History of the Fire
Department
The City of Prairie du Chien was
incorporated in 1872, and the Fire Department was created by
ordinance in 1873. There were four fire companies, the
boundaries of which followed the city wards for the most part.
The Phoenix #1 Company, the largest company, served the second
and third wards and was reputed to get the best of everything.
Company #1 was assisted by the Cataract #2 Company which was
made up of all young men and was sometimes called Assistant #2.
Aetna #3 Company served the lower town or 1st Ward. The Badger
Company #4 served the 4th Ward, which was all on St. Feriole
Island at the time, and it was said to have the best esprit de
corps.
In 1903, the City Council went
from a volunteer to a paid force which reduced the size of the
Department to 32 firefighters but that lasted only a year, when
the department became an all volunteer force again. The Fire
Department maintained the four companies until 1930, when they
merged to form one City Fire Department.
In 1946, the City created the
Police and Fire Commission [link to Police and Fire Commission
description and members], a board of five members appointed by
the Mayor to serve 5 year terms. The Police and Fire Commission
duties are to hire the Fire Chief, Police Chief, and their
subordinates and to mediate any disciplinary problems in either
department.
In 1976, the City hired its first
full time Fire Chief to over see the operation of the Department
and perform all required fire prevention inspections. (history
provided by Mary Ann Stemper)
Chapter 5, Fire Department
Ordinance
Click here to download this pdf document.
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