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Special Thanks to Andy Thomas
History of the Pratt City Fire Department
“Before long,” said a gentleman to the Times reporter the other day, “this city is going to get caught by one of the biggest fires on record.” This man’s words proved to be true when on Dec 12, 1888 a midnight fire occurred which resulted in six main street business’ being destroyed. It was reported that those who were present worked like beavers to stay progress of the flames, but the water works not being finished and in working order, the bucket brigade was the main dependence.
Within the next couple months, the city council decided that a formal fire company was needed. On Feb 7, 1889 The Pratt Fire Company was formed. With the guidance of the first fire chief T.W. Giblin and Asst. Chief J.M. Turner, ordinary men were called on to perform extraordinary duties. By June of the same year, a hand cart was purchased, and a fire bell was hung at the corner of Second and Ninnescah.
On Oct 2, 1892 the city council hereby agreed to pay to the owner of any dray, cart or wagon the sum of $2, which when the alarm for a fire is sounded first gets to the hose cart and hauls the same to and from the fire. And the sum of $2 each to member of the fire dept, who respond to the alarm of fire and do the service required of the by the fire marshal at any fire that may occur.
Pratt had several major fires of the time period including, The First Methodist Church on Apr 10, 1895 which occurred during a 60 mph sand storm and resulted in a total loss.
Again, on Feb 3, 1897 a major loss was incurred by the community of Pratt, when The Ryan Hotel which had been moved from Saratoga to Pratt when Pratt had won the county seat, was a total loss when a fire was discovered at 2 am and was undefeatable by man. Shortly thereafter the community realized a need for additional equipment and organized a series fundraisers known as “entertainments” or “balls” to raise the money required to purchase additional hose and other necessities. Another interesting source of funds was an arrangement with local business owners to water down the streets to lessen the amount of dust and dirt blown by the radical Kansas winds.
A fire at 305 South Main which burned the Peak Drug Store to the ground on February 11, 1904 resulted in the city pushing for main street buildings to be replaced with brick structures. Many other fires occurred during the early days of Pratt’s history including The Lunt Auditorium which was a major attraction for the city and the Blanton house which resulted in the tragic loss of three young children.
Within the first ten years of the 1900s the “city fathers” were realizing the need for a more updated and organized fire company and contracted for a new city building to serve as the mayor’s office, city marshal, jail, and fire company house. The new building was constructed at 2nd and Main at a cost of 30,189 dollars. Also, a new Hook and Ladder wagon was purchased. After the fire company moved in and were fully trained on their new apparatus a civic leader from the city of Anthony came to inspect the Pratt Fire Company to make improvements to their own company. This is what he reported to Anthony’s newspaper.
“Pratt has a city building located centrally on Main Street. The fire company is housed on the first floor. The Office of Mayor and City Commission is above on the second floor. There is also a sleeping room for the one man who is at fire headquarters day and night. The man is the only paid member of the department. He has charge of the horses and apparatus. The fire team was a pair of blacks, stocky, spirited, and well trained. Each horse had a stall. The stalls being at the sides of the room. The fire wagon having its position between them. The department was equipped with all the quick hitching apparatus, that the larger cities have, and the team can be hitched very quickly. There is nothing to be done but press a button when the halters drop and release the horses, and they take their places at the tongue of the wagon. The harness drops on them, there is a click as the harness is snapped in place. The doors open and the department is ready to go.”
The year 1916 became known as the year of fire. In Feb of that year The Jett Mercantile at 3rd and Main burnt and was a complete loss. Then in July, another tragedy occurred when the Crossfield Livery burnt. And again, in August, the Jett Mercantile which had relocated to the block north of its previous location burnt, taking with it The Dodsons Implement and Morrell 5 and 10 cent stores. And finally in Oct the three-story building of Thompson and Repp at 219 S. Main burned again in a complete loss. That fire took with it 4 additional businesses and many offices. The State Fire Marshal estimated that the 1916 fire losses in Pratt alone to be over $340,000. Arson was suspected after Fire Dept, members noticed the same individual after all the major fires of 1916. A reward of $2500 was offered by the Jett Mercantile. However, no arrests were ever made. The fire chief did however offer the suspected fire bug a position on the fire dept, stating “it must be a great interest of yours” after the members notified him of their observations. The “Year of Fire” put in to motion a great change for the fire service in Pratt when a brand-new Red Rio Fire Truck was delivered at a cost of $1750 and became the first official Fire Truck in the City of Pratt.
On June 6th of 1923 the Pratt Fire Dept, was again put to the test when the Pratt Co. Court House was struck by lightning resulting in approximately $100,000 worth of damage. Ironically the dept, was due to receive a new 1923 Seagrave but had not yet taken delivery of the apparatus. Coincidentally this became one of Pratt first close calls when Chief Elmo Williams and Firefighter Myron Glaser narrowly escaped certain injury when portions of the building fell on them while battling the fire.
