In 1990, Avondale began hiring and/or training personnel to be paramedics. Emergency Medical Service has long been a critical service component of the modern fire department. Although still working condition, it is no longer in use since modern radio dispatch methods took its place long ago. Tradition is important in the fire service, and the old civil service siren behind the old station was spared and mounted at the new one. By 1985, Fire Station One (1) was reconstructed at its current location on 101 S. An unstable second floor was deemed unsafe and the City began construction of a new, more modern station. Avondale's first fire station was approaching 35 years old and it's age was beginning to show. The Avondale Fire Department continued to operate as a combination volunteer/career department into the 1980's. The Avondale Fire Department also relied on equipment and protective gear donated by Luke Air Force Base. Federal employment programs such as the Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) were used to hire Avondale firefighters into the early 1980's. The Avondale Fire Department continued to rely on the hard work of volunteer firefighters to protect its citizens until 1975 when Elio Pompa and Ray Perez were hired as the first full-time firefighters. The Avondale Professional Firefighters Association financed the restoration through membership collections and will use it as a parade and public event truck. Joe's Refinishes completed the paint and body work in 2021. Old Engine One has been restored to its original glory thanks to some generous donations and work by the staff and students at Universal Technical Institute (UTI), which has a campus in Avondale. One of the first fire engines acquired by the City was a 1950 Chevy (pictured far left in front of the original fire station). Volunteer firefighters were called into action via a civil service siren located behind the fire station. To keep costs down, Chief Mabis enlisted prisoners from the nearby City jail to help with construction. The old station faced east and was two stories tall with four bays for fire trucks and equipment. To house the fire trucks, equipment, and firefighters, the City constructed Station One (1), located at the southwest corner of Western Avenue and 6th Street. Navy veteran from World War II, Chief Mabis would prove to be the "Father of the Avondale Fire Department", working tirelessly and sharing stories of Pearl Harbor until his death in 1978. The volunteer department was to serve the more than 2000 residents that called Avondale home by the late 1940's.Ĭhief John Mabis was the first Fire Chief for the Avondale Fire Department. By July 22 of 1947, the Avondale Fire Department was formed by an Ordinance of the City Council. Soon thereafter, the community leaders realized that Avondale had grown to the point where incorporation was necessary and decided to incorporate in December of 1946. With no official, organized fire department, citizens rolled up their sleeves and worked together to extinguish the fire before it spread to adjacent businesses in what was once Avondale's small and modest downtown. In 1942, a large fire broke out in what was Riley's Bar, located just east of 8th Street (Dysart Road) along Western Avenue, near the location of where Michelle's Bridal & Rentals is located today.
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