The 30's started with Bradley Flying School fire, $90,000, and with the question of policies for paying those injured in the line of duty. For how long would payment be made and what constituted an injury? There was no pension fund for policemen, and the firemen's pension law didn't cover all cases. According to City Manager Wells, policies would have to be made on these questions.

"Smoky" the fire clown (former Wichita fireman), an official representative of the Western Actuarial Bureau, made his first of many appearances in Wichita in behalf of the Fire Prevention Committee.

During the spring of 1930, "humiliation and failure" came to the fire boys. Yes, it happened when City Manager Wells offered two days paid vacation for any City employee who succeeded in putting a new pulley on the flag pole high atop the City Building. Without hesitation, the champion climber of the Wichita Fire Department, Lieutenant John Greenstreet announced he would not only climb the pole, but he would sit on the ball on top. Four times he attacked the pole and four times he slid back down. His excuse, two days off weren't needed anyway, it was too cold to go fishing, and besides he was half way up when he looked down and saw a hearse pull up in front of City Hall! A professional steeplejack was hired, he went straight up, stopped to light a cigarette half way, and installed the new pulley. "Just plain lucky," said the firemen.

As the population reached the magic mark of 110,000 in Wichita, the State Attorney General ordered wages increased for firemen. State law required $150 per month the first year, with $5 per year until $165 after four years, also the Chief's salary was to be hiked to $4,800 per year. The City refused to comply, they said the City hadn't elected to come under the provision. Following this disappointment, Sidney Fulston, new Chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee, argued for the department, who he said needed fifty-two additional men, a new pumper and a new aerial truck. The Commission had promised to slash the budget by one half mil. They did compromise and ended up by giving the Wichita Fire Department an additional $25,595.

Back to Top