 The circumstances leading to the formation of the Apopka Volunteer Fire Department are not known. It seems that the first records available date back to the year 1912. Records show that the department utilized a hand drawn hose cart which included two 40 gallon water tanks, 100 feet of 3/4" rubber hose, a hydrant wrench, an axe, and some other small tools. The water tanks were pressurized by a soda-acid charge tank, normally riding in an upright position inside the tops of each water tank. When the firefighters arrived at the fire scene, they would turn the tanks upside down, allowing the chemical reaction to occur, which in turn caused the tank to become pressurized, expelling the water from the tank and travel through the attached hoses. The hose cart was housed in a small wood and tin structure on the east side of Central Avenue, between Third and Fourth Streets. Volunteer Firefighters were alerted to respond to a fire by the ringing of a bell located high on a pole beside the fire station.
 In 1922, the department purchased it's first motor driven vehicle, a 1922 Model T Ford truck. The two water tanks from the hose cart were placed on the truck. In 1936, a 1935 Ford truck was purchased to replace the 13 year old Model T. During this time, a new City Hall had been constructed and directly behind the new building, a garage large enough to house the new engine (and a street truck) was built for $188. This garage, added on to many times, was in use until 1967. Sometime during the early 1930's, an electric siren was also purchased and installed, replacing the "old bell" that had served as the fire alarm for so many years. In the 1930's, other improvements included the installation of hydrants, more fire hose and a new 363 foot deep well to replace Dream Lake as the City's water supply. For many years, the Apopka Fire Department was the only fire department in northwest Orange County.
With an average of 12 - 15 volunteer firefighters and a fire chief, it was not unusual for the Apopka Fire Department to respond to calls in areas outside Apopka such as, Zellwood, Tangerine, Forest City, Lockhart, Mount Plymouth, Clarcona and Lake Apopka. In the early 1940's, as Apopka continued to grow, more volunteers were added to the department, increasing the roster to about 20 volunteers. The Fire Chief, Chief Don Kenney, made some additional improvements. Chief Kenney appointed five assistant chiefs, improved the department's training, and instituted a pay rate of $1.00 per call for volunteers - to assist with cleaning and replacing clothes that were damaged while fighting fires. Chief Kenney also purchased a copy of the "Fire Chief's Handbook" and joined the International Association of Fire Chiefs. During the 1940's, Apopka also passed it's first two city ordinances which pertained to the fire department. The first ordinance prohibited vehicles from following a pumper from a distance of 500 feet or less and prohibited any vehicle from parking or passing a pumper within the same distance. The second ordinance gave the fire chief full authority at a fire scene as well as the authority to establish a safety zone. As war broke out in December of 1941, Chief Kenney and many other Apopkan's left to serve in the military.
Due to the shortage of young men in the area, the Apopka High School agreed to let some of the senior class boys become volunteer firefighters to help protect the city. By the end of the war, the city council agreed that improvements for the fire department were in order. Former Chief Grossenbacher, then a city commissioner, wrote the specifications for a new pumper, and presented proposed plans to improve the fire fighting capability of the 1935 pumper. This was a very progressive step, in that firefighters would now have more water readily available at fire scenes. The plans were approved. In 1947 a second fire pumper was purchased and a 500 gallon water tank was added to the 1935 pumper. The new pumper, purchased from General Corporation, was placed in service in early 1948. It included a 500 G.P.M pump, a 350 gallon water tank, a hose bed containing 1200 feet of 2 ˝" hose, a 24 foot extension ladder, a 14 foot roof ladder, a booster reel with 150 feet of hose, portable fire extinguishers, 2 straight tip nozzles, a fire axe and several other small fire fighting tools.
