History of the Arlington Fire Department

03/31/2025

Never forget.

March 31, 1951 - LODD
Firefighter Champ Clark Barnes, 54
Arlington Fire Department. Arlington, TX
Champ Clark Barnes, second oldest member of the Arlington Fire Department, died in the service of the Department at 7:45 PM, on March 31, 1951. While working at the scene of a fire in a residential duplex, the ceiling gave way under all the weight from water, and collapsed on Barnes. He was taken out of the home and tended to by first aid firefighters. Barnes said he was feeling good, but later after returning to the station, he took a turn for the worst. He passed away as he would have liked, helping to save the property of others while doing service to his fellow man.

09/04/2024

George Franklin Renfro went peacefully to his eternal home on Friday August 16th, 2024 at 11:15am at the age of 85. He had stage 4 cancer that was diagnosed only two weeks prior to his passing. George had not been in any pain but we all know he was a fighter. He knew before any of us that it was his time to be with the Lord. George was born on August 26th, 1938. He served the community as an Arlington firefighter for 28 years and served in the army for 4 years. He was a father, son, grandfather, and friend to many who knew him.

George was preceded in death by his eldest daughter Pamela Louise Renfro Woody. He was survived by his soulmate and spouse Carolyn Sue Renfro, his son Charles Franklin Renfro, and his youngest daughter, Ruby Elizabeth Renfro Mosier. As well as many grandkids, great grandkids, and many loving friends.

Services will be held for family at the Crossroads church off of 360 in Grand Prairie on September 8th, 2024 at 1:30pm. A service will be held at the Dallas- Fort Worth National Cemetery on September 20th, 2024 at 3:00pm. And an additional memorial for friends will be held at the Elks lodge in Arlington on September 29th at 1:30pm.

John 11:25-26: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

07/30/2024

Yesterday was the final chapter of Fire Station No. 8. B Shift moved out to outlying stations to make way to demo the old station that opened its doors in 1978. Task Force 8 has seen hundreds of firefighters call her home over its 46 years. The last crews to work in her halls were:

A Shift:
Capt Ryan Shepard #475
Lt Jason Horne #566
AO Kevin Pittmon #703
AO Josh Berkley #769
AO Tyler Franklin #897
FF Gus Salcido #839
FF Bradley Wells #910
FF Nathan Pool #915
FF Jordan Hettinger #1002

B Shift:
Capt Phillip Tucker #603
Lt Darren Henken #501
AO Johnny Arrington #709
AO Brian Draganic #729
AO Chase Ganchow #814
FF Shane Coulston #793
FF Cameron Pullar-Knight #893
FF Hunter Livingston #932
FF Douglas Rush #976
FF Jonathan Carrillo #1000

C Shift:
Capt Eddy Saldivar #439
Lt Mike Joiner #547
AO Robert Green #678
AO Travis Meiners #765
AO Eric Mason #768
FF Dylan Hogg #843
FF Ethan Kelly #901
FF Tyler Voss #929
FF Pedro Melendez #930

As bad luck would have it, just before shift change at 06:30 a two story apartment fire came in with fire through the roof in 8s district. Units arrived on quickly and brought the fire under control.

What are some of your favorite stories of Station No. 8?

03/16/2024

Retiree Breakfast

Lowest ID: George Renfro #32
Longest Tenure: Doug Mullins 40 years
78 Retirees
Combined total of 2,202 years of service.

