Controlling the Fire Fiend
Durango's Fire Alarm Bell
Displayed & Restored by the Durango Fire Department
Frontier Communities like Durango lived in dread of the "fire fiend." Hastily built wooden structures dominated the community in the 1880's; wind and weather rendered them tinder dry. A carelessly or intentionally started fire could wipe out the community. Recognizing the danger, concerned Durango citizens organized the first volunteer fire company in November, 1881. By 1893, Durango had a total of five volunteer companies. Aside from providing fire protection for the community, volunteer firemen were active in community and social affairs.
The volunteers' greatest test came on Monday, July 1, 1889 when a fire started near the northwest corner of 10th street and Main Avenue destroying seven business and residential blocks. The wind-driven fire spread so quickly that the brick fire station on 10th Street burned with the Silsby pumper still in it. Flames consumed fire hose as fast as it could be laid. Firefighters had to dynamite buildings in the fire's path in a desperate attempt to control it. Luckily, no one was killed. Even though less than half the property loss was insured, the town rebounded quickly with brick and stone dominating new construction.
The revitalized community, however, continued to be plagued by fires in the early 1890's. In the fall of 1893, steps were taken to establish a full time paid department in an effort to reduce property losses and lower insurance rates. In October, the city council sent Mayor George Kephart and Fire Chief George Goodman to Pueblo, Trinidad, Denver, Kansas City, Chicago, Ft. Wayne, and Toledo to ascertain the needs for a professional department. Trinidad's new paid department was the closest in size to that proposed in Durango, so Kephart and Goodman based their recommendations on that model.
The paid department was officially inaugurated February 1, 1894. An itemized list of buildings, property, livestock, equipment and supplies on this date totaled $18,670.20, a substantial investment indeed for the City of Durango!

Although the frequency of fires continued unabated in the coming years, there was no turning back - the city stood by its commitment to maintain a paid, professional fire department.