Plato said "Necessity is the mother of invention.", and few communities
have a greater need for fire protection than one built on the sawmill
industry.
Wausau considered fire protection a necessity in the year 1869 after
two disastrous fires. 1869 started with the burning of the Daniels
and Corey Saw Mill followed closely by a fire in the built up portion of
downtown. The downtown fire consumed an entire block including the
Music Hall. The Music Hall had been built the year before and was
considered the finest building in Wausau. At that time, fire was
fought by the entire adult population lining a path from the river to
the fire, handing buckets back and forth. To stop the downtown fire,
an unburned portion of a building was torn down, while wet blankets were
laid on the next building. As a result, on December 28, 1869, the
Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was organized and a hand pump was
secured. The first Engine House of Wausau was built at a cost of
$980.00.
The first full time firefighters were hired in 1893 and by 1913 the
department consisted of 1 Chief, 21 paid firefighters, 3 combination
hose and chemical wagons, one hose cart, one hook and ladder truck, two
steam fire engines and the chief's horse and buggy. The first motor
driven equipment was a combination chemical and hose cart and was put
into service in 1915. Ed single was the first driver.
The greatest leap forward came from 1950 to 1971, during the tenure of
Chief Wilbur Petzoid. Two new stations were built and equipment was
updated.
Today, Wausau Fire is 59 career employees strong with 3 stations
located strategically throughout the city. Each station houses an engine
and a med. Other apparatus includes a Ladder Truck, a Quint, a Rescue
vehicle, a brush truck, a back up Med and Engine and several other
specialty vehicles.
