The alarm system that was used was simple but effective. The person with the house on fire would jump up and down, yell, scream, and sometimes shoot off a shotgun until help arrived. At this particular time, Wichitans had little in the way of property and possessions, and to lose them in a fire was a total disaster as they had little to fall back on.

The citizens endured and the village began to grow, houses and buildings were being built daily. As Wichita developed in a town, new problems presented themselves, one of the first and most important was the lack of fire protection. It is generally agreed, that on February 14 (St. Valentine's Day), in 1871, a group of public spirited citizens first gathered and agreed to serve without pay as a volunteer fire company.

On March 18, 1871, Wichita had its first big fire when the W.R. Rouse Queensware Store and the John Peyton Saddle and Harness Shop burned to the ground. Later, in September, Rowdy Joe's Dance Hall, located west of the river, burned down and it was probably Wichita's first case of arson. It was set on fire by a group of soldiers one night after they had been involved in a fight with some local cowboys. These fires spurred a temporary interest in the organization of firefighting crews but not quite enough, and it was soon forgotten.

During the summer of 1871, Wichita held one of its first bond elections; ironically, it was to provide the town with fire protection equipment. Apparently, the majority of citizens preferred to see their property burn rather than to be guilty of such extravagance. At any rate, the bond issue was flatly voted down. Again, on October 24, of the same year, the councilmen met and finally got down to the business of fire protection for the town. It was decided to refer the matter of furnishing suitable fire apparatus to the Finance Committee who voted to levy a tax of ten mills on the dollar on all personal, mixed, and real property which would go into a general fund. This proposal, they decided, would be too slow and it would take time to get the equipment. So, the next step was to submit a proposal to the voters to consider a $3,000 bond issue for the purpose of purchasing a hook and ladder outfit, buckets and pumps, and house for the hook and ladder, and other articles necessary to extinguish fires. Everything was looking good, but on November 23, another meeting was held and the preceding proposal was reconsidered. It was decided to make the bond issue for $5,000.

The bonds were to be payable in fifteen years and pay 10% semi-annual interest. The election was held on December 27, and when the council counted the results on January 3, 1872, the minutes recorded 68 against and 21 for the bonds. Still no fire protection. The interest on the bonds was probably the deciding factor.

The building of the town continued and in 1872, four homes a day were going up. Main Street was provided with excellent wooden sidewalks. Wichita had 320 homes, 111 places of business, including 3 wholesale establishments, 2 printing offices, 2 banks and 2 hotels. The paper reported the population at 2,000 good men. With women and children, they judged it would fall a little under 6,000 (counting the dogs).

After the calaboose was burned down by the prisoners in the spring of 1872, interest was again renewed in fire protection. Something had to be done! A meeting was held on the second floor of the Eagle Hall, located on the southeast corner of Main and Douglas (where the old City Annex now stands), and the first Volunteer Fire Company was organized.

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