Rhinelander Fire Department History

Rhinelander was formed in 1880 and has come a long way since then. History shows that there was no fire department when the city was founded. Bucket brigades were the only means of fire protection. Rhinelander started to grow very rapidly and citizens became concerned about fire protection. Most homes and businesses were heated by wood, and chimney fires occurred quite often. A meeting was held on October 25^th of 1887 concerning fire protection and two volunteer fire companies were formed. The department consisted of 25 men, and split up into groups known as Hose Company No. 1 and Hook and Ladder No. 1. The city was charged $2.50 per person for a total of 50 men. The numbers then were reduced quickly to $1.00 a piece for drills and $1.50 for fighting fire. Rhinelander was one of the first, if not the first, departments in the state to get paid. Arguments have taken place about this. A few years later the number of members was cut down to 15 people for each company. Two years after the formation of the fire department, the city added another hose company called Hose Company No. 2. The first fire station was located on West Davenport Street which is still here today. The company was equipped with a hose, some buckets, and a few tools. In 1889 the fireman purchased uniforms which consisted of rubber coats and boots.
With many fires and the need for more fire protection, two separate fire stations were built. One was located on the north side (Thayer Street) and one in the middle of down town (Rives Street). The department started to grow and get better equipment so that fires could be fought safer and more efficiently. In 1893 a horse wagon and horses were purchased. Three years later a team combination hose wagon equipped with ladders, hoses, and chemical fire dampers was purchased. This would be the back bone of the fire department for 20 years. On December 18, 1911 a change would happen that would develop into what we have today. The volunteer department soon became non existent and the city went to a full time, paid department. Shortly after, in 1914, a motor driven Seagrave chemical tanker truck was purchased. Horses were still used until 1929 when they purchased a Peter Perish truck.
There were many captains that were appointed through the 1800s. P.J. Johnson was elected as the first captain of the department and served till he died in November of 1889. P. Brennan took over in December of 1889 till June of 1890 where he was replaced by John Moriarty. J.H. Schroeder then served until May of 1894 followed by J.E. Jackson 1896, J.H. Didier may 1903, A.J. Lytle may 1904, John D Cole till unknown.
Some of the great fires that occurred through the years explain the importance the fire department played. There were many fires that were stopped quickly, but those fires are not the ones that are remembered for years to come. It is the huge fires that made the head lines and gave the names of the great fires of Rhinelander. One that stood out in the history books and the people of Rhinelander was the Saint Mary’s church which burned to the ground on September 28, 1900. The twelve year old building caught fire in the morning and destroyed everything in the church. Firefighters battled to keep surrounding homes from catching on fire. The damage was valued at $10,000.
One of Rhinelander’s most damaging fires happened on July 19, 1904. A spark from a mill burner caught the shingled roof on fire and spread through the north side of town.
Winds were extremely strong aiding in the spread of fire. The fire department had been out fighting a small fire when they received the call for the fire at the Johnson-Hinman Co’s mill. All the hydrants in the area were being utilized with lines strung out everywhere. The winds were just too strong and could not hold the fire in one spot. Ember carried of to the lumber yard of J.H. Queal and Co and started several lumber yards on fire. Firefighters were not able to stop the fire and it passed in to the residential area where 20 homes were destroyed. The fire was finally contained five hours later. It was said that over $75,000 in damages accumulated.
A year later, on October 4, 1905, another fire broke out from the Brown Brother Saw Mill. It was said that the fire started from the mill refuse burner throwing a spark onto a lumber pile. It spread so fast from the wind blowing that it wiped out the entire mill, lumber piles and spread into the Robbins Co sawmill. Antigo, Ashland, Wausau and Ironwood were wired for assistance. Trains brought in thousands of feet of hose. Wausau arrived with a fire engine but was too late to be of service. After the fire was finished, the a number of buildings were destroyed. 51 houses, two stores, two churches, two schools and the hose house were burnt to the ground. It claimed 600,000 dollars worth of damage.
