Rhinelander Fire Department 1887-2011
The City of Rhinelander was formed in 1880. In the early years there was no organized fire protection. Eventually bucket brigades were organized. As Rhinelander began to grow, fire protection became a concern. On October 25th of 1887 a meeting was held and two volunteer fire companies were formed. Hose Company No. 1 and Hook and Ladder No. 1 were created, each company consisted of 25 men. Two years later Hose Company No. 2 was formed and the first fire station was built. The station was located on West Davenport Street.
With an increase in the number of fires, two separate fire stations were built in the 1890s. One was located on the north side (Thayer Street) and one down town (Rives Street). Along with two new stations the department bought new equipment. In 1893 a horse drawn wagon was purchased. Three years later a team combination hose wagon equipped with ladders, hoses, and chemical fire dampers were purchased. This would be the back bone of the fire department for 20 years.
On September 28, 1900 St. Mary’s Church caught fire. 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 a shingled roof on fire and spread through the north side of town. Winds were extremely strong and the fire spread quickly. The fire department had been out fighting another fire when they received the call for the fire at the Johnson-Hinman Companies mill. The winds were so strong the fire department could not control the fire. Embers carried to the lumber mill of J.H. Queal & Company and started several lumber yards on fire. The fire continued to spread with the high winds. Soon the fire moved in to a residential neighborhood and destroyed 20 homes. The fire was finally contained five hours later. The fire was estimated to have done over $75,000 in damage.
A year later, on October 4, 1905, another fire broke out at the Brown Brother Saw Mill. The fire started from the mill refuse burner throwing a spark onto a lumber pile. It spread so fast from the blowing wind that it wiped out the entire mill. Lumber piles burnt and the fire spread to the nearby Robbins Company sawmill. Antigo, Ashland, Wausau and Ironwood fire departments were wired for assistance. Trains brought in thousands of feet of hose. A fire engine arrived from Wausau but was too late to be of service. The fire destroyed 51 homes, 2 stores, two churches, 2 schools and the fire department’s hose house. The fire caused over $600,000 worth of damage.
On December 18, 1911 the volunteer fire companies were abolished, and a career paid department was formed. In 1914 a motor driven Seagrave chemical tanker truck was purchased. Horses were still used until 1929 when a Peter Perish truck was purchased.
The Robbins Flooring Company fire 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 and created an extremely hot fire. It was estimated that over $750,000 in damage was done. Twenty five homes were evacuated but were saved by firefighters. Firefighters used Boom Lake for a continuous water supply. Minocqua, Eagle River, Merrill and a several other departments provided mutual aid.
On January 17, 1956, a fire started in the Marplex plant on Thayer Street. A lit 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 along with machinery and potatoes that were stored in the warehouse.
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 found a fire in the basement. The fire was knocked down and believed to be extinguished. However fire had moved up the walls into the roof trusses. 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. Firefighters fought the blaze and frigid temperatures through out the night. It was later determined that the fire was caused by arson.
In 1965 the Fenlon Hotel started on fire. The hotel was four stories tall and was well known through out the state for conventions. The fire started on an unattended stove on the fourth floor. The fire was extinguished however four firefighters were hospitalized from smoke inhalation.
On December 22, 1968 a fire started downtown and burnt down six businesses. Fire walls had not been built to stop the fire from spreading from one building to another. It took four hours to get the fire under control. Three firefighters were injured fighting the fire. Fortunately they were rescued and no one was seriously injured.
A 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 occurred in the early morning and was extinguished shortly after fire crews arrived on scene. Damaged was estimated at $70,000.
On January 17, 1971 Holiday Acres Resort caught on fire. The fire started in the hood over the kitchen range. Automatic extinguisher systems knocked the fire down but not before it had spread into the attic. Rhinelander was called for mutual aid; the fire was knocked down within a half hour. However there was $500,000 dollars worth of damage.
The Wonder Hotel fire occurred in 1979. Within 25 minutes of arrival the entire hotel was fully involved. Firefighters were forced to protect exposures. The hotel was a complete loss.
