Today in DFD history – July 25th 1967
Fire Fighter Carl E. Smith of L-11 died from a gun shot wound during rioting.
Firefighter Smith was killed at the corner of Mack & St. Jean at 12:50 am. 
At the time of his death Smith was 30 years old.
Carl had been a Detroit Firefighter for 5 years.
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Today in DFD history – July 17th 2012
Detroit Fire promotes Cecilia Buchanan to the rank of Battalion Chief in the Firefighting Division. She is the first African American Female to the achieve this rank.
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Detroit Firefighter Stanley J Hausch made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the citizens of Detroit. At the time of his death Stanley was assigned to Engine 17.
Firefighter Hausch was killed by the collapse of a 15 foot block wall while fight a fire on Woodward Avenue. The collapse was caused by an explosion from a backdraft. Firefighter Hausch was 36 years old. He had been a Detroit Firefighter for 23 years.
Lieutenant Vincent Grenwick and 3 other firefighters were also injured in the collapse. Lt. Grenwick suffered a broken leg. Details of the other firefighters injuries are unknown.
The fire started around 2:30 am. Twelve establishments including an artists’ supply house, dance hall, 3 bars and a bowling alley were consumed by the fire. It took 3 hours to contained the fire.
Today in DFD history – July 8th 1893
Detroit’s first water tower was placed in service.
The tower was built by the Fire Extinguisher Manufacturing Company of Chicago, and could reach a height of 65 ft.
Detroit’s first water tower being demonstrated in 1895.
The water tower was place in service on High (Vernor) near Hastings.
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Did you know?
At least eight of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, including Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams and John Hancock, were firefighters?
Research done by a Tufts University Professor, Benjamin Carp draws a correlation between the principals of pre-revolutionary volunteer fire companies and how they became a blueprint for our nation’s political system.
Referring to fire companies, Carp writes: “Franklin, Adams, and many of their brother firemen applied these principles of equality, voluntarism, mutual endeavor, public safety and active self-government to their understanding of the American Revolution and consequently paved the way for a republican political system independent from Great Britain.
Today in DFD history – July 4
1871
The entire Detroit Fire Department Department participated in the Independence Day Parade.
1876
The First Firemen’s Monument erected in Elmwood Cemetery was dedicated.
1886
Firemen were allowed 3 leave of absence days each month, however they could not take leave on July 4th.
Recently four Houston Firefighters lost their lives and several others were injured in a motel fire.
When firefighter’s lives are lost we (other firefighters) mourn. It doesn’t matter that we have never met. It doesn’t matter that they lived and served half way across the country. They are our brother or sisters. We mourn. Then, being creatures of action, we do one of the few things we can do. We pass the boot with hopes of bringing some financial relief to the families affected.
A week goes by and unless the tragedy happened nearby, news coverage fades away. Life’s other priorities wins the fight for our attention. Thoughts and prayers for our “family” in Houston come less frequently.
That’s exactly what happened with me. I wouldn’t say I forgot about Houston, I just didn’t think about it much. And when I did, I thought about the families of those who lost their lives. Until a few days ago.
If you follow www.DFDLegacy.com, you know that I have been very involved in helping with fundraising for Julie, one of our Detroit Fire family members. The tragedy in Houston happened the day before our last fundraising event. The purpose of this event was to raise money for Julie‘s medical care, but she & her husband Scott (a Detroit Firefighter) had our fire family in Houston in mind. We passed the boot.
Two days after the event, Julie and Scott left to get the treatment we had been raising funds for. There were still several loose ends from our events that I was gladly handling. Among them was getting the donation to Houston.
During our fundraising Leslie Marin, a wonderful lady from the Houston area, heard about Julie and was extremely supportive. Her son is a firefighter. Rather than send the donation to a general fund, I contacted her asking for advise on which fund or family the money would best serve.
Her response made me realize how quickly we focus on the firefighters lost, and because of that focus we forget about those we suffered life altering injuries.
Capt. William Dowling was trapped when the hotel’s heavy tile roof collapsed. He was able to activate his PASS alarm and was rescued, but now he is in the fight of his life. His kidneys are not functioning properly, he is in a medically induced coma and both his legs have had to be amputated.
Capt. Dowling and his wife Jackie have three wonderful children. In addition to working with Houston Fire, he worked part time at Champions Emergency Services. He is also served in the USMC where he saw combat in Somalia.
The donation we collected will go directly to Capt. Dowling’s family. Our friend and supporter Leslie Marin has offered to hand deliver it to Jackie for us.
Please keep Capt. Dowling and his family in your prayers. They are on a very long uphill journey and need every bit of support they can get.
If you would like to offer financial support, you can make a donation to his family through this link.
Today in DFD history – June 15, 1992
Trial Fire Fighter Roland Waters of E-60 died from a building collapse.
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Did you know, that the first recorded fire in Detroit occurred in 1701.
At that time Detroit was a fort, Fort Ponchatrain, with log stockade walls. Indians set fire to a barn located outside the stockade. High winds spread the flames and it consumed 3 houses and St. Ann’s Church before it was extinguished.
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Today in DFD History – June 7th, 1927
Detroit Fire Department’s first ambulance went into service at Second and Burroughs, Engine 17’s quarters.
This was only the second such unit in the United States. The ambulance was a gift to the department from Paxton Mendelssohn, a fire buff that later became a member of the Board of Fire Commissioners, in memory of his mother, Lydia. The ambulance also served as the department’s Coffee Wagon.
Mendelssohn also donated the departments second ambulance in 1937, once again in memory of Lydia.
This ambulance was custom built on a Cadillac chassis by the Meteor Motor Company of Piqua, OH. In 1951 it was completely rebuilt and modernized, once again as a gift from Paxton.
1969 rolled around and once again Paxton donates a brand new modern Medical Unit to the department. As always, it was donated in memory of his mother.