 Another major change took place with the purchase of 1 ˝" hose and new fog nozzles. Since there were no pre-connect compartments, a hose box was made to carry the hose above the hose bed. Both pumpers soon had these new lines that allowed firefighters to make fast attacks on fires, and allowed firefighters to maneuver hose lines easier. The second pumper was originally purchased to protect the city, in the event that the first pumper was needed at fire located outside of Apopka. The Insurance Services Organization (ISO) had made this request, in order to keep the insurance rates from rising in the city. In 1946, the Apopka Fire Department added a 1919 Ladder Truck to it's fleet purchased from the City of Orlando for $1.00. In 1919, a bright red American LaFrance Service Ladder Truck rolled into the Orlando Fire Department. It sported a 55-foot wooden ladder and a tank beneath the driver’s seat where soda and acid could be combined to create a chemical that extinguished fires. The fire engine cost $7,650, a fair price to pay back in 1919. It was lettered as Orlando Fire Engine No. 3 and remained in service with
Orlando for 29 years. On May 17th, 1948, the then Mayor of Apopka, Dr. Charles Damsel, purchased the ladder truck from the Orlando Fire Department for $1. It may have been the best deal Apopka had ever made. Retired Fire Chief Roy Gilliam said the truck was worth thousands of dollars and was “the darling of the Apopka Fire Department”.
 The type 14, 4 cylinder ladder truck was the ultimate in firefighting equipment, carrying a full range of scaling ladders and all its original equipment including a safety net that could be used to rescue persons who were trapped on upper floors along with all of its original ladders. The truck still rode on wooden wheels and carried four Dietz King lanterns, the forerunners of the modern flashlight. The fire engine with its hand operated bell and hand cranked engine was the pride of the department. The truck was used regularly from 1948 until 1955, when newer equipment pushed the old ladder truck aside. According to Mayor Land, the truck deteriorated until the fire department made the restoration of the LaFrance one of its projects. They cleaned up and polished the old truck and was a favorite of area parades and exhibitions and had participated in Orlando’s annual fire prevention programs. In 1979, the ladder truck was officially taken out of service and never used again. It was stored in an empty bay at the old city garage where by accident, a garbage truck backed into the front of the truck causing damage to the radiator that was just too expensive to repair. The fate of the truck appeared unknown and dismal.Finally in 1990, the city approved a permanent loan of the truck to the Orange County Historical Museum and will be displayed in one of Orlando’s first fire stations which the museum obtained and moved to an area behind the main museum. The Apopka name remained on the truck and the museum is responsible for the upkeep of it. Included in the exhibit are several other pieces of fire fighting equipment including a steam pumper built in the late 1800’s. The first all service masks, used to protect firefighters from smoke, and the first foam and foam nozzles were purchased and placed into service in 1949. In the 1950's, more growth brought more improvements to the Apopka Fire Department. A third pumper, purchased from the American La France Corporation, was put into service in 1953. Roy Gilliam, who was a member of the Orlando Fire Department, was appointed Training Officer for Apopka in 1955.
Volunteers met twice a month for training sessions and instructors from the State Fire College were brought in to train recruits.. In 1955 the Apopka Jaycees presented the department with a rescue boat, motor and trailer. Since none of the apparatus could pull the boat, volunteer firefighters raised money to purchase a 1951 ˝ ton truck (This was the beginning of what later would become known as the Apopka Fireman's Association). The 1950's also brought many new rescue tools, capable of handling all types of emergencies.
Firefighters were not only trained how to use these latest tools, they were also trained how to administer first aid to victims. Records show that the department responded to a total of 61 alarms in 1958. In 1959, a new Class A 750-G.P.M. pumper was purchased from American La France for $24,000. This pumper would be the first of many Class A pumpers purchased throughout the years by the Apopka Fire Department. Another important acquisition in this decade was the purchase of turnout gear, which included fire helmets, turnout coats and fire boots. The first self-contained air packs were also purchased from Scott Corporation, allowing the firefighters to enter almost any fire situation to make more aggressive attacks. During the 1950's the department's standard operating procedures included a response of 2 pumpers and the rescue truck to all structure fires. The third pumper was held in reserve in the event of a second call, which met the requirements of ISO. In 1960, Mayor John Land appointed Roy Gilliam as Fire Chief, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1981. Chief Gilliam, a former Lieutenant from the Orlando Fire Department and Training Officer for the Apopka Fire Department since 1955, was well versed in all phases of fire fighting and had the necessary experience to lead the department into a new era.
