History: Key West Fire Station No. 1 and the Legacy of Flames
- Nov 7
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Key West Fire Department group portrait in front of Fire Station #1 located under the old City Hall building on 510 Greene Street. (State Archives of Florida/Public Domain)
As the 20th century dawned, Key West was a lively port city, bustling with the energy of its cigar factories and maritime commerce. Yet, beneath this vibrant exterior lay a constant, smoldering threat: fire. In 1900, Fire Station No. 1, nestled behind City Hall on Ann Street, stood as a vigilant guardian against this ever-present danger.
The Key West Fire Department, which had its humble beginnings as volunteer brigades in 1875, had transformed into a well-organized municipal force by the turn of the century. On October 27, 1900, H.G. Fulford was elected fire chief, with S.J. Wolf and Phil Henson as his trusted assistants. Ernest Higgs took on the role of secretary, while C.F. Albury managed the finances as treasurer. These names are now etched into the annals of the city’s public safety legacy.
Although 1900 passed without a major fire, the city’s collective memory was still seared by the catastrophic blaze of April 1, 1886. That inferno ravaged over 50 acres of Old Town, reducing 614 buildings and 18 cigar factories to ashes in a mere 12 hours. The fire ignited near the San Carlos Institute on Duval Street and, fueled by densely packed wooden structures and the absence of modern firefighting tools, spread with terrifying speed. This disaster reshaped Key West’s urban landscape and spurred significant advancements in fire prevention and response.
Today, the indomitable spirit of those early firefighters is celebrated at the Key West Firehouse Museum, located in Fire Station No. 3, which was built in 1907. This museum stands as a tribute to the city’s resilience and the brave souls who fought flames with rudimentary equipment and unyielding determination.
Key West’s Old Town remains one of the largest surviving collections of historic wooden buildings in the United States. This living archive of architectural and civic history owes much to the vigilance of Fire Station No. 1 and its successors, who have safeguarded it through the years.
Members of the Key West Fire Department assembled for a group photo in front of a Lightning Engine & Hose Co. No. 1 fire truck. 1947. Grinnel Street. State Archives of Florida.
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