Fires and Floods Downtown's Worst Enemy

1	Fires and Floods: Downtown’s Worst Enemy
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4	"The first meeting was held..." The first meeting was held November 10, 1893 in the Rakeshaw building, located on what is now the southeast corner of Maine and Independence. This is the location of the “Kress” building that is now a part of the Cherokee Strip Convention Center complex. Enid was settled and established as a city after the opening of the Cherokee Strip on September 16, 1893. A special election was called and a mayor and town council were selected to conduct the official business of the City of Enid, population 2,500.
5	Early Fire Protection December 28, 1893, the City Council moved that a fire warden and an assistant fire marshal be appointed at the same pay as a policeman for two weeks to look after and inspect flues, chimneys and other matters relating to the safety of the city from fires. At this first meeting, J.O. Hodges, W.T. Watson and F.P. Webster were appointed to look after fire protection and water supply for the city.
6	WATER BARRELS
7	"At the February 23" At the February 23, 1894, City Council meeting, the Councilmen accepted the $425.00 offered to the City of Enid by the Pabst Brewing Company toward buying a hook and ladder truck. The City Council named the truck, which would be owned and controlled by the City of Enid, “The Pabst Hook & Ladder Company.”
8	"The summer of 1894 was..." The summer of 1894 was especially hot and dry. Although a night watchman had been employed, people still feared that if a fire started it would get out of control before anyone could be notified. A bell was purchased to provide early warning to citizens in case of a fire. The citizens purchased this 300-pound “Fire Bell” and erected it on a wood frame support in the public square. It was located on the west side of Grand Avenue, south of Broadway, immediately west of the old Elks building.
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10	"This bell was a valuable..." This bell was a valuable asset to fire protection and was used in Enid fire stations throughout the years.
11	ENID FALLEN FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL
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15	July 12, 1901 A fire, which started in the back of a store on the 200 block of South Grand, spread rapidly to the north, south, east and west, destroying the entire south side of the city. The large brick block of Gensman Bros. to the north of the building where the fire originated, was no barrier to the flames. The fire traveled south with great rapidity. It consumed the Bee Hive restaurant building, Central Hotel, Mauldin & Son Furniture store, Pardlewit’s Meat Market, Odd Fellows Hall, Yeakey’s residence, a black smith shop and a small tenement house; clearing everything on Grand Avenue south to Cherokee Avenue. Going east, the two-story frame lodging house, owned by Unger de McKee; the warehouse of Gensman Bros., and the home of Mrs. Dina Wahr were also consumed.
16	"The fire leapt across Grand..." The fire leapt across Grand Avenue to the west, destroying the old opera house, the Satterly Bakery and the St. Joe Hotel. Mrs. Hassler’s building, occupied by the Armour Packing Co.; Hirschfeld’s sheep clothing conservatory, the Jobe restaurants, the Montezuma Hotel, the Clevenger building, the Weatherly building, and the small shack occupied by Bray’s Coming Events were all destroyed. Almost all the buildings were made of wood, so the fire spread quickly. Jake Roach saved the rest of the town by using dynamite to blow up the St. Joe Hotel and stop the fire. Only two buildings were left standing on the south side of the square, and they were damaged by the wrecking crew.
17	"The cause of the fire..." The cause of the fire might have been a spontaneous combustion of greasy rags lying among cans of furniture varnish. Enid’s only fire protection consisted of volunteers of the moment, a two-wheeled cart with 500 feet of hose and the horse drawn Pabst Blue Ribbon hook and ladder. Three days after the fire, the City Council conducted a special session for the purpose of fixing the fire limits and discussing the formation of a volunteer fire department. City Council also ruled that wooden buildings could no longer be constructed in the downtown area. Nearly all the businesses that were destroyed by the fire were back in operation within the week, mostly in makeshift tents.