In the early 1960's, the Apopka Fire Department received it's first VHF 2-Way mobile radios, base station and 24 hour dispatching. During this time, many areas in Orange County, including Zellwood, had begun forming their own fire departments. As the fire calls increased in Apopka, so did the rescue calls, which prompted the department to purchase it's first resuscitator. Once again, the firefighters used their own funds to purchase a larger 1957 1-Ton Chevrolet panel truck, to replace the older rescue truck involved in an accident. The firefighters on board were not seriously injured in the accident and none of the equipment inside the truck was damaged. During the 1960's, the highest amount of calls answered in one year, was 108 in 1962.
 On February 14, 1966, Brewster Bray, owner of the local funeral home, met with Mayor John Land, and informed him that he was discontinuing ambulance service in the Apopka area. He offered his equipped 1964 Pontiac ambulance to the city free of charge, if the city would take over the ambulance service. Mayor Land met with Chief Gilliam and it was decided that since the men were already trained in advanced first aid, the Apopka Fire Department would begin ambulance services in Apopka the very next day. Apopka Fire Department was the first city in Orange County to provide ambulance services to it's citizens - a service which is still provided today. The area covered by this ambulance was well over 100 square miles and it was soon discovered that another ambulance was needed. A new 1966 International ambulance arrived in late 1966, and more firefighters received additional training in emergency treatment. On February 3rd 1966 Bray-Altman Funeral Home discontinued their ambulance service in the Apopka area. It was common practice in the days prior to EMS that the local funeral homes handled the ambulance service. Brewster Bray, owner of the funeral home said that for financial reasons it was just impossible to continue the operation, he pointed out that only a small percentage of the charges for service were collectable and that he had continued for a long time, operating at a substantial loss. He also pointed out that with new regulations in training employees and added equipment on the ambulances that the costs kept mounting day by day. The Orlando ambulance companies said that they could not put a sub-station in Apopka. These private ambulance firms wanted the city to subsidize them a minimum of $30,000 to provide service to the area.  When this was learned, Mayor John Land asked Chief Gilliam how long it would take Apopka to have an ambulance service. Since all the Volunteer Firemen had first aid training and the Apopka Emergency truck could be used, Gilliam said- immediately. Brewster Bray said he regretted the discontinuing of service and offered to do all that he could to cooperate with the new service. He donated his ambulance, a 1962 Pontiac Station Wagon.  An organizational meeting was held on February 14th at the fire department for the new free Volunteer Ambulance Service. Present were a committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and a committee of Volunteer Firemen. This new ambulance service would not only be for the city of Apopka, but for the entire Apopka area which included Fullers corner, Clarcona, Lockhart, Wekiva Springs, Welch Rd., Mt. Dora, Tangerine, Lake Ola, out on the muck and back to Fullers corner. Roy Gilliam would be head of the Volunteer Ambulance Service, since he was Chief of the fire department, and the ambulance service would be a branch of the fire department. The First Aid and rescue Squad would operate on a non-profit voluntary basis collecting no set fees for providing the ambulance on call, but would be set up a donation basis whereby the entire community and surrounding area would participate in the operation. There would be no paid personnel, but the service would be called by an alerting system similar to that for volunteer firemen. The Rescue Squad would operate with the city’s blessing, but would not be a department of or owned by the city. The City agreed to help finance some of the expenses involved in purchasing new equipment, which included a new ambulance. Fund drives were established and donations were accepted to help in repaying the city.  The first fund drive for the new service was unofficially started with a $25.00 donation made by Townsend’s Bait and Tackle Shop and The World of Suds Coin Laundry agreed to do all the linens for the Emergency Ambulance free of charge. Several other local businesses and citizens helped support the squad with donations. The Chamber of Commerce kept a permanent committee to assist in future fund drives in order to perpetuate this ambulance service.
