The Milwaukee Fire Department is commemorating 150 years of unwavering service to their community this year, a milestone reflected in a sequence of social media posts that chronicle some of the most pivotal events in its storied history. Through a recent social media update, the department, in collaboration with the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society & Fire Museum, has shared dates and details of significant fires dating back to the early 20th century, providing a timeline that is both a testament to their heritage and a remembrance of the challenges they've faced—and overcome.
Some of these historic incidents, among others, include the appointment of Thomas Clancy as the seventh Chief of the MFD on July 11, 1905, and several major fires — like the 3rd alarm blaze at the Miller Clothing Company in 1914, the National Distilling Company fire in 1931, the manufacturing structure fire on N. 11th Street in 1941, and the American Hair & Felt Company incident in 1948. The Milwaukee Fire Department's posting states, "This year marks 150 years of service for Milwaukee Fire Department. Throughout the year, we'll be sharing stories from our rich history and taking a look back at momentous events that made a lasting impact on the way we serve you - our community."
In the latter half of the century, the department contended with multiple alarm fires that included the Shadboldt & Boyd warehouse inferno in 1968, the Safety Envelope Company in 1969, and the Pabst Brewing brewhouse in 1976, which all triggered the second alarm. Leap forward nearly two decades and another spate of fires recalls the dedication of the Milwaukee Fire Department. Notable among these were the 2nd alarm situation at an auto repair shop on W. Forest Home Avenue in 1994, and a hazardous 5th alarm fire at the vacant Kaiser Building complex in 2004.
