Skip to content

The Yorkton Fire Department - an interesting piece of history

By Craig Baird For any community in the early-20th century, one of the greatest dangers is fire. One small fire can grow in size until it is threatening the entire community.
GS201410309249987AR.jpg

By Craig Baird

For any community in the early-20th century, one of the greatest dangers is fire. One small fire can grow in size until it is threatening the entire community. For Yorkton, fire was an ever present danger and it was for that reason on Oct. 9, 1900 that the Yorkton Volunteer Fire Brigade was created by an act of Town Council.

A bucket brigade was formed but equipment was minimal. The town, though, rallied behind the brigade and by the Nov. 1 meeting, there were four new members and a grant of $100 from the town to maintain the service.

The first chief was Bob Lock and it was not long before the organization was fighting fires in the community. The first fire they responded to was at the Reverend George Steed's house, when the fire chief saw fire coming out of the chimney. Using two three-gallon fire extinguishers, the crew extinguished the blaze.

The town decided to do a bit more for the brigade by offering two dollars to any man in town with a team of horses or wagon who would carry extinguishers to the fire. From this point on, the fire brigade continued to improve steadily.

At the council meeting held on Sept. 21, 1901, the brigade was given another $100 and 12 helmets were purchased. On Oct. 3, the brigade bought a steel triangle to call volunteers to fires.

The brigade then asked council for a ladder truck and a vehicle to use to get to fires. They also asked that a bylaw be created to charge people a fee to put out fires in chimneys.

In 1904, the brigade asked for firemen's axes and a screen for straining gasoline. In 1905, council agreed to place two crossings at Fifth Ave and Smith Street to allow the fire engine to get closer to the underground reservoir. A large fire bell was also purchased to alert members of fires in the community. One bell was purchase but it cracked soon after. The cracked bell did not work too well for alerting volunteers about fires and another bell was purchased.

By 1910, the brigade had a horse-drawn chemical engine, with two 45-gallon tanks and a one-cylinder gasoline engine. There were three ladders and 500 feet of hose that were used.

From those early years, the fire department continued to improve but despite all the changes the purpose never changed.

They are still there to fight fires and keep Yorkton safe.