1930 brought the completion of the Municipal Building which housed the 1923 Seagrave. In July of 1934 the Fire Dept, took delivery of a 1934 American LaFrance at the cost of $3,382 which replaced the Red Rio and was stored in the Municipal Building that would one day become known as the fire station.
On January 19, 1939 many young couples and families had filled the popular Barron Theater to enjoy a show. Unbeknownst to them immediately next door the Utz Flower and Shoe Shop had caught fire. Luckily everyone was able to escape to safety while the fire traveled north on the block to the Shrack Clothing and Jewelry store. The fire burned so intensely that the floor was weakened and the jewelry safe fell to the basement. Several Drs. Offices were destroyed as well placing Pratt in a slight predicament. A well-known history account of Pratt reads. It was a difficult fire and a credit to the fireman’s skill that the flames were confined to two buildings and that the nearly new Barron Theater was saved (Dorotha Gray Giannangelo.
At one point Don Farmer, President of the Country Club stated, “The Pratt Fire Dept, has consistently received praise. Even in the old bucket-brigade days of the 1880’s.” The original company developed into a highly skilled Department, with many dedicated and brave members serving on the force.
In the more modern days of Pratt, we have had many major fires to mention. From the Pratt Mill Fire in 58 to the Country Club Apartment that lost 15 apartments to fire in 66. One interesting fire is mentioned on Feb-1-1971in which both fire engines were pulled to a house fire at 414 W. 1st by snowplow and all members responded by foot due to over 20″ of snow. Again in 74 due to a high fuel load the 4th St. Tire Building burnt. And of course, we all know of the Pratt Tribune Fire.
The Pratt Fire Department has always been blessed with true and great leaders starting with Thomas W. Gilbin and J.M. Turner. Those who followed were D.T. Dennis, F.E. Roll and F.E. Watson. Mr. Walter Pedigo became the first paid fire chief in 1911earning $4.00 per year and $2.00 per fire. Other Fire Chiefs were A.C. Myers, Elmo Williams, F.M. Hageman, Dale Earlywine, Roy Schaffer, Wayne Scantlin, Berkley Miller, David Kramer who has served as Fire Chief since 1999 and retired January 2025 had over 46 years of service. Also to mention Deputy Chief George Stevens who has over 51 years of service to Pratt. As of August 2024, the current Fire Chief Todd Hoffman having 25 years of service.
The Pratt Fire Dept, has always been blessed with sincere community support and due to this we have been able to remain progressive in the fire service. The public realizes that much of our safety depends on the equipment we are allowed to purchase and utilize. The department has always had modern time fire apparatus starting with strategically placed water troughs and buckets, then horse drawn hose carts.
Bell History
The City of Pratt was established in 1884, many of the downtown business buildings were brought in from Iuka of Saratoga. As you can imagine most being wood frame structures they were susceptible to fire and fires they had! It was said that it was a common sight to see buckets of water in homes and businesses standing ready in case of fire.
In June 1889 a Fire Bell was placed on a wooden tower at 3rd and Ninnescah, a Hose Cart was placed in an enclosed shack at the base of the tower. Any citizen spotting a fire was to go ring the bell and assist the volunteers if possible.
The Bell signals were as follows;
Intervals of 3 indicates a meeting of the fire company.
Intervals of 5 indicates a practice meeting for drills with equipment.
Continuous ringing = A Fire in progress.
In 1910 the bell was moved to a steel tower behind the new city building at 2nd and Main. The bell was replaced with a siren and approx. 1920 the bell was acquired by the Baptist church and placed in the bell tower. It was said for quite some time it was very confusing when the church would sound the bell for the call to worship.
We have known for quite some time the story of the bell and had talked to members of the congregation about it. It was only when the church discontinued using the building that the fire department discussed getting the bell back. Thanks to Sherry Morford, the new owner of the building, we were able to acquire the bell again. It is with great pride we are able to display part of history at the current fire house 201 South Jackson.
This would not have been possible if it weren’t for the generosity of our citizens and businesses, Sherry Morford, Trand Inc., A&R Roofing, Stryker Welding, Stevens Construction, and BEPC powder coating.
In 1917 the dept, received its very first fire engine a Red REO. The list of apparatus is as follows.
1923 Seagrave
1934 American LaFrance
1948 Seagrave
1952 American LaFrance
1965 Seagrave
1978 Seagrave
1999 Freightliner was retrofitted to serve the purpose of a Special Operations Truck
2001 Laverne/Spartan – Engine #2 Currently in use
2014 E-ONE Typhoon – Engine #1 Currently in use
2001 American LaFrance 110’ Aerial – Ladder #4 Currently in use
1990 Ford Pierce – Brush #3 Currently in use
2011 Spartan Patriot – Rescue #5 Currently in use