The Richardson Fire Department marked 100 years of service with a celebration. City Manager Don Magner praised the department, saying, “Your work has a direct lasting impact on the community. You protect lives. You protect property. You bring calm to chaotic situations.”
History and Growth
The department began in 1926 as a small volunteer effort with a pickup truck. It added Emergency Medical Services in the 1950s and has since grown to 179 fire personnel and five civilian staff.
Assistant Chief of Operations Gene Senter noted, “When we look back over our history, we’ve never been as busy and the city’s never been as big as it is today.”
Looking Ahead
The department is set to receive funds for a station remodel, an apparatus storage building, and the design and future construction of a new Fire Station 7 as part of the city’s 2026 bond.
Fire Chief Curtis Poovey said, “The dedicated generations of community, councils, city managers, and FD members created a full-service fire, rescue, EMS, and fire prevention agency that is rated among the top departments in this country.” The department received its Class 1 Insurance Services Office rating in 2014, the highest classification a department can receive.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Richardson — read the source article.