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21	The Enid Fire Department The Department consisted of Driver Ike Ostendorf, Assistant Driver Homer Osburn and two paid firefighters. The men were paid $45.00 per month in City Warrants, which the local bank would not honor at times because the city had no funds available. S.J. Edmonson, a local businessman, would cash the warrants for the firefighters at a 10% discount and hold them until the city had the funds. On March 20, 1902, the City Council approved the formation of the Enid Fire Department. The city authorized twelve volunteers who were paid $2.00 for the first hour and $1.00 for each additional hour of active firefighting. S.U. Jett was Fire Chief at this time and was also a volunteer appointed by the council.
22	Changes for Enid During 1902, development of the Frisco Railroad and advances in electricity and plumbing changed the City of Enid. Enid was being recognized as the economic hub of Northwest Oklahoma because of these advancements. The City Council approved a 4 mills Fire and Water supply fund at its July 12, 1902 meeting. July 18, 1902, City Council required persons who intended to build inside the fire limits to take out a building permit that cost $2.00.
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24	The Growing Fire Department January 16, 1903 - Moved by Mr. Worchester and duly seconded that we build an addition to our Fire Station large enough to stable two horses and that the whole building be made livable and that in the rear of same item be built seven or eight bunks for the men to sleep in and further that it be made neat, attractive and home-like, that there be purchased a #1 team of horses and set of swinging harnesses, that a man who understands care of horses and fire apparatus be employed at a salary of $40 per month to stay at engine house all the time to take care of same and that this be done at once.
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27	"E.G" E.G. Stubblefield was paid $105.00 for labor on building the improved station, and Ike Ostendorf was paid his first check of $40.00 for employment at the Fire Station. In the next few months, the City Council approved a motion to place fire hydrants at the corner of each block where water mains were laid. Councilmen were given the authority to select where they would be placed within their wards. Frank Litson was paid $1,078.73 for pipe and a team of fire horses. On March 3, 1903 William Ostendorf was paid $21.00 for board of the fire team horses.
28	February 19, 1904 “The Spitting Ordinance” An ordinance prohibiting spitting in public halls and churches and providing a penalty thereof. Motion carried
29	Advancements The City Council approved to pay for one telephone at the fire station and for two at the Water Works, one for the City Clerk, one for the Chief of Police and one for the Mayor on May 20, 1904. This enabled the Fire Department to contact the Water Works in the event of a large fire and request an increase in the water system’s pressure. On October 25, 1904, the City Council directed the Fire Chief to draft the rules and regulations for the Fire Department. He was further directed to arrange a system of signals so all fires could be located by ward. In November, the City Council approved payment of the $44.94 to the Southwestern Telephone Company for the placement of fire alarms.
30	"Sam Goeffert was elected Fire..." Sam Goeffert was elected Fire Chief, L.O. Pillsbury was appointed Assistant Chief, C.V. Porter was given the position of Treasurer and G. Taylor was appointed Secretary. On June 2, 1905 City Council increased the number of volunteers to 14. The question of moving the Fire House was brought before City Council on Dec. 15, 1905. At this same meeting, L.O. Pillsbury was appointed as the new Chief of the Fire Department. Construction of the new Water Works System was now underway. This project marked a major investment for the City. Construction workers were paid $.0175 per hour, with a man and a team of horses being paid $0.35 per hour. By 1905, the need for permanent, paid officers was recognized, so on April 17, 1905, offices were appointed.
31	February 24, 1905 (Street Cars) An ordinance granting to W.L. Spencer a street car franchise in the City of Enid was now read for the first time Mr. S.W. Johnson now makes objections to the number of extra horses being fed at the Fire House at the city’s expense and makes a motion and duly seconded, that all horses be removed from the Fire House. This motion was amended by Mr. Messall and duly seconded that Policeman Bailey be allowed to keep one horse at said place. Motion carried. (Note: This must have meant all other horses other than the Fire Team.)
