The History of the Dryden Fire Service

1899

Bylaw #9 of the Township of Van Horne passed a Bylaw for the prevention of fires in the Municipality of said township

1908

Dryden’s first fire department was formed. Fire Chief: Alex Kennedy (1908–1910).

The current Firefighters (Bucket Brigade) were:

• W.J. Robinson
• FFoulis
• I.J. Wilde
• A. Berry
• H. Adair
• I.J. Clark,
• Alex Upton
• Jim Gough

1910

Erected standpipe; purchased chemical fire engine ($700).

1911

The winter sleigh was built for the engine; it was equipped with added extinguishers and electric lights.

1913

Authorized purchase of ladder, torch, hooks; proposed fire hall with $5,000 debenture.

1915

By-law #93 was passed, officially establishing the Dryden Fire Department; Fire Chief: Dave Anderson.

1917 - 1918

The Fire Department purchased the following equipment:

• Two 16ft roof ladders
• Two 28ft extension ladders
• 15 fire pails

The rate of pay was set for the Fire Chief and firefighters:

1920

Purchased a pressure water & soda machine with a hose; used a church bell as an alarm.

1922

The Council approved hiring Fire Chief Dave Anderson as a Fire Marshal at a rate of $100/year. They also agreed that permanent firefighters be paid $2 per call for the first two hours at any fire and $1 per hour after that. Each Firefighter was paid $2 for each practice, which included cleaning all equipment.

1923-1926

Built a pump house, purchased hoses/nozzles and fire coats. Fire aid was extended to Van Horne Township.

1928-1929

Acquired the Fire Department's first chemical and hose truck, fitted at the factory to a 1 1/2 ton Chevy chassis and purchased from Durance Motors (still on display at Hall 1).

1930

Fire department purchased 600ft of fire hose and one Siamese connection.

1935

Instituted regular fire practices where they would be held not less than every second month, and the hose would be laid out and water run through it.

1940

Fire wagon sold to H. Ingebrigsten

1941

Fire Chief Dave Anderson advised Council that it was impossible to save the Don McArthur house on West River Road with only a chemical tank.

After discussion, the Council decided to have a 2" London fire pump sent on approval, and if satisfactory, would purchase it.

1945

H.J. Adair was appointed as Fire Chief for the Town of Dryden at a salary of $100/year.

By-law #343 set volunteer wages and appointed the Fire Chief.

1946

Council sold the ladder wagon. Ladders were sold for $15/ladder to Walter Ankney.

Fire Chief Adair and three firefighters attend the firemen's training school in Fort William.

A new hose truck was purchased from Brandon, MB.

1955

An Equipment Truck was purchased.

1969

626 GPM Pumper truck was acquired

1978

An 840 GPM pumper tele-squirt with a 75' ladder was purchased, with a 1000 GPM prepiped nozzle pumper.

A new firehall and police station opened (attended by the Governor General)

1980

Acquired Jaws of Life and began responding to highway collisions.

1982 - 1985

840 triple combination pumper truck purchased from King Seagrave #23.

35 sets of firefighter turnout gear, boots and helmets were purchased.

A new GM Suburban was purchased for inspections and for carrying auto extrication equipment.

1989

A new equipment truck and a Command vehicle were purchased from Dependable Trucks.

1990

Fire Chief/Inspection van purchased from local GM dealer.

1991

Position for a full-time Administrative Assistant and Deputy Fire Chief established.

1994

Ford/Rescue - auto extrication vehicle purchased (Rescue 25) - seating for five and all equipment accessible from exterior and interior compartments.

1996

Purchased Superior 1050 Pumper, bought and stored at Hall 1, known as Pump 21. Later, it was moved to Hall 2 and was known as Pump 31.

Thirty-two sets of turnout gear were purchased.

1998

Amalgamation and merger of the Dryden Fire Department and the Barclay Fire Department to form the City of Dryden Fire Service.

1999

A new suburban was purchased for inspections, fire prevention, and inspection duties. It also served as a Command vehicle, known as Command 26.

2001

Ford Equipment vehicle, purchased and known as Equipment 33 (still in service), seats two firefighters, four SCBAs, a PPV fan, and features exterior storage compartments.

2003

The Fire Department's second aerial ladder was purchased (Quint 24) and was a Smeal six-person cab Quint Pumper with a 75' stick ladder, including a pre-piped monitor, and pumps 1500 GPM. It carried ground ladders, 333.2 gallons of water, and 30 gallons of foam, as well as various sizes of fire hose, four SCBAs, a high-rise pack, and a range of powered and hand tools.

2004

Purchased a 2004, 1500-gallon booster tanker, known as Tanker 32 (still in service). The unit carries a 4" supply hose as well as a portable pond and portable pumps with attachments.

Hall 1 moved to a new (current) location of 10,600 sq. ft. at 189 Colonization Avenue (now 189 Memorial Avenue).

2005-2006

New helmets were purchased for the Hall 2 Firefighters.

SCBAs updated with the purchase of MSA 4500 (60-minute) units.

A new 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD was purchased (Rescue 34) and is still in service today, now known as Utility 34.

Maverick combination tool cutter/ spreader purchased for auto-extrication and rescues.

2007

54 sets of Bunker Gear were purchased.

2008

100th Anniversary of the Dryden Fire Service.

Refurbishing of the Antique 1929 Bickle Fire Truck.

2010

Council approved a full-time position for an Emergency and Education Officer for the Dryden Fire Service

2011

A new Eastway Pumper Has Been purchased to replace Pump 21 at Hall 1. It is equipped with a 1,250 GPM pump and holds 800 gallons of water, utilizing a Darley Pump.

The Superior 1050 GPM Pumper at Hall 1 was stationed at Hall 2 to serve as the first-out Pumper at Hall 2, and its identification number would be changed from Pump 21 to Pump 31.

Command 26 was replaced with a new 2011 Ford Expedition Max.

The Dryden Police Service and the Dryden Police Service Board donated the 2007 Dodge Charger. It was then identified as Prevention 28 and was established as a prevention unit for the Emergency & Education Officer to deliver public education and emergency management programs within the community.

2018

More than 30 Firefighters withheld their services and walked off the job.

The City of Dryden hired four new professional firefighters on a short-term basis to support the more than 30 firefighters who walked off the job.

Some firefighters at Hall 1 and Hall 2 continued to work as volunteer firefighters.

2019

The City hires four Work-Experience Firefighters to assist with the shortage of firefighters after the walkout.

Fire Chief changes the training schedule to every Wednesday, and Hall checks on the last Wednesday of every month.

2020

The City approves three new positions: Fire Training Officer, Fire Prevention Officer, and Health & Safety Coordinator, to complement the Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Chief.

The Superior 1050 GPM Pumper at Hall 2 was replaced with a new 2019 Fort Garry pumper featuring a 1050-gallon-per-minute pump and a 1000-gallon water tank.

Firefighters enhance their training and begin certifying all recruits and current firefighters to NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and II standards.

The Fire Department purchases 26 new SCBAs (Scott Air-Pak X3 Pro), and every firefighter receives their own personal SCBA mask (Scott AV3000)

2024

The 2003 Smeal 75" Quint is sold to the Oklahoma Fire Department and replaced with a 2023 E-ONE HP75 Typhoon Quint with a 2000GPM pump and a 500-gallon water tank. It is now in Hall 1 and known as Ladder 24.