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CITY OF WYLIE
A History of Service; The Next Chapter A strong sense of community and volunteerism has been a part of Wylie’s fabric since its founding in 1886, and the humble beginnings of the Wylie Fire Department (WFD) demonstrate this spirit. It began as neighbors helping neighbors — citizens leaving their fields, hardware stores, shops, banks, and the railroad to respond and assist a friend or family member when a fire broke out. No training, special tools, or funds, simply a call to be there for one another, a call to service. As the community grew and more industry came to town, these volunteers recognized the need to formally organize and began asking the City to help with funding for fire equipment. The beginnings of WFD can be found in a few simple, oneline City Council minute entries penned in July, August, and September, a century ago. On July 17, 1909, the City Council made a motion that a fire pump be purchased and mounted on a wagon for the purpose of building a new fire machine. The Council then appointed the first fire company officers on Aug. 4, 1909. That same day the Council exempted the “fire boys” from the street tax. On Sept. 1, 1909, the Council purchased two buckets and an ax for the fire machine. On Jan. 9, 1912, an ordinance passed creating the office of the Fire Marshal. The spirit of volunteerism that protected Nickelville and Wylie in the early days continued through the decades. In 1993 Jim Lynch was hired as the first paid fire chief. Later that year, Ronald Sims, Jeffrey Scribner, and Jeff Henderson were hired as the
by Craig Kelly
first full-time firefighters. While nearly all of the responders today are fully paid professionals, the spirit of service lives on in the “neighbors helping neighbors” legacy. Those civic-minded individuals from decades back have set the ideal for service by WFR that remains in existence today. On May 13, 2022, Wylie Fire Rescue started a new chapter in its history with the grand opening and commissioning of Fire Station No. 4 located on the west side of town on McMillen Drive near McCreary Road. Mayor Matthew Porter, joined by City Councilmembers, Chief Brandon Blythe, City Manager Brent Parker, members of Wylie Fire Rescue, and the community, ceremonially uncoupled a hose marking the opening of the station. The following day, thousands of people attended the open house and many participated in a traditional push-in ceremony of Wylie’s newest fire truck, Quint 144. The tradition dates back to the late 1800s when fire departments used hand-drawn pumpers and horse-drawn equipment. When returning to the station after a call, the horses couldn’t easily back the equipment into the bay so firefighters would
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