several fires, one of which destroyed sixteen businesses along Main Street. The original

department had twenty-three volunteers and two hose carts. In the summer of 1889,

nearly the entire downtown area burned to the ground including two of the three fire

stations. By the end of that year, a paid department was established with twenty-five

members, new horse drawn steam pumpers and an annual budget of $33,000.

The first significant fire in Spokane occurred on the night of January 19, 1883. The

temperature was a frigid twenty-six degrees below zero. The blaze began in the store of

F. R. Moore and Co. on the southeast corner of Howard and Front. Pistol shots sounded

the alarm but a hastily formed bucket brigade proved insignificant and the fire quickly

burned south to the alley, consuming half a city block containing five businesses. This

disaster prompted owners to rebuild in brick, but few others followed their example and

Spokane continued to grow as an unmanaged hodgepodge of brick and wood. An ensuing

period of good luck allayed citizens' fears and the fire protection issue was set aside.

was held at the Star skating rink. Elections were held in December. This time Frank

money to build improved water works and on October 1, 1884, Spokane Falls' first

blue fatigue caps. Included in the holiday events was the first hose cart race in Spokane

firefighting into serious business, revealing the need for changes. On August 16, 1888, a

Some common words found in the essay are:
Fire Department, Front Pistol, Spokane Falls, Chief Engineer, Main Street, Eugene Hyde, Brown's Body, Columbia Comets, Fourth July, Berg Turner, fire department, city council, spokane falls, chief engineer, hose cart, hook ladder company, hose company, hose house, hose carts, volunteer fire, frank dallam, volunteer fire department, tiger hook ladder, annual firemen's ball, businesses main street,
Approximate Word count = 1717
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)