Kansas Firefighters Museum

03/17/2023

Photos from Topeka Fire Department's post

03/15/2023

Photos from Rose Hill 9-11 Memorial's post

03/13/2023

Prayers from the Kansas Firefighters Museum

03/12/2023

03/09/2023

International womens day.
Ariana Kay

Congratulations to B-shift firefighter Ariana Maness for successfully completing her six month probationary period. Chief Webster presented her with her yellow helmet this morning during training. Firefighter Maness actually completed her probation back in December, but due to supply chain issues, her helmet didn’t arrive until this week.

03/09/2023

Photos from Mulvane Fire Rescue's post

03/08/2023

Topeka Fire Department
March 8, 1926
On March 8, 1926 after 6:00pm firefighter Silas Brown was killed while on duty, having fallen from an aerial truck as they were driving to a fire at 618 W. Norris. His Crew believed he had suffered a Heart attack, having heard him complain he had not been feeling well for the previous few days. He had served as a firemen for almost 25years.

03/08/2023

Donald Charles Koebel
Johnson County Consolidated Fire District #2 - March 8, 1995
On March 8, Firefighter Donald Koebel of the Johnson County Frie District #2 died when he became trapped in the basement of a house fire and ran out of air. Firefighter Koebel was part of the initial entry crew attempting to locate the seat of the fire when the floor collapsed beneath him. Heavy smoke and fire conditions prevented other firefighters from rescuing him. The fire originated in the basement of the house.
Age: 33

03/08/2023

International Women's Day a few photos of Kansas Women Firefighters

03/06/2023

Wichita’s historic former Firehouse No. 7 in Riverside to be auctioned

Wichita’s historic former Firehouse No. 7 in Riverside to be auctioned

There’s an unusual building that’s about to be auctioned in Riverside. Though it kind of looks like a house on the outside, that’s never been its use.

02/28/2023

Topeka Fire Department
February 29, 1952
Lieutenant William Frazier suffered a devastating injury on February 2, 1952, when responding to an alarm at 1034 Quincy when he fell through the pole hole at Station 3, he fell from the second story to the first and suffered a fractured skull and brain concussion he never regained consciousness he succumbed to his fall on February 29, 1952. Lieutenant Frazier was 72 years old and had served his community for 43 years.

02/28/2023

William E. Duncan February 28, 1983
Topeka-Tecumseh Fire Department Died from injuries sustained in a fall, he ruptured his abdomen falling on a SCBA bottle on the ice.

02/21/2023

Chief Jon Siemers
Clay Center Fire Department - February 21, 2010
Chief Siemers was the first to arrive at a fire alarm incident in a multiple residential occupancy at 1614 hours. The building was one block from Chief Siemers's residence and Chief Siemers walked to the scene in full turnout gear. Chief Siemers climbed to the third floor of the building and learned that the alarm was accidentally caused by cooking. Arriving firefighters ventilated the building to clear the smoke. Chief Siemers cleared the fire alarm panel, sent firefighters back to quarters, and walked back to his residence. When Chief Siemers arrived home, he complained to his wife of shoulder pain and left a family outing early because he was not feeling well. At approximately 0414 hours the next morning, firefighters and EMS responders were called to Chief Siemers's home for a medical emergency. Chief Siemers had suffered a heart attack. Firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMS responders provided ALS care and transported Chief Siemers to the hospital. Chief Siemers was pronounced dead at the hospital at 0450 hours.
Age: 44

02/16/2023

Photos from Kansas Firefighters Museum's post

02/16/2023

Photos from Kansas Firefighters Museum's post

02/16/2023

Arthur H. Connell
Leavenworth Fire Department
February 16, 1939
Firefighter Arthur Connell was Fatally injured under a falling chimney in a blaze that destroyed a garage and three other homes.

02/15/2023

Walter Robinson 2nd Black man hired WFD, he had a son who hired on the WFD after he left and a Grandson who was the First on the Hutchinson Fire Department.

02/15/2023

John W. Feldheger Leavenworth Fire Department
February 15, 1939
Firefighter Feldheger was fatally injured under falling chimney in a blaze which destroyed a garage and three other residences.

02/14/2023

Daniel F. Cool, Asst. Chief
Jefferson County Fire Department #1 - Kaw - February 14, 2016
Assistant Fire Chief Cool responded to an emergency incident on the morning of February 11th. Later that day, he attended a training meeting and collapsed suddenly from a heart attack. Chief Cool was admitted to St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, KS, where he succumbed to his injury early in the morning of February 14th. Age: 71

02/13/2023

Today we lost a Father, Grandfather and Brother. The current President of the KFFM Nick Mendoza his passing will leave a void in all that knew him, he was larger than life human being that never had a cruel thing to say, our prayers are with his sisters, brother, children , grandchildren and his companion.

02/13/2023

Ronald Blackwell, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, began his fire service career in 1970 when he joined the Air Force and was sent to their fire protection school in Rantoul, Illinois. While there, he was trained to become an aircraft firefighter and about structural firefighting. His four-year tour included assignments in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Okinawa, Japan; and Texas. He moved to Wichita in 1974. Ronnie joined the WFD in 1975 after spending sometime at Mid Continent Airport. Chief Blackwell was a front line Firefighter before he was promoted to the Fire Prevention Division and rose through the ranks, In 2001 Chief Blackwell moved to Maryland to become Deputy Chief in Prince George's County and Fire Chief. Chief Blackwell had one more stop in Maryland as the Chief of Anne Arundal County before his return to Wichita in 2007 to become the city’s 13th Fire Chief and the department's first African-American Fire Chief. Chief Blackwell retired in 2017 after 47 years in the Fire Service.