There were many other well known fires in the 20^th century. According to the Rhinelander Daily News, there was the Robbins Flooring Company which occurred on August 27, 1948. The fire started in the plant’s large elevator shaft. The timber dried hardwood added to the fire and made it an extremely hot fire. The flooring that was outside was saved by firefighters but the flooring inside was destroyed causing an estimated $750,000 in damage. Twenty five homes were evacuated but were saved by firefighters. Firefighters used Boom Lake for a continuous supply of water and used Minocqua, Eagle River, Merrill and a few other departments to help stop the blaze.
In October 1953, a large warehouse fire started on fire outside Rhinelander. The Rhinelander fire department was called for mutual aid but by the time they arrived, the fire was out of control. A major explosion happened, which was said to be fuel tanks that caught on fire.
On January 17, 1956, a fire started in the Marplex plant on Thayer Street. A lighted electrical bulb fell into a tank of lacquer. Fire fighters battled the fire for 7 hours. Firefighters claimed that it was very difficult to put out the fire due to the amount of lacquer that was in the plant. There was a total of $75,000 of damages.
There were two major fires in 1960. On February 8, 1960, a garage caught on fire and spread into the Red Dot Foods Inc. Much of the building was damaged and also machinery and potatoes that were stored in the warehouse. Firefighters were able to keep the flames under control once they arrived but had several injuries during the period.
The second fire came on November 19, 1960. Saint Mary’s church caught fire for the second time in its history. Firefighters arrived on scene and went to the basement where the fire was. They knocked down the fire and thought the fire was completely out. Fire had moved up the walls into the roof trusses and started to spread. The fire was soon out of control and destroyed the building
On January 31, 1961, the Rhinelander Marine Manufacturing Co started on fire. The fire occurred on one of the coldest night of the year. It was 22 degrees below zero. No hydrant or hose lines froze but many hands and feet did. The fire was started by arson.
On February 1, 1963, fire broke out on one the oldest blocks in the city. It was another very cold night with freezing rain. The entire downtown was filled with black smoke and was very difficult to fight because of visibility. Two of the buildings were considered a total loss. The remainder of building had smoke damage.
Two year later, the Fenlon Hotel started on fire. The hotel has four floors and was well known through out the state for conventions. The fire started from someone leaving their 4^th floor apartment with food on there stove. Four firefighters were hospitalized from smoke inhalation.
On December 22, 1968, fire took six businesses in downtown Rhinelander. There were no fire walls to stop the fire from spreading from one building to another. It took four hours to get the fire under control. Three firemen were knocked out from a flashover but were rescued. No one was in serious condition.
November 7, 1969, fire destroyed the Pied Piper Supper Club. The fire started in the kitchen from an electrical appliance. When firefighters arrived, fire was coming out of the roof. The fire started in early morning and was put out rather quickly. Damaged estimated at $70,000.
In the 70’s, there were four destructive fires. The first fire was on January 17, 1971. The Holiday Acres Resort caught on fire in the kitchen. It started in the hood over the kitchen range. Automatic extinguisher systems knocked the fire down but not before it had spread into the attic. A volunteer department called Rhinelander for assistance and upon arrival; they knocked down the fire within a half hour. There was $500,000 dollars worth of damage.
January 14, 1977 another resort caught on fire outside Rhinelander. Rhinelander fire fighters were called to assist in suppression but the buildings were mostly destroyed when they arrived.
The final major fire was the wonder hotel in 1979. When speaking to a retired fire fighter, he spoke of how they went in and could see nothing. They saw flames in a room and started to fight it. There were mirrors in the room and did not know this. They ended up spraying water a mirror and the fire flashed over on them. They got lost in the motel and kept going till they found a way out. Within 25 minutes the entire hotel was fully involved. Firefighters then concentrated their efforts in saving buildings surrounding the hotel.