125 Years of Mesa Fire & Medical

MESA FIRE AND MEDICAL 125-Year Anniversary

125 YEARS Of Dedicated Service

The Mesa Fire and Medical Department is celebrating our 125th Anniversary in 2023 Many changes have taken place at MFMD since our founding in 1898 In the beginning, just a few men volunteered to protect the one square mile of the City of Mesa (Country Club to Mesa Drive/University to Broadway Roads). Today, our city spans 139 square miles, and we have 500 sworn firefighters - men and women - who respond to emergencies from 21 fire stations, with a 22nd station breaking ground this year

The role of our Fire Department has also expanded beyond just fighting fires Today, as an all-hazards department, we receive approximately 70,000 calls per year and respond to a wide range of emergency incidents Additionally, we provide emergency medical response and transport services, operate a regional 9-1-1 fire dispatch center, deliver home safety and fire prevention education programs, conduct building inspections and fire investigations, and much more

PAST TO PRESENT

Mesa was settled in 1878 and incorporated as a town in July 1883 The community’s first major fire occurred on October 21, 1898 Following this incident, on November 1, 1898, the City Council appointed Mayor D. LeBaron as Fire Warden and proposed new fire ordinances that included a ban on wooden buildings and bonfires. This was the start of the Mesa Fire Department

As Mesa has grown, more resources have been needed to protect the growing community Over the past 125 years the department has expanded exponentially to add stations, firefighters, equipment, and services Our department officially began providing emergency medical services in 1976 when our first paramedic rescue unit went into service. Other services were also added as the need became clear, including HazMat and Technical Rescue teams to support more complex calls, and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting at Williams Gateway and Falcon Field airports We have also seen great advancement in technology and innovation: from computerizing data and business operations in the late 1980’s, to evolving fire suppression tactics and advancements in protective gear, apparatus, and other equipment

Today, our full-service, all-hazards response model allows our organization to provide the highest level of emergency medical care, fire suppression, rescue, and emergency transportation to the residents of Mesa Our fire and rescue operations are based on state-ofthe-industry training and education, focusing on minimizing life and property loss and firefighter safety We operate special teams for Hazardous Materials (HazMat), Technical Rescues (TRT), Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Wildland; and are proud to be a member of the largest regional automatic aide response system in the nation. Additionally, our Fire Prevention and Community Outreach divisions directly support suppression efforts through inspection and education programs designed to prevent fires and other dangers before they occur

HISTORY

1898

Mesa's first big fire occurred, burning an entire block of stores on the south side of Main Street A volunteer fire department was organized shortly after.

Population 740 1 square mile

1919

The department's first motorized Fire Engine was acquired, replacing the horse-drawn wagon It was a 6 cylinder, 500 gpm, Seagrave Triple Combination Fire Truck purchased used from Phoenix Fire.

1920

1921

The town paid volunteers $100 per call and paid for 2 drills per month.

Station 1 built - 45 N MacDonald

1940

Population 7,224

2.35 square miles

1950

Station 2

1105 E Second Ave

1957

Fire stations 2 and 3 built

Station 3 1340 W University Dr

NMesa grew slowly until after the Second World War In 1950, the city was just over six square miles in area, had 1 traffic light, and had a population of almost 17,000. By now, the department had six firefighters and answered approximately 200 calls per year

1958

The telephone number for reporting fires was WO 4-3333 and WO 4-5603 for non-fire calls All calls were answered by a firefighter at the N MacDonald fire station Dispatch wouldn't move to its own location until 1975

1960

Population 33,772

1490 square miles

43 members in department

1963

Station 1 and Training Academy built at 13 W First St (Moved from N MacDonald)

1969

Fire Prevention office opened Jack Brimhall, Fire Marshall and Murray Hardy, Fire Inspector both completed fire investigations

1970

Station 4 built - 1311 S Alma School Rd

Approx cost, $114,000

1976

Work uniforms changed from white coveralls to blue work uniform

First Fire Paramedics added - one per shift assigned to the rescue unit The first dispatch for the medic was on June 22, 1976

The first department EMS Coordinator was added (Ed Matteson), marking the beginning of the EMS Division

1979

Battalion 2 added. B1 and B2 were divided by Stapley Drive

1982

Implementation of Incident Command System to support interagency emergency communication

1980

Population 152,453

66 square miles

150 members in department

Annual call volume: 8,500

1983

The first female firefighters, Mary Damiani and Gigi White, were hired July 25, 1983.

1988

Beginning of ARFF support at Williams Field

Assumed full ARFF duties after the AFB closed and the airport opened in 1994

1988

All business premise information was computerized by mid-1988

1995

Adopted the valley wide numbering system 200 series: 200-229

Automatic Aid begins between Apache Junction, Gilbert, and Mesa

Battalion 3 added at Station 208 Gilbert Rd divided B1 from B2 & B3

1996

Honor Guard formed - serving at ceremonial functions including funeral services and memorial events for fallen firefighters

1998

First "in-house" Medical Director (Dr Toni Brophy)

Prior to this, MFMD fell under the medical direction of Banner Baywood Medical Center (BBMC) and Banner Desert Medical Center (BDMC).

