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1874.
The first major fire destroys the Bates House hotel. |
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1888.
The North Parma Fire Dept. Co. is officially organized. It is
incorporated in 1889.
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1892.
The first fire hall in the Village is located in an old schoolhouse
moved from its original location. |
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1895.
The first Flatiron Block is lost to fire. |
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1897.
The Hilton Fire Dept. is begun. It is organized into
three companies: (Barnes Hose Company, E. M. Upton Engine Company, and
Rescue Hook & Ladder Company) by John E. Cooper.
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1901.
Field Day begins as a fundraiser for the department.
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1903.
A fire at the Taber hardware store destroys the first Fraser Block and
other buildings. The cause is a lamp that ignites a varnish barrel. |
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1903.
A fire destroys the Commercial Hotel. |
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1903.
The Merritt building and part of the Hilton Hotel
are destroyed in a fire. When the water in the cistern runs out, fire
fighters pump water from Salmon Creek in an attempt to douse the flames.
After the three fires of 1903 three corners of the business district are
in ruins.
 |
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1912.
A combined village/fire hall is built at 12 East Avenue.
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1914.
A fire at Bennett's Dry House fire causes $20,000 worth of
damage.
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1915.
Fire hydrants are installed in the Village, providing a
reliable water supply to fight fires
|
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1916.
George Lee is elected Fire Chief; he begins keeping records of
all fires.
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1919.
Fire guts the Multicraft building. Multicraft had produced
wooden products.
 |
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1923.
The Fire Dept. gets a new Pierce-Arrow fire truck, its first
motorized fire engine.
 |
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1923.
The fire companies are reorganized into one unit called the
Hilton Fire Dept., which was incorporated in 1928.
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1925.
The Ladies Auxiliary is organized. Note: This original charter
of the Ladies Auxiliary is on display at the Hilton Fire Hall.
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1930.
Field Day is expanded into a three day Carnival
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1936.
The department becomes the first fire dept. in Monroe County
to sponsor a volunteer ambulance service.
 |
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1940.
The Smithfield's Warehouse fire rages for over five hours.
It's believed to have been caused by hoboes in an adjacent rail car.
 |
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1945.
The department begins sponsoring Boy Scout Troop No. 99.
|
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1950.
Cora Cox becomes the first Hilton fire dispatcher, operating
out of her home.
|
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1950.
The Carnival becomes the Firemen's Fair. In recent years it is
renamed the Hilton Firemen's Carnival and it becomes a four-day event.
|
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1957.
The new fire hall is dedicated.
This interior shot of the fire hall was taken in 2002.
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1959.
The Fire Police Division of the Hilton Fire Dept. is formed to
provide traffic and crowd control at the scene of fires.
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1960.
The Western New York Firemen's Convention is held in Hilton.
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1965.
The disastrous Main Street fire destroys a large part of the
business district and kills one person.
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1973.
Hilton Fire Dept. Explorer Post No. 911 is formed. This
program, part of the Boy Scouts of America, teaches firematics, fire safety and
fire fighter training.
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1979.
Hilton Fire Dept. Marching Band is formed. "Hilton Hose
Haulers", a competitive drill team is organized.
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1979.
The dept. purchases the Hurst rescue device known as the
"Jaws of Life." This picture, taken in 2002, shows Steve Burritt, former fire chief
and 2002 fire dispatcher, with the Jaws of Life inside the Rescue and Salvage
Truck,
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1980.
Hilton Volunteer Exempt Fireman's Association, Inc. is
chartered as a social club for past and present fire fighters. In 1984 they
build the Exempt Club behind the fire hall.
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1981.
The Hilton United Methodist Church catches fire. The dept. is
able to save most of the stained glass.
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1985.
Judy Hoffman Squirrel becomes Hilton's first female dept.
member.
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1986.
The Hilton-Parma Fire District is formed in a consolidation
move designed to provide more effective service.
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