1895 - 1900

Some of the 350 volunteer firefighters were selected by Chief Ravell to fill the paid roster of 44 firefighters. More than one-half were single men who were paid housekeepers and drivers of the volunteer fire department. The balance were officers and firefighters from the ranks of the volunteers. A few of the volunteers were listed as extra men, later referred to as supernumeraries. They were new recruits who were trained at a fire station and became firefighters as openings occurred.

(Other references gave 50 and "almost 50" as the number of paid firefighters originally. The "extra" men may account for the difference. Research by the Houston Firefighters' Memorial Fund Committee found 49 men with entrance dates on or prior to the date of the paid department, the names of which are engraved on the Houston Firefighters' Memorial Wall. A fiftieth man was found in later research.)

Seven volunteer fire stations were taken over by the city. One was the station owned by members of Hook & Ladder No. 1 at San Jacinto and Prairie (pictured). It became the Central Station. Chief Ravell assigned Steamer No. 1, Steamer No. 2, Chemical No. 4, and Hook and Ladder No. 1 to the fire station.

The other six fire stations were: Hose Company No. 3, 408 Smith; North Star Hose Company No. 4, Montgomery and Gano (another reference puts the location near North Main and Hogan);

Mechanic Hose Company No. 6, 1106 Washington; Washington No. 8, 1307 Crawford; Hose Company No. 9 at 910 Keene; and Hose Company No. 10, 205 Chartres.

The fire stations were leased by the city, and the fire apparatus and horses were purchased from the volunteers. The new Houston Fire Department began operations at one minute past midnight on Saturday, June 1, 1895.

In 1897, the city contracted with the Gamewell Company to expand the Gamewell fire alarm system.

James Hussey was named fire chief in 1898 to replace Chief Ravell. He was one of the volunteer firefighters who had been recruited for the paid department.

A fire on June 8, 1898, destroyed seven houses in the block bounded by San Jacinto, McIlhenny, Fannin, and Hadley. A large crowd gathered to watch a strong south wind spread the fire from house to house.

The Houston Relief Association of the Paid Fire Department of the City of Houston was organized on June 23, 1898. (Another reference gives the date as January 1, 1903.) Its purpose was to help members who were "distressed, injured, sick, or disabled." Benefits included five dollars per week after the first week of sickness or disability, and $75 for funeral expenses. One representative from each fire company made up the board of directors. Captain Frank Hayes, Hose Co No. 10, was elected president.

Later in November, 1898, a fire that started in the Ruppersburg stables spread to the wood-frame Salvation Army Hall at Milam and Capitol. A Salvation Army officer, his wife and their two children died in the fire. Both buildings were destroyed. (Another reference claimed the Salvation Army family lived over the stables [spelled Ruppersbery], and the fire occurred in 1897.)

Station No. 7 went in at 2403 Milam at McIlhenny in 1899. It was the first fire station constructed by the city.