Nacogdoches Fire Department

The first volunteer fire department was organized by the citizens of Nacogdoches in 1907. It was disbanded the same year. The Nacogdoches

Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was reorganized on February 29, 1908 with Ira Link Sturdevant as Chief. It was the forerunner of today's fire

department. The constitution and by-laws were adopted March 14, 1908. The fire department obtained a permanent home in 1910 when they

moved to the south side of the square where the Central Station is now. (The former location of John S. Roberts' home built in 1832 that burned

down in 1903). At first pistol shots sounded the alarm and summoned the firemen. Although this worked, it was decided a bell would be more

appropriate. The first bell was purchased in 1908 from the Baptist Church. It was placed on top of the Perkins Building on the north side of the

square where Kennedy Jewelry is now. Reportedly the bell was sometimes rung by gunshot. To insure that the Iron Hill district of the city was

adequately protected, a hose house (shed), with 200 feet of hose stored therein, was constructed in 1911 on land donated by Mrs. Will Sanders.

In the years before W.W.I., Nacogdoches was growing and so was the Fire Department under the capable direction of Chief Sturdevant. Fire

insurance rates for the city were reduced due to the purchase of a fire alarm system. The horse-drawn fire wagon was complemented with the

first motor driven fire truck (a model T Ford) in 1916. Next came the first big pumper, the 1923 Seagrave, "Big Bertha". In 1926, Chief

Sturdevant (age 69 years) resigned due to advancing age. He was then made honorary Chief. L.I. Muller became active chief. Chief Muller

retired in 1930 and was replaced by J.R. Horn. Chief Horn died shortly after becoming Chief and was replaced by Assistant Chief Harwell

Davis. Chief Davis resigned a few months later and was replaced by E.C. (Bud) Feazell, the first paid Chief. By the middle 1930's, Delbert A.

Teutsch became Chief. Chief Teutsch was very active in community affairs. For 10 years he taught classes in fireman's training at Texas A&M.

Chief Teutsch stressed the need for emergency rescue equipment. (The fire department had the only ambulance service in town from 1969-75).

During his 41 years of service to the fire department and to the community, Chief Teutsch received many honors and awards. He retired in 1975.

Charles E. Duffin was the next Chief. Chief Duffin retired on 10-31-89. The next Chief, Fred Green, assumed the office on 2-19-90. After eight

years of service, Chief Green resigned on April 10, 1998. Russell (Rusty) Sanders was appointed interim chief. On 9-1-98, Chief Sanders

became the official chief of the department, and Jimmy Lee was appointed to be Assistant Chief. The fire department currently has 52

members, 50 of which are certified firefighters, one mechanic, and one secretary. There are five fire stations and 12 pieces of rolling emergency

equipment. Also included is a 14-member Rehab unit. A decision to build a fire museum at the downtown fire station was brainstormed in

October, 1996. After many months of work and planning, the reality of having a fire museum for the citizens of Nacogdoches has arrived. The fire

museum is opened for tours during special downtown events and by appointment. Fire Captain Del Birdwell is the designated "Curator" of the

facility. Del occasionally will change the various exhibits. The feature item of the museum is the first manufactured fire engine purchased by the

citizens of Nacogdoches. The Seagrave fire engine is called "Old Bertha". Other exhibits include pieces of helmets from firefighters caught in a

flashover at a local nightclub, various pictures of former employees and pictures taken from various fires in the area. The siren, which was used

for decades to alert local volunteer firefighters, has been removed from the roof of Central Station and placed in the museum. Many items are

located in the fire museum for the fire buff to enjoy.