Durango Fire Department History
In 1994, Robert McDaniel, Director of the Animas Museum interviewed Durango's Fire Marshal Frank Shry about the history of the Fire Department. Listen to the interview by clicking the controls below. (Please note there are 15 seconds of silence about 33 minutes into the recording.)
Frank Shry wrote a history of the Durango Fire Department from February 12, 1881 through October 6, 1927 and donated his original copy to the Animas Museum, catalog number 15.67.1. Download a searchable PDF of this account here. (Note this is a 10meg file.)
Images
Durango Hook and Ladder Corps in 1893. Catalog Number: 13.1.38
Horse drawn fire wagons in front of the fire station around 1898. Catalog Number: 01.9.10
Inside the fire station, firemen wait for the call. Catalog Number: 01.9.9
Silsby fire wagon. Photo probably not Durango. Catalog Number: 03.14.53
Durango's American La France firetruck at right, hose truck at left around 1916. Catalog Number: 01.9.11
Durango's American La France firetruck around 1918 in front of the City Hall Fire Station. Catalog Number: 01.9.11
Durango's American La France firetruck around 1918 Henry Dietrich, fire chief is in the center. Catalog Number: 01.9.12
Equipment
Fire hook. Catalog Number: 12.14.16
Fire bucket made by local blacksmith Charlie Naegelin. Catalog Number: 92.19.126
Fire hose. Catalog Number: 12.14.28
Fire hose nozzle. Catalog Number: 12.14.22
Fire extinguisher. Catalog Number: 12.14.25
Main Avenue Fire
Fighting the Main Avenue fire. Catalog Number: 04.5.417
