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Rogers Hose Company #1 gathers for a hose drill, circa 1890s. |
The Rogers Fire Department was organized in 1888 as the all-volunteer Rogers Hose Company. They used a hand-pulled two-wheel hose cart until the 1910s. "Old Huldah," the power pumper fire truck bought in 1919, served for 36 years. In 1922 the organization became the Rogers Fire Department (RFD) and part of the city. Dr. George Love served as the first chief, and Frank Jacobs was the only full-time paid fireman until 1946.
The 1950s and 60s brought the purchase of new trucks and a water rescue boat and the expansion of facilities at City Hall. The 1960s were also a time of transition from a primarily
volunteer to a primarily paid professional organization.
Since that time, the RFD has assumed ambulance service responsibilities, constructed four fire stations, and established a hazardous materials response team, a fire investigation team, a technical rescue team, and a community interaction group. A new 18,000-square-foot main fire station was constructed and opened in 1998. The RFD currently has 45 paid and six volunteer staff.