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Fire Helmets were
provided by the fire department beginning around 1930. The
first helmet was made of a composite material which was
essentially cardboard heavily coated with shellac and paint.
It had an extended brim attached to the back of the helmet.
Three-hundred of the helmets were purchased. The helmets
were manufactured by Bullard Company, and the design was
called "Hardboiled." Chief Seibert said the helmets were
"light-weight and well-ventilated."
In March, 1930,
another evaluation by the National Board of Fire
Underwriters (NBFU) took place. It chastised the lack of
tenure for the fire chief and other officers who can be
switch with every change of the city administration.
Firefighters are given 14 days of vacation annually but
cannot leave the city without permission. They were required
to respond to extra alarm fires when off duty.
The report was
critical of the training. Firefighters were trained only by
the captain, and were not adequately trained, according to
the fire underwriters, when NBFU tested the firefighters.
Additional training was needed, the report said, at "a
suitable training school." It was noted that Battalion Chief
G. C. Adams had attended the Detroit Fire College and was to
start a drill school at the training tower.
In 1930, Fire Station
26 opened at Broadway and Park Place.
The Harris County
Emergency Corps was organized in 1931 to provide first aid
at emergencies, and to train firefighters in first aid and
resuscitation. The Corps also performed salvage work at
fires.
 On February
3, 1932, Richey's Evangelistic Temple at 1301 W.
Capitol burned in a three-alarm
fire. Later on
September 10, the First Presbyterian Church
(pictured) was destroyed by a spectacular fire. The
church was located at Main and
McKinney.
On
November 25, 1932, the local union affiliated with
the AFL, and was designated as Local 341 of the
International Association of
Firefighters.
Battalion Chief G. C.
Adams was named chief of training.
E. B. Hartwell
replaced Chief Seibert as fire chief in 1933. Allie Anderson
beat H. A. Delery in the city election after Delery served
only one term as fire commissioner. Anderson had served 10
years as fire commissioner before he was turned out in the
previous election.
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