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Show History Of Fire Companies Organization Given In the earliest days of Bingham Bing-ham everyone belonged to the "fire company." When a fire broke out, church bells were rung as an alarm and everyone near at hand grabbed the first container, within reach and scurried scur-ried to the scene of the fire. J The first man to arrive at the fire took charge and shouted orders. or-ders. Two lines were formed from the fire to the creek which ran down the main canyon. Men at the bank filled buckets which were passed along one line, their contents were thrown on the blaze and empty buckets passed from hand to hand along the second line until they reached the creek. All worked energetically not only because they wished to cooperate, co-operate, but because all realized that a rapid spread of the fire would menace every dwelling. If fires were more than a small blaze it was Impossible to fight it successfully. In 1895 a fire which had its beginning In a large rooming house razed forty-five forty-five buildings, involving a loss of$200.000. In 1924 Bingham was threatened threat-ened with destruction when six families lost their homes and 12 an old abandoned theatre, was the worst fire catastrophe In Bingham's history. Damage was estimated between $300,000 and $400,000. One hundred homes were destroyed besides the school house and several boarding houses. hou-ses. 300 were homeless and for one-third mile on both sides of the canyon all property was destroyed. des-troyed. In April, 1905, the town 'installed 'instal-led a fire alarm system. Fire hose on wooden spools were purchased. pur-chased. In 1907 business people subscribed sub-scribed towards erecting a place for firemen to hold meetings and house equipment. In October, 1907, the town board approved official organization organi-zation of a fire department. Records of firemen show, that among those subscribing generously gener-ously to this cause were the Old Crow Bar, The Bingham Merc, Zion and Dunsmore, James Jam-es Lerwell. Charles H. Roberts. Dr. F. E. Straup. J. Bourgard, Francis Miller, P. Murano, Mrs. Klopenstein, F. W. Quinn. S. J. Hays and George Chandler. Two companies were formed. Number 1 and Number 2. Each was to have 50 active volunteer members. A chief wjas to be elect; ed to supervise both companies. Number 1 was to control all territory ter-ritory south of the central school house and Number 2 all north of that line. The fire department was to have the highway right of way and theehlef was given authority of a police officer until an officer-arrived. officer-arrived. In May, 1910, the board created creat-ed fire inspection districts and the office of fire inspector. A year later two automatic, bell-striches, bell-striches, fire alarm systems were purchased for $975.00. . Construction began on No. 2 Fire hall for lower Bingham. Funds were' obtained in a bond election. Equipment was added .regularly. August 4, 1915 a fire truck costing $1138.35 was purchased. June 1. 1925, a fire engine costing $13,000 was purchased. A chemical truck was bought for $3,050.00. In 1929 a hose and ladder truck was purchased. Beginning from scratch the local fire department has developed devel-oped Into one of the most modern mod-ern and efficient in the state. Regularly in the State Firemen's convention Bingham wins honors. Local firemen pioneered In first aid -work. George Knudsen and Dr. M. Smernoff train groups each year. Earl James is second vice president of the state organization organ-ization and John Creedon, Sec'y. Clinton Robison is at present president of the Fire companies. Chiefs are Ray Tatton and Art Sorenson. In the town budget for this year $2,245.51 was set aside for new fire fighting e-quiptient. e-quiptient. Note: 'Facts used in this article arti-cle on Tho Bingham Fire Department De-partment at taken from a History His-tory of Bingham Canyon, writ-ten writ-ten by Beatrice Spendlove. places of business were destroyed destroy-ed by fire. Damage was estimated estima-ted at $100,000, two firemen lost heir lives and one was seriously seri-ously Injured. The fire broke out in the basement of the Bourgard butcher shop. The Highland Boy fire of September Sep-tember 8, 1932, which started In |