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Welcome to the Tucson Fire Department Archive!
This section contains photographs, official reports, articles and other information documenting the growth of firefighting in Tucson, Arizona.
In 1881, residents of the our hardscrabble, Old West town were protected by a loosely organized bucket brigade – local men equipped with little more than rubber buckets, axes and shovels. Over the years, the department would grow to include simple, hand-drawn hook-and-ladder equipment; rugged, horse-drawn engines; and eventually, motorized trucks.A group effort
Information in these archives has been arranged by subject, or in chronological order. Documents were collected, organized and entered into a computerized database by Al Ring, a Tucson historian and friend of the department; with assistance from Dave Ridings, a retired Tucson Fire assistant chief. We would also like to thank the Greater Tucson Fire Foundation, and the many friends and fellow firefighters who made this project possible. Tucson Fire Department Archives, circa 1928
Throughout most of history, the life of a firefighter has been closely associated with the ringing of a bell. As he began his hours of duty, the bell started the shift. Throughout the day and night, each alarm was sounded by a bell, calling him to fight fire and to place his life in jeopardy for the good of his fellow man. And when the fire was out, the bell rang out three times to signal that the incident had concluded.