Paramedics were divided between the two facilities, depending on their last names; A-M was under BDMC and N-Z was under BBMC

1998

Fire & Life Safety division (currently Community Outreach) formally formed with the goal to reduce preventable risks in the community through education and awareness campaigns designed to improve fire and personal safety The Connector Program was formed at the same time

1999

Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system including Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) went into service

2000

Population 396,375

125 square miles

386 members in department

Annual call volume: 45,000

2001

Accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). Currently reaccredited through 2027.

2001

Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) implemented to support effective response to mass casualty incidents

2003

Wildland Team established as a resource for Arizona and out-of-state deployments

2003

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) launched

2005

Transitioned from VHF to 800 MHz Radio System supporting reliable communications over a greater distance

2005

Added 2 Squad Units to support a regional special team response model

2008

East Deputy position instated as part of a regional response for major incidents

2010

Electronic Patient Care Reporting (ePCR) deployed replacing paper forms

2010

The Mesa Regional Dispatcher Center (MRDC) became a secondary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the Maricopa Region on July 1, 2010 The MRDC dispatches for 5 local fire departments handling approximately 400 calls a day, and answering over 200,000 emergency and non-emergency calls a year Highly trained dispatchers efficiently gather call details and deploy the proper resources to all 9-1-1 calls for service.

2012

Name Change to add "Medical" becoming Mesa Fire and Medical Department

2018

In-house Ambulance Transportation Program started (first as pilot) - First MFMD ambo response 5/7/2018 7:56am

2014

Received $12M grant awarded by Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) (9/2014 - 8/2017) The Community Care Response initiative pilot program resulting from the grant provided enhanced 9-1-1 response for medical (NP/PA), mental health, and social services

2018

Peer Support Team officially formed The team provides support and resources to members and their families as they navigate the stresses of work and life The team includes trained department members, professional staff, and even therapy dog Mouse; all of these resources are designed to aid our peers in a time of need

2020

Added Battalion 4

2020

Carcinogen Reduction Protocol implemented in support of member health Measures include: washdown buckets, clean cabs, rehab improvements, targeted education, and enhanced cancer screenings

2020

MFMD' quickly responded during the COVID-19 pandemic was front-line medical providers During this time we put our Emergency Management System into action, secured and managed PPE supplies, modified our response to patient care, and became a large-sale POD vaccination provider

2020

Population 504,258

139 square miles

Annual call volume: 64, 338

2022

Samantha Auto Dispatching implemented to reduce response time

BUILDING PROJECTS

Orig Station 1 - 45 N MacDonald

Orig Station 2 - 1105 E 2nd Ave

Orig Station 3 - 1340 W University

Old Station 1 - 13 W 1st St

Orig Station 4 - 1311 N Alma School

Station 206 - 815 N Lindsay

Station 205 - 730 S Greenfield

Station 207 - 2505 S Dobson

Station 208 - 4530 E McKellips

Station 210 - 1502 S 24th St

Station 211 - 2130 N Horne

Station 204 - 1426 S Extension

Public Safety Training Facility

Station 209 - 7035 E Southern

Station 213 - 7816 E University

Station 214 - 5950 E Virginia

Station 215 - 5945 S Sossaman

Station 212 - 2430 S Ellsworth

Station 216 - 7966 E McDowell

Station 201 - 360 E 1st St

Station 202 - 830 S Stapley

Station 217 - 10434 E Baseline

Station 218 - 845 N Alma School

Station 219 - 3361 S Signal Butte

Station 220 - 32 S 58th St

MRDC/EOC - 708 W Baseline

Station 203 - 324 S Alma School

Station 221 - 9320 E Point Twenty-Two

LAST ALARM

Since our founding in 1898, nine Mesa firefighters have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our community. Each of these have been designated as a Line-of-Duty Death, recognized by their fellow Mesa Firefighters, The Mesa Fire and Medical Department, the City of Mesa, IAFF Local 2260, the State of Arizona, Arizona Professional Firefighters, and the International Association of Fire Fighters These heroic firefighters completed their last and final call and will forever watch over their fire department brothers and sisters Their memories will live on in the hearts of those they so faithfully served and by the families they left behind

John Owens 2-1947

Winston West 2-1947

Jack Stevens 6-30-1986

Gary Peters 9-29-1987

Carl Shoemaker 2-12-2001

John Delaney 11-20-2008

John Jayne 7-27-2014

Nikki Sullivan 4-15-2019

Trevor Madrid 11-14-2021

FIREFIGHTER'S PRAYER

When I am called to duty, God wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save a life, whatever be its age. Help me to embrace a little child before it's too late, or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert to hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out

I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me, to guard my neighbor and protect his property And if according to your will I have to lose my life, bless with your protecting hand my loving family from strife.