 In May of 1966, only three months into the new service, a new International ambulance was received along with new first aid equipment. This unit was immediately placed into service and the 1962
Pontiac was placed in reserve status.In September of this first year of service, a WESH-TV 2 camera crew spent two days in Apopka filming a half-hour show. The subject of the documentary was the situation of ambulance service since funeral homes throughout the state have given up this service. Apopka’s portion of the show dealt with the setting up, manning, and operation of the Apopka Emergency Ambulance Service. A camera crew spent most of two days in Apopka filming sequences which will be used. Considerable time was spent filming a pre-planned ambulance “call”. The call was set up to show the rapid response of members of the Emergency Squad when a call is received. The ambulance was filmed in its shed, on the way to the call and at the scene. For the call a squad of football players at Apopka Memorial High School pretended to be holding a practice session. One of them supposedly suffered a broken arm during the practice and an ambulance was called. Many shots of the ambulance crewmen working on the injured player and removing him to the hospital were taken. The show was aired in November, just in time for the start of the next annual fund drive to get under way. The new service celebrated its first anniversary in February of 1967, marking a year of faithful and extensive service to the citizens of Northwest Orange County. It was a year of service without compensation – in so many instances that the service was deeply in the red. During the first year, 358 calls were answered. No one in need was ever refused service. This volunteer service was in the red for two reasons: not all calls were emergencies and the public was not supporting this free service by donations. Many who had used the service failed to give even a token amount. Several area large industries helped support the new service in its first year. American Can Company donated $500.00 and The Minute Maid Company donated $300.00. Both companies were located in the Plymouth area. Individual donations of smaller sums helped swell the fund. The service now had 15 men who were qualified to drive and to assist in the calls. They were all trained in first aid. The original 1962 Pontiac was still being used as a back up unit when the International was out on another call. The City worked very closely with the Volunteer ambulance Service, which was soon to be housed in the new City Fire Station on Fifth Street. Operating in the red, the service was kept going by the city. All donations (which never seemed to be enough) went toward wiping out the deficit. The Emergency Squad now owed the city $2,200. It was soon realized that something had to be done to lessen the debt encured by the new service.
Friday, September 28 th 1967 became the official starting date of the Apopka Emergency Squad Ambulance fund drive. A ceremony for the initial membership purchase was held at the Apopka Fire Department where the two Emergency Squad ambulances were housed. Dr. T.E. McBride, a pioneer resident as well as the oldest practicing physician in the Apopka area purchased the first membership card for the drive. Chief Gilliam was quoted as  J.B Ragsdale of the Plymouth based American Can Company hands over a check for $500.00 to Fire Chief Roy Gilliam. Also donating was J.A Vickery, President of the United Steel Workers of America who hands a check to C.L. Christiansen, Chairman of the Apopka area Chamber of Commerce.
