Excerpts from the Champaign News Gazette:
On Wednesday, the Champaign Fire Department celebrated its 150th anniversary. Just a day later, the city’s oldest living firefighter, Pete Lipscomb, turned 91 years old. It's a milestone that highlights not only his personal journey but also the evolution of firefighting in the community.
Lipscomb served with the department from 1951 to 1985—34 years that spanned a significant portion of the fire department’s history. On Tuesday, he visited Station No. 1 and reflected on how much has changed since he first joined nearly 64 years ago.
Back then, the fire trucks were very different. The vehicles had open cabs, and the siren was right next to the driver’s seat—often Lipscomb himself. “That’s why I have these,†he said, pointing to his hearing aids with a chuckle.
The technology was also far less advanced. In those early days, firefighters relied on maps to navigate the city. During breaks, they would challenge each other on local landmarks. If the driver got lost, they’d just follow the smoke, Lipscomb joked.
Equipment was also more basic. Only one person per shift had a smoke mask, and others would have to step outside for fresh air between fires. “That’s why I have COPD,†he said, a wry comment on the long-term effects of the job.
Deputy Chief John Barker added that the changes over the past 150 years have been nothing short of revolutionary. When the department was founded in 1865, it was made up entirely of volunteers. Horses were used to transport firefighters quickly to the scene of a fire.
In the 1880s and 1890s, the department began paying its members. Back then, they used a bucket brigade, with people passing pails of water from a hand-pump to fight fires. They would also tear down parts of buildings to prevent the flames from spreading.
Communication was different too. Instead of 911 calls, the city would ring a bell on top of the city building to signal where a fire was happening. Later, steam-powered fire engines were introduced, but they were eventually replaced by Champaign’s first motorized engine in 1915—just 100 years ago.
The switch came after a devastating fire on Lewis Street caused $800,000 in damage, which would be worth around $18.8 million today.
To honor this historic milestone, the department is hosting a fire apparatus parade and firefighter muster on July 19, from noon to 5 p.m. The event will begin with a parade of fire trucks leaving the Illinois Fire Service Institute at noon. The route includes Kirby Avenue west, Mattis Avenue north, and University Avenue east, arriving at Champaign Central High School around 12:30 p.m. The muster will take place in the parking lot at the corner of Washington and Walnut streets starting at 1 p.m.
Thanks, Dan
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