City of Tulsa

1900	The Tulsa Fire Department was organized as a volunteer department.
1905	R.C. Alder becomes the first Tulsa Fire Chief. The Fire Department was a 4 man paid department. Firefighters earned $45 per month.
1908	The Firefighters Pension Bill was signed, and in 1929 the first Pension was paid.
1913	All horse drawn equipment was eliminated. TFD was the first fully motorized fire department west of the Mississippi.
1919	The Fire Department went to two shifts.
1928	TFD obtained the first water carrying fire truck.
1940	The City is split into two response districts.
1950	A third shift is added. The current 72 hour work week was reduced to 56 hours.
1955	The Fire Department went to 24-hours on duty, 48-hours off duty. District 3 and 4 were created.
1956	The first black firefighters were hired.
1958	All four man companies were provided with two SCBA's.
1960	The Deputy Fire Chief position was created.
1968	District 5 was created.
1977	A SCBA was made available to every member.
1985	The Hazardous Material response team went into service as "Rescue One."
1989	Riding on tailboards was discontinued.
1991	The first female firefighters were hired.
1995	Official implementation of the Technical Rescue Team.
2007	The Centennial Sculpture "Courage and Compasion" is placed at 111 W. 2nd.
2015	The new Tulsa Fire Safety Training Center was opened at 2819 N. New Haven.