Waco Fire Department - Waco, Texas

Fire Department History

The Waco Fire Department was established in 1872 as a Volunteer Department. This historic event happened when a Volunteer Engine Company and a Volunteer Hook and a Ladder Truck Company merged. The Waco Fire Department became a fully paid career department in 1917. At that time, there were over 65 paid firefighters, eight stations, and 15 pieces of apparatus. Presently, the department has an authorized strength of 185 and 31 pieces of apparatus. The Waco Fire Department has only had six paid Chiefs since 1917.

In 1997, the Waco Fire Department implemented a Rescue/EMS First Responder program to respond to rescue and medical emergencies. This service was enhanced with cardiac defibrillators in 1998.

Lind Paper Co, Fire- January 2000

Fire History Statistics
Year	Population	Size	Personnel	Stations
1930	52,848	12.5 square miles	102	8
1940	55,982	17.5 square miles	88	7
1950	84,706	29 square miles	99	7
1960	87,808	45 square miles	131	8
1970	95,322	70.3 square miles	174	10
1980	101,201	85.4 square miles	166	11
1990	103,590	89.9 square miles	167	12
2000	111,124	99.2 square miles	185	13

Fire Response Statistics
Type of Situation	2003	2004	2005	2006
Structure Fires	246	228	250	256
Mobile Property (used as structure)	2	2	3	1
Vehicle Fires	155	180	165	136
Grass/Brush/Wildland Fires	126	68	162	217
Trash/dumpsters, etc.	161	138	151	157
Outside Storage Fire	28	26	21	27
Cultivated Crops	2	2	0	1
Other Fires of Value	30	27	24	23
Total Fires	750	671	776	818

Air/Gas Ruptures/Excessive Heat	29	18	19	18
Rescue EMS	6,808	5,287	5,558	5,519
Hazardous Condition	628	674	646	594
Assist Citizens	761	739	772	699
Smoke Scares	487	462	696	901
False Calls	869	933	881	871
Miscellaneous Calls	25	18	16	32
Total Calls	10,357	8,802	9,364	9,452

Fire Department History

Fire History Statistics

Fire Response Statistics