"For efficiency, there is no fire department in America that surpasses the Wichita firefighting force." That is a broad statement, but figures of fire losses in American cities will show that the protection against fire in Wichita is second to none. Wichita never has had a severe conflagration. Yet, but for the rapid and effective work of the fire laddies, there would have been many a distastrous fire. It is the fighting spirit of Wichita firemen that has saved the City thousands from fire losses. For instance not long ago, fire broke out in a small barn which was almost consumed when the department arrived. Six other buildings in the immediate vicinity were saved through the rapid work of the firemen. For 24 years, the Wichita Department has been headed by A.G. Walden, as Fire Marshal. It has been largely through the leadership of Chief Walden that the Wichita Fire Department has been built to such efficiency. Chief Walden has grown gray in the service of the City, yet in all his 24 years firefighting, he has never failed to be in the thickest of battle for the preservation of life and property. Chief Walden is ably assisted by A.S. Brownewell, Assistant Chief of the Department. Mr. Brownewell has been in service many years and for a period of two years he headed the department. In any absence of Chief Walden, Assistant Chief Brownewell manages the department affairs, carefully and well. The Wichita Fire Department consists of five stations in various parts of the city. The Central Station receives all alarms and directs the actions of the outlying stations. The substations are located at College Hill, North End, South End, and the West Side. Each station carries equipment sufficient to control any ordinary blaze within its territory. Always, however, the Central Station sends assistance. It is rarely that the entire department is called out for any one fire. There are 40 men in the Wichita Fire Department and every man is a fighter of tried character. Many are old in service and each one may be depended upon in a crisis. A fire crisis comes rarely, but when one does, there is a need for men who can meet it. Such men belong to the Wichita Fire Department. Recently, Chief Walden has begun the reorganization of the Department equipment on the motor car basis. The City's first motor driven vehicle was purchased in 1909. In a few months, it has so thoroughly proven its superiority over horsedrawn apparatus that more motor driven equipment is inevitable. Chief Walden rencently offered the opinion, that in ten years Wichita would have no horses at any of its stations. For 24 years Chief Walden has been attending the annual conventions of the American Fire Engineers. In that time, he has become recognized as one of the foremost firefighters in the country. At a recent meeting of the association, he was invited to sit for a photograph with Department Chiefs from New York, Kansas City, Cleveland, Denver and Chicago."