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The Falmouth Fire Department history dates back to
the late 1800's. Prior to 1897, people within the villages of Falmouth
banded together and brought buckets, brooms, and other tools to the call of
fire. Efforts were disorganized and ultimately fairly ineffective in many
cases, with fires easily destroying structures and property. In 1897, the
town of Falmouth allocated $700 for a "minimal fire department."
The town purchased a hand drawn chemical unit and a hand drawn ladder unit.
Hoses and badges were also purchased. By 1899, hose reels were placed in
rented sheds in Falmouth center, Woods Hole, and West Falmouth. Also in
1899, significant development and expansion of a water department occurred.
Call fire department membership developed in each of the villages with many
prominent members of the community joining the new department. A
volunteers chief commanded the department. Companies organized in town
included: No.1 in Teaticket (1897), No.2 in East Village (1897), No.3 West
Village (1897), No.4 Quissett (1902), No.5 Woods Hole (1899), No.6 West Falmouth
(1904), No.7 Falmouth Heights (1904), No.8 East Falmouth (1907), No.9 North
Falmouth (1907), and Chem 1 Waquoit (1913). The hand drawn hose reels
were limited in response due to the large areas that were involved. In
1918, a New England Insurance Exchange study of Falmouth's fire and water
departments recommended several improvements including hiring a fulltime fire
chief, full-time firefighters, motorized fire apparatus, and other improvements.
In 1919, Ray D.Wells was hired as the first fulltime fire chief serving 36 years
as chief until 1955. The department was reorganized, companies consolidated or
eliminated, and fire stations built in the villages. Hand drawn apparatus was
retired and the department was motorized in the early 1920s.. The Falmouth Headquarters was built on Main Street in 1929. A telegraph
type fire alarm system was installed with call boxes distributed around town
providing a "modern" alarm system. In 1928, Falmouth FD
developed a "rescue squad" with a station wagon staffed by 1 fireman
and some first aid equipment. Patients could not be transported until a
doctor came to the scene. They were then transported to Wareham's Tobey
Hospital, a trip of over 30 minutes. Falmouth got its own hospital in
1962, greatly improving care for Falmouth residents. EMT training began in
1973 with the founding of the Cape's EMS system and a grant by Johnson and
Johnson Foundation. Paramedics and modern rescue equipment followed.
Fires and Incidents in Falmouth:
1947 - October - A general alarm forest fire destroyed over 1,500 acres in Beebe
Woods threatened Falmouth center.
1963 - A general alarm fire destroyed Wood Lumber Company threatening downtown
Falmouth with flying brands.
1967-1968 - An organized arson spree resulted in dozens of working fires.
A 4 month period in 1968 saw 24 working house fires. Many fires were
multiple alarm and often more than one working fire occured over night.
Most of the structures were vacant and injuries were few, but the damage and
fear was extensive.
1986 - The Mirmar Mansion on Church Street in Woods Hole was destroyed by a
multiple alarm fire.
1994 - February - The Falmouth Playhouse was destroyed by a 4 am fire. The
unoccupied landmark was 90% involved on arrival and soon collapsed. Water
supply problems and weather conditions added to the destruction of the large
wooden building. Units remained on scene for days.
Incident History
Year
Fire
EMS Total
1950
98
183
281
1960
287
387
674
1970
670
589
1,259
1975
428
930
1,358
1980
833
1,561
2,394
1985
582
800
1,382 (reflects 1/2 year / change to fiscal year)
1990
1,027
2,138
3,165
1992
1,470
1,802
3,272
1993
1,065
2,123
3,188
1994
873
2,395
3,268
1995
906
2,481
3,387
1996
1,088
2,682
3,770
1997
1,196
2,739
3,935
1998
1,237
2,858
4,095
1999
1,079
3,138
4,217
2000
4,671
2001
4,773
2002
1,522
3,913
5,435
2003
5,485
2004 5,342
2005 5,455
2006
5,544
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