YFD History

YFD History

A complete history of the Youngstown Fire Department has never been assembled. Greg Ricker is currently trying to compile one. If you have any information that might help out his project, please E-mail Greg or myself.

The Volunteer Department

The history of the Youngstown Fire Department can be compared to the great histories of departments such as New York and Chicago. Like most cities, the Youngstown Fire Department would find itself started through volunteer ranks; through the need for fire protection for the city. As Youngstown began to grow in mid-1860's, the need for a fire department was becoming ever more present. In late 1867, a fire broke out at the partially completed mansion of Ohio's war governor, David Tod. Bucket brigades were organized, but very little of the home was saved. It was then that he approached the Village Council and asked for the creation of a fire department. On March 2, 1868 officials authorized $10,000 for the organization of the volunteer fire department and purchase of a new steamer. The VFD told the council that is not enough so they didn't purchase the steamer. But on April 6, Youngstown became a city which meant that more capital was to be generated due to the increase in the cities standing. Tod once again approached the council on April 14 and this time they authorized $20,000 for the organization of the volunteer fire department and purchase of a new steamer. Six days later, the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Department was organized. For its first two weeks, the department continued to respond with bucket brigades and hoses drawn from wells, but without a pumper/steamer. Then, on May 6, the YVFD's first steamer, named the 'Governor Tod' after the founder of the department, was sent through trials to test its usefulness to the city.

Unknown First Hand Account:

"The trial of the new steam fire engine, 'Governor Tod' from the works of H. C. Silsby, New York, Seneca Falls, on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning last, gave such general satisfaction, that a Committee appointed for the purpose by the council to recommend its purchase. With the engine at the foot of Phelps Street and drawing water from the canal - with 1500 feet of hose paid out - the stream reached to the Martin house from whence a stream from an inch nozzle was thrown over Excelsior Block" (That's on the corner of Hazel and Federal)

"In another test, with respect to the time made in generating steam, a better result was obtained, as the engine began to pump in seven minutes. She was located at the canal near the Mansion House, the full length of hose reaching to Merchants Block."

With the successful trials, the city purchased the steamer for a mere $8,895.00, including the hose. Soon after the creation of the engine company, it became apparent that with Youngstown's growing skyline that a ladder truck would be needed. On September 14, 1871, The Hook and Ladder Company was organized with 50 members. Both the engine and ladder were stationed at the Gov. Tod Firehouse, also named after David Tod. Within the next ten years, the department would four different chiefs at the command of the company. Before 1873, the department trucks were almost separate entities, each lad by a foreman. On May 6, 1873, the office of fire chief is established and James W. Ross was elected to fill the position. He would be reelected to the position again in April of 1875 but it wouldn't be until the next year, on February 29, that Council voted that he should begin to receive a salary of $65 a month. Two months after that, Ross' term expired, and John Metz was elected on April 11. He would only serve 1 two-year term, and Charles McNab would become the third chief of the department, elected in 1878 and again in 1879. Two more chiefs would serve in the next two years, as Richard Morgan was elected on April 27, 1880 and William Horner the next year. The department would take quite a turn, when on April 29, 1882, the members of the Volunteer Fire Department vote to disband the department due to differences with the city. The department had asked the city to purchase them rubber coats in order to fight fires, but the city refused. That was just the beginning of the feud though. Soon after, the fire company asked the city to confirm its new officers and again, the city refused. With that, on May 8th, 1882, at 9:00pm, the department voted itself into nonexistence.

In the meantime a new volunteer fire department is organized with Charles W. McNab again serving as the chief. A year later, on May 7, 1883, William H. Moore was elected chief. During that year, the department would go from 100% volunteer to being a combination department. On October 11, 1883, The fire department added it's first salaried members. H. Sim Dyer and Albert Probst (later the 2nd LODD) were the first paid men on the department other than the chief. Chief Moore would be elected the next year on May 30, 1884, and several paid firefighters are added to the roster. City Council agrees to pay Moore $500 a year and the newly hired paid firefighters are paid at a salary of $60/month and the volunteers or minute men receive 50 cents an hour. Moore would serve the longest of any of the chiefs of the volunteer department, being elected again in 1885 and 1886. On March 30, 1888, Asst. Chief Alexander M.B. Davis would become the first and only volunteer firefighter to die in the line of duty. He was riding on the truck on the way to a call when he slipped off, and was run over. (LODD) With that, the volunteer department came to an end. On May 16, 189, City Council voted that the need of the city could be better met with a paid department.

The Paid Department

When Council created the paid department, all of the volunteer organizations assets were turned over t the paid men, including three stations, three engines and one ladder company. William Moore would again serve in the capacity of chief, but this time, he was appointed by council members. According to the 1910 History of the Department, Chief Moore's promotion to chief "came as a result of a conscientious attention to duty and the recognition of an intelligent aptitude for the performance of such tasks as fall to those in command of the firefighting force." Though the department had been a paid force for over 4 years now, the volunteer ranks were still remembered. On December 21, 1895, the Veteran's Volunteer Firemen's Association was organized with retired chief James W. Ross appointed president.

