During the Christmas holidays of 1902, the City of Wharton was practically destroyed by fire. Several blocks were completely gutted. The fire originated in a restaurant. With a strong North wind blowing at the time, the fire jumped across Milam Street at the corner where Wharton Drug Company is located, burning the entire block down. The fire raced and wiped out all of the buildings facing Polk Street. The Black Stone Hotel was saved. Losses ran into the thousand of dollars, with very little insurance. There was a volunteer fire department in the city, with one two-wheel cart and a bucket brigade. Following the fire, mayor Dennis immediately called the Alderman into session and passed laws forbidding the erection of wooden frame buildings within a certain area downtown. This was the start of fire and building ordinances in Wharton. 

On March 2, 1903, Mayor Dennis was authorized to call a mass meeting for the purpose of discussing the purchase of fire fighting equipment.  On August 3, an election was held and the citizens approved a $15,000.00 bond issue.  This money was used to provide a water supply and fire fighting equipment.  The fire equipment and water works became a reality in 1906.  on December 16,1906, the Wharton Volunteer Fire Department was chartered with the city of Wharton with G.M. Sexton presiding as the first fire chief.  On July 18,1910, the city appointed the first fire marshal. At this time, alarms were sounded on a fire bell. In1913 the first motorized firefighting apparatus was obtained, and in 1923 a model t pumper was purchased. In 1927 a 600-gallon per minute American La France pumper was authorized for purchase. By this time the city was well on it’s way to providing the best fire protection to the citizens of Wharton, a practice still in existence today.

Through the years the addition of equipment has included a 1934 hose wagon, a 1945 Sea grave pumper, a 1951 Mack pumper, a 1955 ford pumper with a 35 foot aerial ladder, a 1958 Dodge booster truck, and a 1963 equipment carrier. Today our firefighting apparatus includes 1999 American La France Eagle 1250 GPM pumper, 1993 Ford grass unit, 1993 International Super Vac Rescue unit,1993International 3000 gallon water tanker with 500 GPM pum, 1999 Chevrolet Chiefs vehicle, 2001-16 foot Rescue utility trailer, a 1981 American La France 75 foot aerial ladder with a 1500 gpm pump, and two 1989 FMC 1250 gpm pumpers.

The original fire station was located on the corner of Richmond Road and West Caney Street, where the PV Ranch office building is located today. The fire station was relocated behind the City Hall building where there were five stalls to house the firefighting apparatus. The firemen held regular meetings in the stalls where the fire equipment was kept. In the early ‘50’s, the department was granted permission to use the opera stage and auditorium located where the police department and council chambers are today. In November 1961 the meetings were moved to the council chambers in city hall. The fire department outgrew the old five stall fire station, and in 1969 the city built a mew ten stall station currently in use today. The department campaigned to pass a 1% sales tax that would fund the new building. The proposed station bids came in higher then expected, and two of the stalls were to be cut from the plans, but the firemen pitched in and saved a considerable sum by installing all of the electrical Work under the supervision of Fire marshal Donald B. Barbee. The fireman did the majority of the concrete work as well as the painting at the station. The amount saved allowed the additional two stalls to be built. At the time the station was built, a lot of people felt that it foolish to build such a big station, but today with the current equipment, we are overflowing again.

WHARTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
319 N. Fulton St
Wharton, Texas 77488
(979) 532-4811 ext. 601 or 602
Fax  (979) 282-2199
Email: info@whartonfire.com