Nashville’s fire department was established as a volunteer organization in May 1807 and became a paid organization on July 24, 1860, with John S. Dashiell as the first chief. Nashville’s first motorized fire engine was installed in 1912. The Emergency Medical Services Division was created on November 1, 1974. The fire department put out fires, and funeral homes provided ambulances until then. Now, all firefighters are cross-trained as EMTs and paramedics. In the late 1860s, the city bought three steam fire engines. One of them was drawn by a four-wheeler, and three-wheelers drew the others. Each company had five men and three runners. The runner was only required to devote part of his time to the service. While they had to report a fire and remain there until the fire was extinguished, he could work at his regular trade all day. Firefighters slept at the fire stations at night, reporting to the officers in charge by 9:00 PM and responding to all fires until 5:00 AM. The first fire station, also known as Nashville’s ‘fire hall, ‘ was established on October 1, 1914. James Yeaman, Nashville’s first municipal architect, designed the house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the Nashville Fire Department is one of the top 20 fire departments in the country. The Nashville Fire Department provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. As a whole, Davidson County covers 526 square miles, which includes both high-density urban areas and wildland interface sub-areas. Every year, the department responds to more than 100,000 emergency calls, with many of them requiring extra-alarm response and multiple resources in over 650 high-rise buildings under its jurisdiction.
Below are some stunning historical photos of Nashville’s fire station from the late 1940s.
