Author: jim
Cranston, R. I., Ice House Fire – 1916
On the night of August 21, 1916, the Crystal Lake Icehouse was destroyed by fire with a loss totaling $7,000. The property had been acquired by the Providence Ice company the previous winter, but had not been in use since then, and was empty and dry at the time of the…
Early Pay & Working Conditions
Click here to read an article about the work schedule and pay of a Cranston firefighter in 1926. This was only six years after the CFD was established. The following information was gleaned from a report of the CFD written by the National Board Of Fire Underwriters Committee On…
Cranston, R. I., Fire Department Line of Duty Deaths
Fire Dog, “Leo” – 1938 “Leo” was a mongrel “with short brown hair and maybe a little terrier in him.” In 1932 he wandered into Station 3 and was adopted as a mascot by the fire crews. Leo was later credited with saving the live of Private Charles Hobday who…
Cranston, R. I., Fire Apparatus
Many photos here are courtesy of the Cranston Fire Department. Click on images to enlarge. In July of 1955, the fire department obtained a new ambulance which cost $10,050. It replaced the department’s 1942 ambulance which had been in service since WWII. The new ambulance was equipped with air conditioning, power steering…
Early Cranston, R. I., Fire Chiefs
Cranston’s first fire chief was Daniel F. Young, appointed to the position on December 20, 1920, after having served for ten years at the chief of the Pocasset Volunteers. Chief Young passed away in 1940, and was succeeded by his son, William, who was appointed chief in November of 1940. Like…
Richard S. Church – Cranston Fire Department
On February 27, 1954, the Cranston Fire Department received an alarm of fire at 58 Cliffdale Avenue in Edgewood, and apparatus from the Edgewood and Pawtuxet stations were dispatched. Driving one of the city ladder trucks was Private Richard S. Church, (26). Just as he arrived at the scene and brought the vehicle…
Cranston Print Works Train Wreck – 1891
Waterbury Evening Democrat – April 11, 1891
Daniel Young Cranston’s First Paid Fire Chief
Click on image to enlarge. Pocasset’s Fire Chief Daniel F. Young was appointed Cranston’s first paid fire chief on December 20, 1920 to head city’s the newly created permanent fire department. Mayor Horton had been advocating for a permanent fire department since early 1919. His plan was to establish a centrally located fire…
Mayor Horton Advocated Permanent Fire Department
Newspaper article dated February 2, 1919. Click on image to enlarge.