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33	L.O. PILLSBURY
34	"Kate was a bird-dog whose..." Kate was a bird-dog whose main duty was to accompany the apparatus to the fires and make sure no stray dogs frightened the fire horses as they raced through the streets. By January 5, 1906, City Council approved a $95.00 charge for moving the Fire House. An ordinance requiring buildings to have fire escapes, was approved by City Council on Aug. 3, 1906. The Enid Fire Department had two memorable mascots during these early years, “Kate” and “Tramp.”
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36	Condition of the Fire Department: Presented to City Council April 26, 1907 To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of the City of Enid, Gentlemen: We your committee whom was referred the matter regarding the condition of the Fire Dept. of the City of Enid with instructions to investigate the same and report such improvements as we might deem necessary, after making an investigation, very respectfully beg leave to submit the following report and recommend that same be adopted. First, we recommend that the Supply Committee of the City Council purchase 1 aerial truck, 1 steam fire engine, 1 combination chemical and hose wagon, and 2,000 feet of new fire hose. We further recommend that the City purchase or lease a lot on Broadway, west of the square, a reasonable distance from the square and erect thereon a building and equipment the same into the first class Fire Engine Dept. We further recommend that the Fire Department be reorganized and placed on a metropolitan basis; that is to say, that a number of competent men be employed, a part of which shall be on duty nights and a part of them on day duty.
37	"We also recommend the appointment..." We also recommend the appointment of the Chief and Assistant Chief. In Making the foregoing recommendations your committee beg leave to state that they have made a thorough investigation of the Fire Department of Oklahoma City and have come to the conclusion that in as much as Enid is destined to be a great city in the near future, that she can only keep stride with the times by having a first class Fire Department. It is needless to advise the council that if this report is accepted and acted upon, the price of insurance of the City of Enid will be reduced at least 35%, for the simple reason that the people will then have adequate protection in case of a serious fire. We now have a city of approximately 20,000 people and until we have a paid department of the very highest character, we feel that in case of a serious fire that under present conditions we would be unable to cope with same. A large fire at this time would undoubtedly result in hundreds of thousands of dollars lost, and the Council can by the exercise of good judgment and expenditure of a small amount of money, reorganize the department, place it on a paid basis and have one of the most up to date Fire Departments of any city in the future State of Oklahoma. We trust that this report will be accepted in the spirit in which it is offered. Very respectfully submitted, George Emrick, H.D. White and F.L. Wilkins
38	"After studying the report" After studying the report, the City Council, on August 12, 1907, approved the ordinance and voted for $25,000 of bonds to purchase fire apparatus to extinguish fires.
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46	HELMETS The stovepipe hat was the fashion of the day. Developed after the Revolutionary War period. Most of the early fire cap makers were saddlers by trade. A wreath of oak leaves placed around the crown of a fire cap signified that the wearer had saved a human life.
47	Expansion In 1908, city fathers determined it was necessary to build a new station to accommodate the growing Department. J.J. Reardin was contracted to build the new Central Station in the 200 block of S. Independence.
48	"By 1920" By 1920, the Department had grown to a strength of 18 men. The new station housed the new Gamewell Fire Alarm System. The Gamewell was the state-of-the-art fire reporting system for its time. The test board is currently on display in Oklahoma City at the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum.
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50	December 25, 1915 A frame building next to the Enid Planing Mill was totally destroyed by fire on Christmas day, 1915. Fireman Homer Osborne spotted the fire from his room over the fire station at 3:55 a.m. By the time the firemen arrived at 424 S. Independence, the building was completely destroyed. Loss was set at $1,300.
51	January 31, 1916 A fire at the First Christian Church, Adams and Kenwood Boulevard, caused $8,500 in damages. The cause was believed to be an overheated furnace in the basement of the church. Young boys would sometimes turn on the furnace when they stopped there during the winter to smoke and gamble in the basement. Firemen might have been able to gain control of the fire, had a hose not burst while the flames were at their highest point.
