1950
1950 - Station No. 7 - William Reimer, R.P. Braitsch, John McGrew, and Luther Carney 1950 - Fire Prevention Program L to R: C.O. Avery, R.A. Osborne, R.F. ScharnhorstNow, expansion was taking place as Chief Wood moved the department into the 50's. More growth in terms of manpower, equipment and facilities than at any time in the history of the department would take place. The population of the City had increased from 114,966 in 1940 to 168,279 in 1950. And as the population increased, so did building, traffic, and the number of fires.
1950 - Station No. 7 - William Reimer, R.P. Braitsch, John McGrew, and Luther Carney
1950 - Fire Prevention Program
L to R: C.O. Avery, R.A. Osborne, R.F. Scharnhorst
The year 1950 opened with the arrival of the first (and only) Mack 750 GPM Pumper to be purchased by the Wichita Fire Department.
One-way traffic came to Wichita and with it some hair-rising experiences for firemen responding to alarms (against it).
Real progress was made in June when it was decreed by the Chief that neckties would not be required during the summer months.
New No. 4 Fire Station at Martinson and Douglas was opened. This facility replaced one at 120 S. Seneca that had been in service since the horsedrawn days.
Another salary increase on the first of July brought firefighters up to $205 the first year and $245 after three years.
An early morning fire on December 22, 1950 (Brasted Paints) was the worst downtown blaze since the Price Auto fire in 1947; loss was $100,000. The year-end statistics, 2,650 fire alarms, eleven fire deaths and $293,970 in loss.
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