In August of 2010 the Rhinelander Fire Department took over all emergency medical responsibilities in the City of Rhinelander. The fire department now provides emergency medical services at the Paramedic level, 24 hours a day 365 days a year to the city of Rhinelander.
With an increase in the number of fires, two separate fire stations were built in the 1890s. One was located on the north side (Thayer Street) and one down town (Rives Street). Along with two new stations the department bought new equipment. In 1893 a horse drawn wagon was purchased. Three years later a team combination hose wagon equipped with ladders, hoses, and chemical fire dampers were purchased. This would be the back bone of the fire department for 20 years.
On September 28, 1900 St. Mary’s Church caught fire. 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 a shingled roof on fire and spread through the north side of town. Winds were extremely strong and the fire spread quickly. The fire department had been out fighting another fire when they received the call for the fire at the Johnson-Hinman Companies mill. The winds were so strong the fire department could not control the fire. Embers carried to the lumber mill of J.H. Queal & Company and started several lumber yards on fire. The fire continued to spread with the high winds. Soon the fire moved in to a residential neighborhood and destroyed 20 homes. The fire was finally contained five hours later. The fire was estimated to have done over $75,000 in damage.
A year later, on October 4, 1905, another fire broke out at the Brown Brother Saw Mill. The fire started from the mill refuse burner throwing a spark onto a lumber pile. It spread so fast from the blowing wind that it wiped out the entire mill. Lumber piles burnt and the fire spread to the nearby Robbins Company sawmill. Antigo, Ashland, Wausau and Ironwood fire departments were wired for assistance. Trains brought in thousands of feet of hose. A fire engine arrived from Wausau but was too late to be of service. The fire destroyed 51 homes, 2 stores, two churches, 2 schools and the fire department’s hose house. The fire caused over $600,000 worth of damage.
On December 18, 1911 the volunteer fire companies were abolished, and a career paid department was formed. In 1914 a motor driven Seagrave chemical tanker truck was purchased. Horses were still used until 1929 when a Peter Perish truck was purchased.
The Robbins Flooring Company fire 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 and created an extremely hot fire. It was estimated that over $750,000 in damage was done. Twenty five homes were evacuated but were saved by firefighters. Firefighters used Boom Lake for a continuous water supply. Minocqua, Eagle River, Merrill and a several other departments provided mutual aid.
On January 17, 1956, a fire started in the Marplex plant on Thayer Street. A lit 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 along with machinery and potatoes that were stored in the warehouse.
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 found a fire in the basement. The fire was knocked down and believed to be extinguished. However fire had moved up the walls into the roof trusses. 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. Firefighters fought the blaze and frigid temperatures through out the night. It was later determined that the fire was caused by arson.
In 1965 the Fenlon Hotel started on fire. The hotel was four stories tall and was well known through out the state for conventions. The fire started on an unattended stove on the fourth floor. The fire was extinguished however four firefighters were hospitalized from smoke inhalation.
On December 22, 1968 a fire started downtown and burnt down six businesses. Fire walls had not been built to stop the fire from spreading from one building to another. It took four hours to get the fire under control. Three firefighters were injured fighting the fire. Fortunately they were rescued and no one was seriously injured.
A 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 occurred in the early morning and was extinguished shortly after fire crews arrived on scene. Damaged was estimated at $70,000.
On January 17, 1971 Holiday Acres Resort caught on fire. The fire started in the hood over the kitchen range. Automatic extinguisher systems knocked the fire down but not before it had spread into the attic. Rhinelander was called for mutual aid; the fire was knocked down within a half hour. However there was $500,000 dollars worth of damage.
The Wonder Hotel fire occurred in 1979. Within 25 minutes of arrival the entire hotel was fully involved. Firefighters were forced to protect exposures. The hotel was a complete loss.
In August of 2010 the Rhinelander Fire Department took over all emergency medical responsibilities in the City of Rhinelander. The fire department now provides emergency medical services at the Paramedic level, 24 hours a day 365 days a year to the city of Rhinelander.