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54	November 13, 1919 Lowenhaupt and Dessauer lost $20,000 worth of men’s furnishings and a shipment of Stetson hats, received just before closing that was valued at $1,000. A fire, thought to have originated in the Leland Rooms, 116½ W. Randolph, caused $41,000 of damage. There were about 30 people asleep in the Leland rooms at the time of the fire. The only death was that of a large white bulldog found in room 5.
55	118 W. RANDOLPH
56	February 15, 1921 Occupants of the building were able to save most of their belongings. The neighborhood surrounding the Commerce building was a mass of furniture and office equipment during the early hours of the morning. A couple of days after the fire, Kennedy’s was able to reopen most of its departments. A fire, which broke out in a five-story building at Randolph and Grand, caused $80,000 of damage. Kennedy Mercantile and Sanford Drug were both damaged by the fire. Although the fire was contained to the roof and fifth floor, the top three floors suffered water damage.
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58	Losses included: The Rebekah Assembly suffered a loss figured at $300. Dr. C.A. D. Beer, dentist, loss $200, with no insurance. Price and Pingrley, located on the fifth floor, had $3,000 of damage. Dr. W.A. Durst, oculist, loss $2,000, fully covered by insurance. The Federal Board of Vocational Training lost about $50 in government stationery. The Fordyce Barber Shop figures its damage at $200. Mrs. M. Hollingsworth, dressmaker, estimates her loss at $200. F.W. Herndon, city attorney, lost about $200 in law books and other equipment. Mrs. Mary Hebener, dressmaker, received $500 in property damage. Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell, osteopaths, lost approximately $250 from water and breakage. Newell and Hopkins, physicians, estimate property damage at $1500, with insurance covering $1200.
59	December 8, 1927 Before his call was completed, a second alarm was turned in from a fire box. All firemen and apparatus in the city answered the call, and before morning all available city employees were enlisted as fire fighters. Loss of the property and its contents, located at 110-116 E. Randolph, was set at $190,000. A fire started at H.H. Champlin Hardware in the early morning hours of December 8, 1927. Fire Chief Roberts stated that the first alarm was received from a man believed to be the engineer on night duty at the Artic Ice and Refrigerating company.
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61	"On July 17" On July 17, 1928, the citizens of Enid passed a bond issue to build additional fire stations at the amount of $53,000. These new sub-stations enabled faster response times to fires and other emergencies.
62	I.E. Kersbergen The Department suffered a tragic training accident in 1930, which resulted in the death of I.E. Kersbergen, 33, and severe injuries to Clyde Lawter, 31. The men were using life belts and descending on a rope secured to the top of the Central Station when the rope broke. Kersbergen was an Assistant Chief with 9 years of service to the Department. This has thankfully been the Department’s only fatality.
63	January 29, 1931 The fire in the Enid Milling Co., located at the intersection of 2nd Street and Market Ave., was the first to start. The company’s elevator, holding about 20,000 bushels of grain, was burned. The company’s loss was set at $102,360. Two major fires broke out on the night of January 29, 1931. Both the Garfield County Courthouse and the Enid Milling Co. suffered enormous losses.
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65	"Loss on the Courthouse" Loss on the Courthouse, located on the Courthouse Square, was set at $70,000. The fire started in the roof of the Courthouse, directly above the 42 prisoners housed there. It was built in 1907. The upper portion of the building was made of Indian stone, and the bottom story was built of native Oklahoma granite.
66	"The Courthouse is one of..." The Courthouse is one of three big advancements made in 1907, along with the building of Phillips’ University and Oklahoma becoming a state. The first Courthouse proved too small, so another was built in 1907 after a heated election, which the rural residents claimed had been set during harvest time to keep them from voting.
67	February 25, 1936 At 1:00 the morning of February 25, 1936, a raging fire was discovered at the Long-Bell Lumber Company. Officials and firemen said the fire was started by an explosion, which blew the east front of the building into the street. Loss was set at $275,000, and Leslie Everitt, manager of the company, was certain the company would rebuild in Enid. This was the second time the Long-Bell plant had been destroyed by fire. After the first fire occurred in 1920, the company rebuilt at the same location on 210-216 E. Randolph.
