History of the Huntsville Fire Department

The Huntsville Fire Department held its inaugural meeting on Friday, November 6, 1925, at 7:30 p.m., with the aim of organizing a fire department for the city. Mayor Tom Ball presided over the meeting, attended by City Council members H.O. Leigh, Ben Estine, and Joe Henson. The evening included an oyster supper and a brief talk by C.E. Bobbitt about the City Council’s plans to equip the city with a modern fire department. The Council pledged that a new chemical and pump truck would be available within 30 days, and plans were announced for a new two-story brick firehouse.

The following officers were elected at the meeting:

• Fire Chief: C.E. Bobbitt
• Assistant Chief: Phil Bowden
• Secretary: W.P. Mallery, Jr.
• Treasurer: J.R. King, Jr.

The first members appointed by Fire Chief Bobbitt were: F. Shannon, Lee Kirkland, Ford Miller, Arthur Anders, W.P. Ball, Sam Robbins, Phil Bowden, J. Robert King, Jr., J.B. McDaniel, John O. Hamblin, S.C. Baldwin, Harvey A. Boudeaux, W.B. Carr, W.P. Mallery, Jr., Ben C. Eastine, Dock McCullough, Morris Seligman, Brady McCullough, J.W. Mallery, Elliston Humphrey, Bowden Hamblin, George Osburn, and August Tampke.

The department’s first recorded fire occurred on Sunday, November 15, 1925, at the Gillaspie home in north Huntsville. Sparks from the Gillaspie house ignited three neighboring homes, but the firefighters managed to save the additional properties, although the Gillaspie house was lost.

The first use of a fire truck was recorded on November 16, 1925, at a fire in the L.A. Northington residence, caused by a flue burning out. Fortunately, no damage was reported.

The department’s first firehouse was located on 11th Street, just east of the courthouse square, and is still standing today, owned by Jim Standefer. This building served the department from the mid-1920s until around 1959, when a new station was constructed at 14th Street and Avenue M. Fire Station #2 was built at 22nd Street and Sam Houston Avenue in 1973, followed by a third station at the City Service Center in August 1980. Today, the Huntsville Fire Department operates out of four stations and is equipped with numerous pieces of equipment, staffed daily by seven full-time firefighters and 30 part-time firefighters.

In February 1985, the City of Huntsville assumed control of the volunteer fire department due to legal concerns about liability, officially making all members part-time employees. Joe French was appointed as the first full-time Chief of the department.