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, training facilities, fire prevention, and supply storage. The old headquarters was demolished following the opening of this modern station.
At present, there are ten [10] operating fire stations, from which ten [10] engines, two [2] ladders, one [1] manpower squad, two [2] fire units, a hazardous materials unit, and one [1] battalion chief respond. Through a contract with Dougherty County, the entire County is covered by the department.
As the fire department moves forward, changes for the future are already underway. A combined communication dispatching system to include an enhanced 911 phone system, featuring a computerized dispatching [CAD] system, manned 24 hours a day. The planning of an eleventh fire station to be placed within the County to better serve the public, a dry hydrant system to supplement water supplies in the County's outlying areas, through the Emergency Management part of the department an increased awareness system for monitoring unnatural weather conditions, stronger involvement in public awareness through the use of fire prevention programs [Puppet House, Safe House, Children's Bounce House] designed to attract the attention of all ages of people within the County. All this with a dedicated staff of employees willing to meet the demands of public safety.
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 and Emergency Services 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