|
Fire Department
|
 |
Fire Station #1 - 1957
|
The first fire station built in Ocoee opened in 1957 and was located on W. McKey Street. The fire department consisted of local volunteers with "Frog" Vandergrift as Fire Chief. The first fire engine was built by Harold Maguire, a local resident. The engine was an open cab with a front bumper- mounted pump on a Chevrolet chassis. The unit remained in service until 1960 when the first commercial fire engine was purchased.
In 1971, the department hired the first full time paid firefighters. Three firefighters worked days with the volunteers responding to alarms at night and on weekends.
In 1975 the department moved into a new station located at 125 N. Bluford Ave. now the current site of the City Hall complex. Three 24-hour shifts were instituted with five firefighters staffed per shift. As the City grew, new stations and personnel were added to provide the increased need for fire protection. In 1986 fire station two opened on Adair St. in the north central district. Two additional firefighters were added per shift to staff the additional station. In 1997, two additional stations were built. One is located at 1500 N. Clarke Rd. Station two on Adair St. was closed at this time and relocated to the Clarke Rd. location. The third station was built at 2500 S. Maguire Rd. to cover the developing district south of State Road 50. Both new stations were opened in January of 1998, bringing the total staff to 14 firefighters per shift.
In 2004, Fire Station One was relocated from the City Hall complex to the newly built 19,000 square foot main fire station at 563 S. Bluford. The new station houses operating fire personnel as well as the administrative staff.
Chief Ronald D. Strosnider retired October 1, 2004 after serving 47 years with the department, 24 years of which he served as Fire Chief. Richard Firstner became the Fire Chief in October 2004. |
