In 1969, the city bought the first 1000 gpm pumper with a Ford Chassis.

The snorkel was added then to the equipment in 1976. That fire truck has a 1000 gpm pump and a 65-foot elevated platform. It can also receive 1000 gpm in the basket or a "hydrant in the air."

A trade of the GMC and the aerial was made for a Ford pumper with a 1000 gpm pump and a crew cab as the danger to firefighters riding in the apparatus in getting greater all the time.

The record of the cars the belonged to the fire department is not clear but several are known to have been used.

At one time a 1948 Chevrolet was used as was a 1959 Ford station wagon and a 1955 Pontiac. At the present time a 1969 GMB Handi-Van is used.

Art Baker, a former chief of the department, was noted for novel chemical car.

According to an article in an early issue of the News-Argus, Baker purchased a Chalmer car in 1918.

The car was originally owned by the Power Mercantile Company and was then equipped with a 40-gallon chemical tank and 150 feet of chemical hose. The car also carried such equipment as was necessary to extinguish small fires and it had first aid equipment.

The article stated that Chief Baker took the car home at mealtime and into the night so he could reach a fire quicker than he could on foot.

The present station, and city hall was built in 1904 with the site selected because of the fact that creek just behind the building was used for watering the horses.

Many of the men who have been mentioned at one time stayed in the station. That is, they had their own beds and lived right in the building while maintaining other jobs. The men were compensated for their efforts and as housing was problem in Lewistown they had a place to live.

As one old-timer stated, "Hell, we all hung out in the fire station and the first thing you did when you entered was to speak to the horses."

Roll call was used as some sort of inspection and was held every morning.

Frank Gremaux