WPBFD History

Pumper 300, a 1957 Peter Pirsch and T-1/2. A truly classic fire pumper design.

installation and maintenance of a 520A type emergency reporting system at a cost of $6,686.31. Chief Sadler had wanted such a system back in 1927 and the National Board of Fire Underwriters had recommended it in their 1952 survey. Ninety-six telephone alarm boxes were stra- tegically placed in commercial areas of West Palm Beach. Southern Bell retained ownership of the call boxes charg- ing the city a monthly fee based on the distance of each box from fire headquarters. The system was used primar- ily by police officers in the field who could push a by- pass button to ring police headquarters direct. Civilians lifting up the receiver could contact fire dispatch to report an alarm. The system worked well for the police, but fire

A department tradition ended in the 1960s when the city commission found it necessary to pass an ordinance that prohibited the hiring of family members within the same department. The fire department had seen many brothers, fathers, and sons pass through the truck room doors over the years. Conflicts because of family relations had never surfaced, but the commission feared that even the appearance of nepotism had to be avoided. From now on relatives would have to seek employment at other de- partments in order to continue the firefighting tradition of their family. In 1961 the city entered into an agreement with Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company for the

#4 Fire Station. 1718 Parker Avenue. 16