During the next year, Youngstown would see three new fire stations opened, all within a one-month time period. On December 9, 1896, the No.6 Fire Station at Wilson and Jackson St. opened and Combination Chemical and Hose No.6 was established. This Station would soon became known as the Hazelton Fire Station. Eight days later, the No.4 Fire Station at Falls Ave. near Oak Hill opened with the establishment of a chemical engine company at that station. And, less than three weeks after the opening of Number 4, Number 5 would open On January 9, 1897 at Oakland and Superior. Combination Chemical and Hose No.5 was established at what would become known as the Brier Hill Fire Station.

On the first of November, the department would be sent out on a call to the Stambaugh barn on Belmont Ave., but little did anyone realize that two of its members would not return to their station afterwards. While fighting the blaze, a sudden wall collapse caught FF Michael McDonough of Engine 3, Capt. Smedley and Hoseman J. Smith Cowden of No. 1 trapped under rubble. Firefighter Michael J. McDonough was the most injured of thee three and was taken to the Mahoning Valley Hospital where he would die the next day. He would be the first Line of Duty Death on the rolls of the paid department. (LODD) Captain Smedley was able to be taken to his home where he made a recovery. Smith Cowden, with bruises and broken bones, was never fully able to recover enough to even leave the hospital. He would pass away on March 22, 1902 and become Youngstown's second LODD from the paid department. (LODD) On January 23, 1904, Station 7 at the corner of Madison and Elm Street would open. It is still open today, being the only station from the original eight to be opened and has been open longer than any other station during the department's 133-year history.

In May of 1904, on the 21st, a fire would break out at the Stambaugh-Thompson Co. This would be the first of two fires to strike the company in two years. This fire would result in a general alarm, and a 1,000gpm, 3 horse hitch first size Nott engine placed in service as Engine Co. No.1 at No.1 station downtown just that day would be the first to respond. During this fire, a wall would collapse, crushing Capt. Albert M. Probst. He would succumb to his injuries two days later on the 23rd. (LODD) A year later, Youngstown would get a new piece of apparatus, with Engine Company 2 receiving a 700gpm, 3 horse hitch second size American LaFrance Metropolitan engine on February 27, 1905. A year after that, Engine Company No. 3. would get thier new engine, with the delivery of an 800gpm Nott 3-horse hitch.

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The 1906 Stambaugh-Thompson Fire

Photos courtesy the Youngstown Vindicator

In 1906 fire destroyed the Stambaugh-Thompson Company. In 1900 and again in 1907 the H.L. McElroy Company furniture store and J.N. Euwer's Sons Department store incurred devastating losses. A man's death in the 1907 fire was attributed to fright. ~These Hundred Years, Youngstown Vindicator

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In its 133-year history, the department itself has not been immune to fires among its own buildings. On February 11, 1907, a fire would break out on the third floor of Station 7. The cause was determined to be electrical wiring and the damage was repaired. Exactly seven months to the day after Station No. 7's fire, one of the most famous fires in Youngstown history would break out when a spectacular fire at north end of Market Street Bridge, destroys the Fredonia Carriage Co., a livery stable, paint shop, and a machine shop. The blaze causes $1,000 damage to Bridge with total losses set at $30,000. By 1908, the budget of the Youngstown Fire Department was roughly $110,000. Included in that budget was the money to purchase an 800gpm Nott 3-horse hitch engine for use as Engine Company No. 4 at Station No. 6. This would be the last horse drawn engine purchased by the city. On July 26 of that year, Station No. 8 opened at the corner of Market St. and Glenaven on the South Side. Soon after the station opened, on June 4, 1909, there came a brand new Webb Fire Auto built on a Thomas automobile chassis for that station. This would be the first motorized piece of apparatus in the city. It was placed in service as Automobile Engine and Hose No.8. This chemical engine was equipped with 1600 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose, 2-3 gallon chemical extinguishers, and a full complement of axes, lanterns, nozzles, etc.

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1908: YFD at a Glance

37 Men

38 Horses

8 Stations

4 LODD - 3 Paid, 1 Volunteer

William H. Loller ~ Chief

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This photo shows a young Youngstown Fire

Department at a fire. This photo was taken at the Knox 5&10 Store fire on October 1, 1908 . The Knox fire killed Capt. Charles Vaughn and First Asst. Chief Thomas Reilly. Capt. Vaughan died that day (LODD), while Asst. Chief Reilly lived until October 2. (LODD) Photo from the 1910 History of the Youngstown Fire Dept.

Very little would happen within the department until 1913, when Joseph Wallace was appointed chief. Under Chief Wallace, the No. 10 station would open, equipped with a new 1913 Robinson 700gpm triple combination auto pump and hose. On May 20, 1913 the Youngstown Fire Department becomes completely motorized and on Sept. 4th, Harvy Leedy drives horses Dandy and Dexter on their last alarm. The next day the fire department answered all calls with motorized apparatus. Many have said that Youngstown was the first fully-motorized department in the country. If it wasn't, being fully-motorized by 1913 is still a feat. FDNY was not fully-motorized until the 1920's.

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