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In 1839 to 1904, Jackson’s first fire department consisted of five volunteer fire companies. The involvement in the volunteer fire companies measured the civic spiritedness of loyal citizens. Private citizens manned and supported these companies without compensation. They had very meager equipment, usually small pumps or engines that were hand transported and operated. Later, some companies acquired horses and wagons to transport their pumps. They obtained the water supply from wells, ponds, and cisterns.
On July 7, 1904, the mayor and aldermen adopted a city ordinance that established the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department as a career department. The new career department was to bear the name, The Jackson Fire Department. This ordinance also appropriated $9,000 for the purchase of equipment and buildings from the old volunteer fire companies.
In 1904 J.C Waters of Atlanta, Ga. came to Jackson to become the first paid Fire Chief. He served until his death in 1907 from injuries received in a fire related incident. During his service the Fire Department established a system where the men worked twenty-four hours a day, six days a week. The department gave the members twenty-four hours of leave a month, with no provision for sick leave at this time. Also, in 1904, the Fire Department established a uniform system for numbering homes and other buildings.
Jim Cummings, a Jackson native, replaced Chief Waters after his death and served from 1907 to 1917. It was during this time the Jackson Fire Department secured its first two motorized fire engines that would eventually replace the horse-drawn steamers.
Private capital built the Jackson Water Works in 1888 and later purchased by the City in 1908 for $196,000. Before 1914 only muddy river water flowed through the city water mains and each patron had to use a private filter to remove the mud and clear up the water.
It was also during Fire Chief Cummimgs’ administration that the Jackson Municipal Zoo had its beginnings. Several historical accounts have verified that the Jackson Zoo started from a motley collection of animals that the fire fighters kept at Central Station. They housed this collection of pets in cages built between Central Fire Station and City Hall. The collection attracted so many visitors that the idea of having a formal zoo became a reality.
On January 12,1917 L. F Mc Donald was appointed Fire Chief after being with the department for eight years. His tenure spanned from 1917 to 1960, some forty-three years as Fire Chief and administered the department until 1967 when he served in the capacity as the Public Safety Director. In 1917, the department consists of four stations, with seven pieces of equipment. Within a year of his administration, they replaced all the horse-drawn equipment with motorized equipment. The personnel for four fire stations consisted of thirty-five members, which he extended during his tenure to consist of three hundred and thirteen members.
In 1960, the Jackson Fire Department saw several important changes. The New Training Center was opened with a full-time drill master and captain. The Fire Prevention Bureau was inaugurated, and a Rescue Unit was placed into service. An important change in the 1970's was the crossing of gender and cultural lines within the department.
As Jackson expanded and matured, new demands and services were needed. Like our fore fathers before us, intensive studies were conducted. As a result, the department made several policy changes concerning the communication in the department, emergency response, personnel and the organization. The department implemented needed changes and launched the department well into the 21st century with space age technology. Improvements over the years have benefited both the Citizens of Jackson and fire fighters themselves.
The Jackson Fire Department has had twelve (12) Fire Chiefs and eleven (11) fallen fighters. Today the personnel consists of four hundred and forty-three (443) budgeted positions, twenty-one stations and seventy-two pieces of equipment. The mission of this department is to prevent the loss of life and property to a population of 196,000 citizens.
While viewing this web page, please visit all the exciting divisions and see what is happening in the Jackson Fire Department today. We look forward to personally meeting you when visiting our wonderful city.
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