceremonies held on September 6. Two members, Mike Stewart
and Darcy Seitz, were presented with Alberta Emergency Services
Medal of 12 years of service.
I would like to thank the Brooks
Bulletin for providing this wonderful photograph and the memories
that came with it..
I would also like to thank Frameways Gallery &
Frame Shop ( Brooks, Alberta )
for searching of the reference photo
for this project....
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