AFD History

The Albany Fire Department - 150 Years of Service

Fifty-seven years after its founding, a paid fire department was established for the City of Albany, Georgia, in 1893. A bucket brigade was used to pass water in leather buckets from person to person to be thrown directly onto a fire. Larger fires in most communities made these bucket brigades unsuccessful most of the time.

Today, telephones enable us to contact emergency services within seconds, allowing us to respond to fire, police, or medical emergencies. In the early days of the City, things were not so easy. If a fire were discovered during daylight hours, the first person to see it would call out "FIRE," and the word would be relayed until someone nearest the fire station would hear it.

Although there is no confirmation, the worst fire in the city's history occurred on March 13, 1867, when twenty-seven buildings in the downtown area were destroyed. It is understood that the fire was of such magnitude that fire companies merely protected the surrounding blocks of buildings and allowed the fire to burn itself out.

1912 was a pivotal year for the department, as it put its first motor-driven fire apparatus into service. It was the year that the fire horses were given to the trash collectors. These horses were seen racing to fires when the fire bell rang. Trash was dumped on the streets as the horses continued to do what they had done for decades. A few years passed, and the horses were replaced by motor-driven apparatus, marking the end of an era.

With the increase in population, it became necessary to provide for additional fire stations throughout the City, and later, the County as well. In March of 1970, a new and modern headquarters was constructed at 320 North Jackson Street. This two-story, 17,000-square-foot structure houses Station #1, administrative offices, fire prevention, and supply storage. The old headquarters was demolished following the opening of this modern station.

With 100 years of paid service and still growing, 174 employees, 11 fire stations, 36 pieces of apparatus, rescue water operations, and hazardous material response. The fire personnel of the Albany Fire Department stand ready to face the future and provide the best protection possible for this County for generations to come.

Historical Information: Courtesy of retired Captain Bill Cloud