Early in 1948 the Fulton Fire Department began operation, holding their meetings in the
school building on the corner of Third and Cactus Streets. Their first fire truck was a 1937 Ford
and they built a stall next to the Bus Barn so they
would have a place to park it. Two local carpenters and boat builders, Dick Simpson and Jim
Berber, helped the men of Fulton using left over
lumber from the school building they had been
working on. They later added a small room as an
office and meeting room.
The first Fire Chief was Bill Wendell who was
assisted by Harry Wilson as Assistant Fire Chief.
There were only two Fire Phones at this time,
both in the homes of Fire Chief Wendell and Assistant Chief Wilson. When a fire was called in
they would have to go to the Fire Station in order
to set off the alarm. It would be later that some
of the Fulton businesses would also be equipped
with fire phones.
The new Fulton Firemen at this time were young
boys, still in high school and men with young
families. It wasn’t easy for them; some even having to leave their jobs to fight the fires and then
returning back to work afterword, but by working
together and filling in for each other, they managed to get the job done. These dedicated men
were a tough, hard-working group of individuals
who gave their all to protect the residents of their
community.
donation came from the Fulton Lions Club and
the new Fire Station was completed with Robbie
Cole, Sr., living there as a caretaker.
The people of Fulton pitched in to help the new
Fire Department and in 1952 the first fundraiser
was held. The ladies of Fulton had a Fried Chicken Dinner at the school building and the amount
of $231.62 was raised. It was a struggle for the
Fulton Fire Department, both physically and financially, but with help from the community they
held it together. In 1957 they began building a
Fire Station on the corner of Seventh and Cactus
Streets. Maurice Cochran, a local businessman,
sent out letters to the residents and homeowners of Fulton asking for donations. The first large
their first emergency wagon – an old hear ͔