Attendees:
Thomas Harvey #260
John Robertson #496
Scott Wallace #365
Bob Bennett #71
Paul Tate #130
Curtis Dunn #134
Brian Cudaback #169
Mike Guadagnolo #258
Randy Gore #56
Nelson Holland #45
Don Hartz #151
Charles Wright #39
Randy Fulton #421
Steve Berry #274
Bill Villars #86
Don Coker #76
Rodney Smith #397
David Houston #358
Dennis Ault #342
Don Gibson #190
Don Meadows #287
Eddy ‘Catfish’ Spurgin #330
Ray Taylor #244
Mark Griffin #349
Kirk Turner #332
Mark Gist #346
Leonard Pittman #68
Paul Szurek #129
Rick Patterson #266
David Jasper #282
Terry Webb #101
Steve Voltman #333
Ric Vinson #177
Neal Strasser #146
Steve Dearman #315
Ron Hale #344
Steve Britt #312
Bill Shanklin #52
Randal Flamik #351
Kevin Lopez #552
Joey Reed #201
Robin Brown #411
David Kannonberg #448
Jamie Johnson #170
Chad Chadwick #275
Mike ‘Stumpy’ Lowe # 107
Pat English #227
George Renfro #32
Randy Ingram #110
Pat Hunter #93
Burney Basket #181
Alan Kassen #319
Kyle Burns #550
James Strickland #207
Ron Marks #286
Steve Bean #122
Ray Richardson #290
Kitt Woody #371
Burt Gross #280
Jeff Holloway #147
Randy Schmelz #292
Mark Campbell #168
Mark Maginnis #354
Tracey Casburn #222
Bobby Gutierrez #259
Doug Mullins #255
Marvin Shafer #242
Charlie Robinson #174
David Carroll #185
Norm Phillips #200
Terry Gray #92
Bill Hindmarsh #233
Larry Brawner #109
Rick Patterson #288
Paul Brewer #80
Richard Nash #214
Jim Cross #390
Andy Neylon #407

02/27/2024

How many people can you name?

02/11/2024

In 1920, the Arlington Fire Department purchased its first motorized fire apparatus. The truck was a Ford Model T Chemical Truck. This was a great improvement from the hand pulled carts that the department had until then.

02/08/2024

After World War I, the fire department with all its volunteers and equipment was placed under the authority of the City Marshal, who would serve as the fire chief. In 1919, Jim Coke became the first city marshal to serve as fire chief.

02/05/2024

The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company mapped Arlington a few times over the years. The company would come through and catalog the city's businesses, utilities, and fire department resources. In 1911, they mapped Arlington and documented the fire department's equipment. Housed behind a jewelry store and office at Center St. and Main St, the department's fleet included 1 Hook and Ladder cart with 75 feet of ladders with 2 Hose carts with 500 feet of standard 2 1/2" hose.

02/03/2024

In 1910, Hugh M. Moore opened his business and became the Undertaker for Arlington. His business would eventually become Moore and Sons Funeral Home. They were the first ambulance company to service the city of Arlington.

02/01/2024

Another fire of major proportions hits Arlington on March 10, 1909. This is the oldest known picture of the Arlington Fire Department. The Journal reported on the fire:
Arlington Has $16,000 Fire
There was little insurance on the three buildings which burned. The Fire Company did good work and the Carlisle Military boys helped. Three men were hurt, one seriously. At 9:00 am the fire was discovered in the rear upstairs room of the Home Cafe conducted by C.J. Tomlin and son, Frank.
The flames burned with rapid fury and within a few minutes were eating their way out of the rear windows through to the roof.
The fire whistle sounded promptly and the volunteer Fire Department responded with alacrity. Within a few minutes two streams of water were pouring into the flames but it was soon evident that the fire was too far gone to do anything but contain it. There was barely enough line to run across the street.
A large crowd of over 2,000 people gathered. In fact the school children had become so demoralized that they broke from school to come and watch in spite of the teachers' and the principal's admonitions to stay.
In the early part of the fire, a telephone message was sent to Fort Worth that a great conflagration was imminent. In about a half hour after the phone message was received, firemen with fire fighting machines reached Arlington, but too late to render help. An interurban furnished a flat car and fast motor had made a lightening speed trip over here. It is said they made the run in fifteen minutes after they left Fort Worth city limits. A bucket brigade also helped in every way possible.

01/30/2024

In the cold month of January 1909, the North Side School caught fire. Described by a local newspaper:
"The North Side School was burned to the ground. A defective flue was thought to be the cause. Many books and all apparatus were lost. Many residents were saved due to the Volunteer Fire Department and neighbors who swept embers off of adjacent roofs before they could ignite. The firemen asked the people not to remove their belongings from adjacent buildings as they had found from past experiences, this had proven to be more costly in damage.
The school was to be rebuilt."

01/29/2024

Photos from the Chad Chadwick Collection.

If you have pictures or videos from your time at the Arlington Fire Department, I would be happy to digitize them for you, and share them with everyone.