02/11/2023

Today we celebrate some of the trailblazers of the Wichita Fire, Kansas City and Topeka Fire Departments. These men made great sacrifices for their community.

02/10/2023

Frank “Roy” Dennis

Wichita Fire Department- February 10, 1912

Firefighter Frank Dennis was exposed to sub-zero temperatures at the Bitting Building Fire January 1, 1911, where he suffered from frost-bite on hands, feet and face, he also developed pneumonia. Firefighter Dennis never recovered from his injuries a year later.

02/10/2023

Chief Stanley Giles
Linn Valley Fire Department - February 10, 2010
The Linn Valley Lakes Fire Department received a mutual-aid request for a tanker (tender) to respond to a structure fire. The tanker responded from the station with one firefighter aboard. Chief Giles responded to the incident but remained at the fire station. The tanker was cancelled while responding and returned to the fire station. As the tanker backed into the fire station, Chief Giles was crushed between the moving tanker and a parked apparatus. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Age: 69

02/09/2023

Firefighter Adrian D. Montgomery February 9, 1979
Lost his life when was trapped inside a house fire at 1202 N. Emporia.

02/07/2023

(Everyone Cancer has taken Nicks earthly body but his spirit and love will continue to live on, we will still continue to foward any cards to the family so feel free to show his family all your affection. )

Card Shower for Nick Mendoza!
Nick was with the Wichita Fire Department for 35 years and retired as a Lieutenant in 2009. Shortly after retiring Nick started volunteering at the the Kansas Firefighters Museum has been serving as the Board of Directors President since 2011.
If you know Nick Mendoza then you know what a great guy he is! He has a huge heart, smile, and mustache as big as the Kansas sky. The man has never met a stranger, and treats everyone like a family.
As some of you may (or may not) know Nick has been battling stage 4 liver cancer over the past year and he could really use your support. If you could please take a little time and send Nick a card to let him know that you are thinking about him. We know he would really enjoy all the love, support, and encouragement from his friends aka family.

Please send your card to:
Nick Mendoza
Kansas Firefighters Museum
1300 S. Broadway
Wichita, KS 67211

02/07/2023

1955
William J. Scott Sr.
Pittsburg Fire Department - February 7, 1955
February 7, 1955 Captain Scott was enjoying a day off on February 7th 1955 when a
commercial fire occurred at Bob Hester's Radio and Television Shop. The phone rang
at the Scott house and William's wife Dorothy answered the phone, it was the Pittsburg
Police Department calling all off duty firefighters back to duty. William left his houseand reported for duty at the fire scene. While on scene he inhaled some of the gasses
coming from the burning television tubes and became ill. William was sent home by the
Fire Chief Walter Campbell. Captain Scott got into his car and headed for home. He
only made it to the intersection of Forrest and Broadway before he collapsed and died
behind the steering wheel.

02/05/2023

Yesterday the KFFM had visitors from KC and local plus the Wichita photo conclave who utilized the museum as a back drop for a photo shoot.

02/03/2023

Every , we believe it’s important to remember the historic Fire Station 3, that existed as an all-black station from 1882 to 1963.

Joe Douglas Jr., who was TFD’s first black fire chief, joined the fire department in 1950. He served at Station 3 until the integration of black and white firefighters in 1962, upon which he was transferred to Station 2 as several white firefighters came to Station 3. Douglas also hired the first female firefighter to TFD and retired in 1989 after a 39-year career.

In a 2009 article in Topeka Magazine, Douglas talked about what Station 3 meant to the black community in Topeka: “The camaraderie we had with the people in the area—they were family. We knew all of them. We had a candy machine and a pop machine. They all came down and we visited. We just had a good rapport down there. They were very proud of us.”

Read more about Joe Douglas Jr., Station 3 and the integration of fire department personnel here: https://issuu.com/sunflower_publishing/docs/tmsp09/60

You can also read about Station 3 from the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library here: https://tscpl.org/history/fire-station-no-3-topeka-ks-1882-1963

02/03/2023

Photos from Mulvane Fire Rescue's post

01/30/2023

AD ASTRA PER ASPERA
Happy Birthday

01/29/2023

Cliff Sanders
Caney Fire Department - January 29, 2015
Firefighter Sanders became ill and collapsed at the firehouse while responding to a grass fire call. Sanders was treated immediately at the station by fellow responders and transported to Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and then on to St. Johns Hospital in Tulsa where he died January 29th from a stroke.
Age: 55

01/29/2023

Earl S. Roberts
Winfield Fire Department
January 29, 1959
Firefighter Robert's passed away from a head injury he sustained from a fall.

01/26/2023

The Wichita Fire Department is accepting applications for future EMT and Fire academies. The department does not operate an ambulance or transport service, but rather offers EMT training for those looking to enter the department…and it’s paid training! With benefits! You can apply today at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wichita/jobs/2894018/fire-recruit-2023?keywords=Fire&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

01/22/2023

Ronnie W. Peek
Garden City Fire Department - January 22, 2015
Firefighter Peek fell ill while participating in fire department mandated air management training. He was subsequently transported to the hospital where he suffered a heart attack and passed away.
Age: 55

01/21/2023

Assistant Chief Earnest R. Prather died January 21, 1954 at house fire. He volunteered for 47 years.