History

Records from 1880 indicate that as the fire bell rang from the belfry of the old city hall, the five "laddies" (ladder companies) ran to their assignments in competitive haste: the Advance Hose Co., the Imperial Hose Co., the Engine Co., the Hook and Ladder Co., and the Chemical Engine Co. Simultaneously, the five or six draymen raced to the station arriving as the first unit out. The chemical cart with soda and acid and 600 gallons of water drawn by ten firemen initiated the response. The first dray team to arrive hooked up to the steam engine. The waste in the ignitor was started with wood fed into the chamber. Men and teams in successive intervals hooked onto the other hose carts and ladder truck. While the Chemical Co., made their attack, the steamer prepared to draft from the closet of five 30,000 gallon cisterns placed strategically throughout the city. The hose was unreeled from the steamer to the fire to back up the chemical cart.

Additional teams could be commandeered from Gallup's Livery Stable one-half block west of the fire hall as men, horses, and apparatus were deployed in full concentration on the fire effort.

In 1883, the fire department purchased the pictured steam engine pumper. At that time it was the only such engine between St Paul and San Francisco and was the third steam engine out of production by the Waterous Plant. The large hose from the bottom of the steamer was dropped into the closest one of five 30,000 gallon cisterns located throughout the city. One of these cisterns is still in operation today acting as a backup water supply for firefighting efforts. This cistern is located under our city hall and is supplied by drainage from the roof. During the flood of 1991, the city's water tower was empty due to a six day power outage and this cistern was our primary source of water for fire fighting efforts.

The steam engine purchased in 1883 was credited with saving many buildings during the Great Fargo Fire in 1893. Fargo wired Casselton for help and orders were issued for a Northern Pacific freight train to stop in Casselton. The steam engine, two hose carts, and hose were loaded on a flat car and taken directly to the fire. After that calamity, the engine was nicknamed "Little Tea Pot" because of the steam it put forth.

In 1920, the department acquired Chevrolet's first production truck. They mounted Ernie Gregor's draywagon box on it, loaded it with hose, and affixed a gas engine pump to the hitch which mechanized the department.

Later, in 1933, ingenuity created the first rural fire truck tanker in North Dakota, and in 1954, again a first, the longest single axle tanker with a 2000 gallon payload.

The Casselton Rural Fire Department was formed in 1954 and utilizes the same building and equipment as the city department.

The Casselton Fire Department and Casselton Rural Fire Department today is served by a dedicated team of 33 volunteers. They respond to an area covering 378 square miles, 12 townships, 3200 citizens, and 33 miles of interstate highway. Firefighters are dispatched to an average of 80 runs each year by pager from the Red River Regional Dispatch Center. The department is funded by a city budget, township service contracts, and the state insurance rebate.

The fire department now occupies a five bay, 7100 square foot facility constructed in 1990. This was a radical change from the 1750 square foot building in which the department formerly resided. In the old building, if the trucks were parked just right, then you could just squeeze between them and the outside doors if you turned sideways. The old building still exists and houses the City of Casselton offices and library.

The department currently operates seven fire apparatus: a 1993 Crayl Craft-International Rescue, a 1983 Mack 2750 gallon pumper-tanker, a 1981 Mack 2700 gallon pumper-tanker, a 1964 AFE Ford pumper, a 1959 Howel Ford tanker-pumper, and a 1979 Jeep grass rig. The department's most recent purchase is a 2002 Central States-International five-man cab truck with a 1500 gpm pump and 1500 gallon water tank. The truck was delivered and put into service in September 2002 and replaced a 1970 Ford pumper-tanker.