Richardson Fire Department marks 100 years of service

The Richardson Fire Department marked 100 years of service with a community celebration on June 27.

“Your work has a direct lasting impact on the community,” City Manager Don Magner said to the department at the event. “You protect lives. You protect property. You bring calm to chaotic situations.”

The big picture

April 9 marked the official anniversary of RFD, which began in 1926 as a small volunteer effort with a pickup truck, according to the city.

RFD added Emergency Medical Services in the 1950s when it put its first ambulance into service. The department grew from four paid firefighters in 1956 to 179 fire personnel and five civilian staff today.

“When we look back over our history, we’ve never been as busy and the city’s never been as big as it is today,” Assistant Chief of Operations Gene Senter said at the event.

Looking ahead

Richardson’s 2026 bond, approved by voters in May, included funds for a station remodel, an apparatus storage building and the design and future construction funds for a new Fire Station 7.

“The dedicated generations of community, councils, city managers and FD members created a full-service fire, rescue, EMS and fire prevention agency that is rated among the top departments in this country,” Fire Chief Curtis Poovey said.

RFD received its Class 1 Insurance Services Office rating in 2014, which is based on the quality and effectiveness of a community’s fire protection, including its fire department, water supply system and fire alarm and communications system.

The ISO 1 rating is the highest classification a department can receive, and Poovey said at an April City Council meeting that the department aims to maintain the rating.

“We’re in a good situation to where we feel like we’re embedded in the neighborhoods and embedded in the communities,” Senter said.