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69	Changes for the Fire Department This amendment created a Fire Department Civil Service Commission. Economic conditions throughout the state began to slowly improve in the 1940s. On January 1, 1940, voters approved a $52,500 bond for the purpose of improving the Department’s fire equipment. Enid became a “home rule” city with the framing and adoption of the city charter. This allowed it to determine its own form or plan of municipal government. On May 10, 1930, at a special election by a majority vote of the people, an Amendment to the Enid City Charter was adopted.
70	Trucks from the 1940s
71	1940 American LaFrance Invader
72	September 2, 1943 The Enid High School, located at 600 W. Wabash, was badly damaged by a fire that started in the chemistry storage room 11 days before school began. Firemen had the fire out within 45 minutes of arriving, however another explosion of chemicals caused a second fire, which destroyed the third floor, roof and part of the auditorium. The entire Enid fire force of 21 men were sent to fight this fire, and 20 members of the fire fighting crew from the Enid air field aided them in the fight. This was the first time the hook and ladder equipment purchased in 1940 had been used. The building was built in 1912 and an east wing was added in 1920. Loss on the building and its contents was $160,000.
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75	October 10, 1945 The cause of the fire that destroyed the Leonhardt Lumber company yards, at 702 N. Grand, on October 10, 1945, was unknown. The fire also destroyed a nearby duplex. The firemen were able to control the fire from spreading to other nearby property because of lack of wind. Loss was set at $40,000.
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77	March 26, 1946 The Enid Milling company’s plant at 201 E. Market was damaged when fire broke out in the building at 3:00 a.m. The warehouse and portions of the old mill building were destroyed. Loss was set at $105,000.
78	May 23, 1947 By the time the hoses could be brought to 2200 E. Broadway, explosions had tumbled the east wall of the three-story building and flames were shooting through the roof. Loss was set at $57,650. The cause of the fire that destroyed Phillips’ University's ‘Old Main’ is unknown. The fire started under the auditorium stage. It was discovered at 2:56 a.m. by W.W. Rogers Jr., a student.
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80	February 16, 1950 Newman’s department store suffered $360,000 of damage during a major fire on February 16, 1950. Although the cause of the fire is unknown, firemen said it started in the basement store room. The store’s night watchman, John Wesley, called in the alarm at 3:24 a.m. The fire destroyed all of Newman’s stock.
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82	February 23, 1951 The firemen kept the fire from spreading, but were unable to save the church. The walls were the only thing left standing. The church had just completed $7,000 of repairs and remodeling. Loss of the property and contents, located right across the street from the fire station at 417 W. Maple, was set at $56,500. Arson was the cause of the fire at the First United Brethren Church on February 23, 1951. This was the third church fire in a month. All Enid firemen answered the call and a fire company from Vance came into town to guard against outbreak of other fires.
83	Feb. 8, 1952 Fifty customers evacuated the Mecca Theater close by. Firemen were able to keep the fire from spreading, and the show was only delayed for an hour. The building, located at 107 S. Grand, was not a total loss, but most of the merchandise was damaged. Loss was set at $29,480. A fire at Boles Dry Goods Co. started in the trash box at the rear of the store on Feb. 8, 1952. Ralph Bogart, advertising manager, fought the flames with buckets of water until firemen arrived. Seventeen firemen used four rigs and the aerial ladder truck to control the fire.
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86	April 9, 1954 Fires at two Enid lumber yards on April 9, 1954, were caused by arson. Police said the south wind could not have carried sparks from the Long-Bell Lumber Co. on E. Maple to the E.W. Bank Lumber Co. at 230 E. Maine. Firemen responded to the Long-Bell Lumber Co. at 7:30 p.m., and received the call about the E.W. Bank Lumber Co. at 9:20 p.m. The fire at the Bank Lumber Co. was much larger than the one at Long-Bell. National guardsmen, air police and officers from Medford and Kingfisher were called to help control the crowd forming at the Bank fire.