Saying “this will be a historic moment since this is the method that will be used for now on to support the Emergency Squad.” In the next several weeks, volunteers attempted to canvass every home in the entire Emergency Squad coverage area to have them join the membership. It would cost only $1.00 per family member per year. A membership card would then be issued entitling the member to free transport to the hospital for one year. Non members would be charged $25.00 per call after the drive. For such a nominal fee, this gave the residents of the area a modern well-equipped pair of ambulances ready to respond night or day to any emergency. The goal for the drive was to raise $7,000. With this money the city could be paid back and the Squad would have enough money to operate the service through 1968. On September 30th, the first membership card was turned in for service. A woman who had just purchased her membership that morning had fallen that afternoon and sustained a broken shoulder. She was transported to Mercy Medical Center. In just the first three days of the fund drive, over $2,700 was raised. 2,200 cards were sold and $500.00 was outright donated to start of the fund in fine style. By October 10th, 65 percent of the $7,000 goal had been collected and turned into the Apopka City Clerk. By October 23rd, The Apopka Emergency Squad ambulance fund drive exceeded the $7,000 goal set less than a month earlier. The Zellwood Volunteer Fire Department continued to solicit funds for the ambulance and cards were still available at the Zellwood fire station. On November 10th, Chief Gilliam had the pleasure of presenting Mayor John Land a check in the sum of $3,114.43. This completely paid off the debt owed to the city. The Apopka Emergency Squad was now out of debt for the first time in 18 months. The formal drive for operating funds for the squad was now at an end. A total of $8,244.04 had been collected through Christmas. In the second year of service, the Emergency Squad transported 450 patients with the busiest day having nine transports in one 24-hour period. On December 7th, 1967, Chief Gilliam announced that a new ambulance was ordered for the Apopka Emergency Squad. It would be a 1968 model Chevrolet Suburban Carryall and would be purchased through funds collected during the membership drive. The 1962 Pontiac which was being used as a backup ambulance, would be sold and some of the equipment transferred to the new ambulance. With the arrival of the Chevrolet, this gave the Emergency Squad two late model ambulances available for use. It was put into service on March 14th, 1968. In 1967, with fire calls increasing and equipment aging, the city council agreed to purchase two new Class A pumpers from W.S. Darley. In 1968, with the arrival of the two new Darley pumpers, the 1935 and 1947 Ford Pumpers were retired from service. In addition to the completion of a new Fire and Police Headquarters, the Apopka Fire Department hired it's first full-time firefighter, Hollis Nesmith, who manned the station by day, while volunteers manned the station by night. From this time forward, the Apopka Fire Department was staffed 24 hours a day. Soon after, volunteers received plectrons (FM receivers that could be placed in their homes) allowing firefighters to receive the dispatch information immediately. This meant they could now respond even faster to emergency calls. As ambulance calls continued to increase, a third ambulance was added to the fleet. Additional ambulance calls also meant additional recruitment of volunteers. Since there was no budget for the new ambulance, the firefighters raised money to support this service and purchase additional equipment. Passes were sold for $1.00 per person, or $5.00 per family. The pass entitled the holder one free use of the ambulance, during a one year period, if needed. Businesses and citizens alike contributed to the fund for several years until the city instituted a budget for the ambulance services.
In 1970, Chief Gilliam was hired on full-time, this gave the department two full-time employees during the day, one to respond a fire engine and one to respond an ambulance. Volunteers still covered the evenings and weekends. As rapid growth continued in the Apopka area, a special taxing district was approved by the State Legislature. The district collected monies and paid the Apopka Fire Department on a contractual basis for fire protection in the area. The fee per home was $10 and $20 for businesses. With this new revenue coming in, the Mayor and Council decided it was time to hire additional personnel and in November 1972, nine additional men were hired (most of whom were volunteers) as full-time firefighters and ambulance attendants. Three shifts were created, with three men on each shift. Four full-time dispatchers were also hired to man the phones and radios on a 24 hour basis. Three additional firefighters were added to full-time status in 1973, and again in 1975 bringing the on-duty shift personnel to five men per shift. In 1975, the fire department responded to 2,296 calls, a substantial increase from the 426 calls that they responded to in 1966. The 1970's also saw the purchase of a 5,000 gallon tanker truck, a woods truck, a new (walk-thru type van) rescue truck and equipment, new ambulances, extrication equipment and training, and the department's first four paramedics. These paramedics were enrolled in the first paramedic program offered in Orange County. As the state mandated that firefighters receive at least 200 hours of firefighter training, the Apopka Fire Department began offering classes to all firefighters in the Central Florida area. A new training tower was constructed at the fire station to accommodate fire training standards. Training was maintained at a very high level throughout the 1970's as many new tools and equipment became available to the fire and EMS service. One of the most important tools that first became available to the fire service in the 1970's was the "Hurst Tool". This power tool could exert a much greater force than any other tool available and would allow rescue efforts to be more aggressive, safer and less time consuming. The cost, however, was over $4000 and many departments could not afford them. Through local organizational donations and community support Apopka was able to purchase this life-saving tool. In 1977, another new pumper from W.S. Darley was purchased which boasted the department's first "5-man" cab. A 1978 Ford 1,000G.P.M. 5-man cab was purchased and placed into service in 1979 to replace one of the older pumpers that was declared a total loss as a result of an auto accident.
