The Hailey Fire Department is celebrating 125 years of service this summer with free Fourth of July hotdogs and a street dance in August. Hailey's fire department is older than Boise's and one of the oldest in Idaho.
"Neighbors helping neighbors since 1884," is the department's motto and marks the founding of Hailey Hose Company No. 1 in 1884 after the "first conflagration" in downtown Hailey destroyed two city blocks.
"If you had a dirty chimney back then you'd be fined $5, which was a lot of money at that time," said Fire Chief Mike Chapman.
In 1889 a second conflagration consumed four city blocks in the downtown. Chapman said only two buildings survived.
"Following that fire, the city decided to build a hydrant system and required buildings to be built of brick in the downtown four-block area," he said.
It is impossible to say how many fires were averted by the fire department in the last 125 years, but Chapman said his firefighters respond to 12 structure and about 450 other emergency calls per year.
"When I got started 40 years ago we wore hip boots, a turnout coat and leather gloves," said 14-year department veteran Jim Herbert. "Now we have apparel that will protect people at 350 to 400 degrees. As a result, some firefighters will often remain in places they shouldn't be."
In April, the Hailey City Council called for a meeting of south county fire departments and emergency medical service agencies to analyze the efficiency of emergency responses in the area. The meeting, which will take place in August, could be the first step toward a consolidation of county and city services to save money.
Hailey hopes that Wood River Fire and Rescue, the Blaine County Ambulance District and the cities of Hailey, Bellevue and Carey will chip in for an independent study of the costs and benefits of the existing emergency services in the south county.
"We are going to the summit meeting with a blank piece of paper," Chapman said. "We will see where efficiencies may be found, and how we can change our approach."
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