87	"The E.W" The E.W. Bank Lumber Co. was nearly destroyed. Loss was set at $60,000.
88	"This was the third fire..." This was the third fire for the Long-Bell Lumber Co. Loss was set at $12,000.
89	July 12, 1954 The contents of the building, in addition to the cars, parts, tools, machinery and older records, were all lost. Firemen were able to save an apartment house at 417 W. Broadway, which also caught fire after the explosion. Loss of the building at 423 W. Broadway and its contents was set at $100,000. A fire, triggered by a cleaning solvent explosion, destroyed the Stevens Buick Motor Company on July 12, 1954. The fire started at 3:40 p.m. and spread quickly. By the time firemen arrived, the building was engulfed in flames. The only thing saved from the blaze was the cash register and current records.
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92	April 15, 1955 At 4:20 a.m., April 15, 1955, Kenneth Nichols, a driver for the Checker Cab Co., reported a fire at 108 W. Randolph. The origin of the fire was unknown, but firemen said it started in the basement of the J.C. Penney Co. store. All firemen and seven units responded to this fire, while units from Blackwell and Vance Air Force Base arrived at the station for standby duty. The fire destroyed the J.C. Penney Co. building, and damaged the neighboring Montgomery Ward’s and Woolworth’s. Loss for the J.C. Penney Co. was set at $350,000.
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95	July 23, 1955 A midnight fire on July 23, 1955, broke out in the Consumers Coop. Association feed mill and destroyed most of the building’s contents. Cause of the fire was not determined, but firemen said that it began underneath the head house. The burning, five-story building let off so much smoke that residents a mile away were almost choked. Forty-one firemen and seven fire units responded to the fire, which was at 103 E. Park. After almost two hours of fighting fire, the Chief called for a 1,000-gallon pumper from Blackwell and assistance from both the Stillwater and Alva fire departments. Loss of the building and its contents was set at $83,000.
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97	April 5, 1957 The town applied emergency pressure to the water supply to aid firemen. The second floor of the agency was destroyed, along with its contents. Thirty new Pontiacs, six used cars and six cars belonging to customers were all lost. Faulty wiring near the paint room at the Richardson Pontiac-Cadillac automobile agency, started a fire that caused $38,500 of damage to the building. Don Cox called in the fire at 12:15 p.m. Minutes later, 42 firemen were on the scene at 301 N. Independence.
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100	June 19, 1959 A fire had been burning for an hour and a half at the Clinesmith furniture warehouse, 221 W. Maine, when it was discovered at 12:40 a.m. Firemen Leroy Murray and Dale Barnard were up late watching television when they heard glass breaking and saw the fire. Thirty-three firemen responded to the fire. The cause of the fire was not determined, but firemen said it originated in the northeast corner of the one-story brick building. Most of the furniture in the warehouse was damaged by water and smoke. Loss was set at $59,600.
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103	August 15, 1959 Neighboring shops, including Zale’s Jewelry, Oliver’s Shoe store and the Vogue Beauty Shop, received smoke and water damage. Firemen pumped 825,000 gallons of water on the fire, but were unable to save Down’s Pharmacy. The first floor ceiling caved in on the pharmacy, causing $76,000 of loss. All available Enid firemen and equipment reported to the fire at Down’s Pharmacy at 120 N. Independence. The fire was called in at 11:45 p.m. by Mrs. Ellen Branham, a resident of the third-floor apartments in that building. The fire caused extensive damage to several shops. Down’s and the Modern Wave Beauty Shop received the most damage.
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105	Expansion In 1960, the Enid Fire Department added a new sub-station located at 2205 West Owen K. Garriott Road.
106	November 22, 1960 A fire destroyed the Enid Foundry & Machine Shop at 902 N. Adams on November 22, 1960. The cause of the fire was not known. It was reported at 1:52 a.m. by two policemen patrolling the area. Thirty-one firemen used three trucks, including the new 1,000-gallon-pumper truck, to contain the fire. Loss of the Enid Foundry & Machine Shop was set at $70,700.