On August 5th, 1977, the department received its newest engine in almost ten years. A 1000 gallon per minute Ford Pumper built by the Darley Corporation was received. It was a first of its kind for Apopka. It was equipped with a jumpseat for firefighters to sit and be fastened in while enroute to an incident. This was a much safer way of transporting firefighters to and from a fire. It was a common practice in the past for firefighters to ride on the tailboard of the fire truck. The new engine cost $50,000 and came with the latest and some of the most advanced equipment available to the fire service. It was the pride and joy of the Apopka Fire Department.August 5 th , 1977
The 1000gpm Ford Darley pumper delivered to Apopka on . It was the pride and joy of the department but would be short lived.
On Wednesday November 12th, only three months after the arrival of the new engine, near tragedy struck the department. The new engine was responding to a report of a mobile home fire on Lewis Street off of Rock Springs Rd. when it collided with a car at the intersection of Welch and Rock Springs Road flipping the engine on its side and landing in a deep ditch. Lieutenant Jim Page and firefighter David Murphy were both injured in the accident. Lt. Murphy received a back injury. Both were transported to Florida Hospital Apopka and admitted. The driver of the car was uninjured. The new engine was a total loss. By the time the second fire engine arrived at the mobile home fire, the trailer was also a complete loss.
 The late 1970's also brought about the retirement of the 1919 Ladder Truck, which was replaced by the purchase of a 1950 Seagrave 85' Ladder Truck. As growth continued, both in the city and county, it became necessary to change the tax district fee system to a millage method of taxation in the early 1980's. The continued growth of the city to the north created the need for a second fire station to be built on West Welch Road, the purchase of a new pumper, and the hiring of six additional firefighters.
The new station, Station #2, housed a pumper, an ambulance, a woods truck, and the new full-time firefighters. Station #3, built by firefighters to house one pumper in Clarcona (manned by volunteers in the Clarcona area) was moved onto city owned property in 1982. A double wide mobile home was added to house six full-time firefighters, as well as, an ambulance and woods truck. As more firefighters successfully completed the paramedic program, the department was now capable of assigning a least one paramedic to each of the three stations, on each of the three shifts.
In late 1981, Chief Leroy F. Gilliam retired from the Apopka Fire Department. As Chief Gilliam had played a vital part in the training of firefighters during his more than 25 years of service, funds were raised to build a training center, across from Station #1, in his honor. Upon completion of the building in 1982, it was named the "
Leroy F. Gilliam Training Center". The training center is still utilized by the fire department, as well as other city departments, for continuing education and training sessions.
 In 1985, EMS Coordinator/Lieutenant Richard Anderson, became the departments newest Fire Chief. Chief Anderson began as a dispatcher for the department, who then became a full-time firefighter/EMT, and successfully completed the requirements to become one of the first paramedics in Orange County. As a strong and progressive leader, Chief Anderson has been responsible for many positive and progressive changes as Apopka's Fire Chief. Today, the department is rated by ISO as a class 1 department. This puts the Apopka Fire Department in the top .09% of the country. Apopka boasts 75 full-time firefighters, an administrative staff of 5, 30 volunteers, 4 fire stations, an arson canine, and a host of the latest technological and state-of-the art equipment available to the fire and EMS services.
As the Apopka Fire Department, along with the rest of the world, moves forward into the 21st Century, we will continue to look for ways of enhancing our life-saving capabilities, the safety of our firefighters, the fire safety education of our citizens, as well as reducing the loss of lives and property. The members of the Apopka Fire Department are proud of our heritage, and are proud to continue to provide the citizens of Apopka with the same dedication and professional services they have relied on for the past hundred years. |
