Carolyn G. Goodman Mayor at City of Las Vegas | Official website
Carolyn G. Goodman Mayor at City of Las Vegas | Official website
The Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department (LVFR) celebrates 82 years since its first full-time fire chief was hired on August 1, 1942. The milestone marks the department's transition from a volunteer-based organization to a fully staffed professional entity.
In August 1942, LVFR secured a $20,600 loan from the State Board of Finance to hire its first full-time fire chief. Three months later, on November 1, 1942, twelve full-time firefighters were brought on board. Prior to this, the department relied solely on volunteers.
Historical milestones for LVFR include:
- On June 6, 1905, Las Vegas experienced its first fire when four buildings burned.
- In 1942, the department had only twelve firefighters; today it employs 745 individuals.
- During the early years, Dalmatians and horses were part of the team. The dogs helped calm the horses that pulled fire engines.
- In 1946, LVFR responded to 481 calls; now it handles over 100,000 emergency and non-emergency calls annually.
- On July 1, 1963, James Edward Walker and Monroe Williams became the department’s first African American firefighters.
- By 1968, LVFR operated seven fire stations; today it has expanded to twenty-one stations.
- On December 9, 1973, a program was initiated ensuring an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) accompanies firefighters on every rescue call. This practice continues with dual-trained firefighter/paramedics.
- On November 21, 1980, a significant fire at the MGM Grand hotel-casino saw LVFR respond with substantial resources. This incident led to state legislation requiring fire sprinklers in taller buildings.
- On December 30, 1982, construction began on a new headquarters at Fire Station No.1 located at North Casino Center Blvd.
- On April 22, 1985, Ellen Goldsmith, Linda Curtin and Diane Moyes were hired as the department’s first female firefighters. Moyes later became its first female battalion chief. Today Ashanti Gray serves as assistant fire chief.
- Following September 11th attacks in New York City in October of that year seven LVFR firefighters assisted with funerals for fallen New York firefighters.
Additionally:
Today’s LVFR operations include twenty-one paramedic engine companies six ladder truck companies twenty-four paramedic rescue units technical rescue hazardous materials mobile command arson investigations community’s dispatch center Southern Nevada’s only bomb squad unit
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