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108	January 15, 1961 A fire destroyed Skagg’s Western Auto Supply store on January 15, 1961. The cause of the fire is unknown, but firemen said it started on the second floor. The fire caused $297,000 worth of loss. The damage spread from 112 to 118 N. Independence, which included an empty building near Skagg’s, the Zales Jewelry Co., Bates Brothers Men’s Clothing store and Earnest Brothers Shoe store. Fifty-two Enid firemen sprayed water on the fire for 8 ½ hours, until the blaze was finally out.
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110	Expansion In 1962, sub-station #2 was relocated to 702 West Willow, a point farther north, to provide better protection to this rapidly growing section of the city.
111	January 23, 1969 Firemen did not know the cause of the fire at the American Legion Hall, 216-218 S. Independence, on January 23, 1969. The fire was reported at 6:15 a.m. by a postal worker, and firemen were on the scene minutes later. Sixty Enid firemen fought the fire in freezing conditions. The fire destroyed the second floor of that building, but only smoke and water damage was reported on the first floor. Two other businesses in a smaller building south of the American Legion suffered smoke and water damage. Loss was set at $75,000.
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113	March 9, 1969 Marvin Darrell Parrish, an Enid High School senior, was arrested for arson on March 10, 1969. He and another boy set fire to the 40-year-old Esquire Theater at 11 a.m. the day before, after getting the idea while walking home from Sunday school. The fire was reported about 30 minutes later, and 50 Enid firemen responded to the call. The fire destroyed the Esquire Theater and damaged the law offices of David Field and Ray North. Smoke damage was extensive along Randolph and Broadway. Loss was set at $200,000.
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115	November 4, 1970 Along with the damage to the basement and the first floor, the 12^th, 13^th and 14^th floors also suffered extensive heat damage. The first floor of the Broadway Tower, 100 E. Broadway, was ruined November 4, 1970, after a fire that caused $225,000 worth of damage. The fire was believed to have started in the basement, but the cause was not determined. Off-duty firemen were called in to help fight the fire.
116	November 13, 1972 By the time the units arrived, the fire had broken through the roof and the center section of the apartments. Firemen were able to contain the fire to two units. Those units were destroyed, and four others received damage. Loss was set at $35,000. A fire destroyed two units of the Pine Manor Apartments, 1011 S. 30^th, a week before they were scheduled to open. The cause of the fire was believed to be the heating units, which construction workers were using the night before the fire. Five units responded to the call at 2:48 a.m.
117	December 5, 1972 Firemen were able to contain the fire on December 5, 1972, to a two-story warehouse. This warehouse housed the Eisenman Chemical Co., the L&F Trucking firm, and served as storage for Atwoods farm stores and for Emrick’s Van and Storage. Because of the freezing weather, 62 firemen went out in hour-long shifts. Firemen were not able to save the warehouse, but the freezing mist helped contain the blaze. Loss was set at $141,700.
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119	Changes By 1970, the department gained 10 men, increasing in size from 53 men in 1960 to 63 men in 1970. In 1973, another change was taking place. The work-week hours were cut from 7 days a week with no day off, to 56 hours with a four day break between cycles. Throughout the years, advancements in fire protection has caused changes for the Enid Fire Department. In 1962, the use of self contained breathing apparatus and improvements in protective clothing allowed firefighters to enter areas of burning structures that had been impossible before.
120	"From it’s humble beginnings protecting..." From it’s humble beginnings protecting a “land run” community of tents and wooden structures, to its current status as protector of a modern city, the Enid Fire Department has continued to set an example for other departments within the state. Because of its history of dedicated service and a progressive spirit, no fire has been allowed to progress to the point that large areas of exposures have become involved. In over 90% of the fire calls made, the fire has been confined to the building of origin. This is an exemplary record that the Enid Fire Department will uphold and continue, in order to protect and serve the citizens of Enid.
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