“To serve and protect our community through education, prevention, preparedness and response.”[2] In 1872 Fort Worth was incorporated by the Texas Legislature.

Three years later a Silsby steam engine was purchased for the sum of $6,250 and the city soon realized that it need a reliable source of water for fire fighting.

The city also installed an electric fire alarm system, the first ever in Texas, and 11 Gamewell pull boxes.

There only one fatality, an Englishman named Al Hayne, who perished after rescuing several people from the fire.

[3] 1904 saw the beginning of the tradition of Fort Worth Fire Department apparatus being painted white.

The pumper was in poor shape, and with the city unwilling to provide funding, the men raised the money themselves.

When the members of the company returned, they found the wagon painted white with the trim and lettering in gold.

[5] The fire burned out of control until it came to the natural barrier created by the Texas and Pacific Railroad's locomotive roundhouse, shops, and yard.

When the fire was finally put out, more than 26 square blocks and 290 structures, including the Texas and Pacific station, were destroyed.

A new downtown headquarters and signal station at 1000 Cherry Street, designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick, began operation in December of 1930.

The union began pressing for a minimum wage law and in 1937 the Texas legislature passed the desired legislation.

During WWII, Fort Worth had difficulty replacing its older fire apparatus as the military had preference for all heavy equipment purchases.

In 1947, the Texas Legislature passed a civil service act requiring police and fire departments to implement a competitive promotion system.

The department also formed its dive team in 1961, using SCUBA techniques modeled after those used by famed French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.

Initially criticized, the training center proved to be a great success and was studied by cities nationwide.