The History of the Hurst Fire Department
 The
first meeting of the Hurst Volunteer Fire Department was held on May
19, 1952. At that time, William Souder was elected
the first Fire Chief; G. H. Fleming, Assistant Chief; Lindley Lucas,
Captain; and Lyn Gregory, Lieutenant. The department was officially
established as the Hurst Volunteer Fire Department on July 17, 1952.
There were 16 charter members. The Fire Station was in a tin barn
located in the 200 block of the present Brown Trail, now a major thoroughfare
through the city. The city covered an area of about one square mile and had a population
of approximately 200 at that time.
A donation of $17.00 started the bank account of the department,
which through other donations of local businesses and interested
citizens began to grow. Activities such as ice cream socials, raffles,
chili suppers, and carnivals, held by members of the department
added money to the fund. In 1952 a bank loan was obtained to buy
the first engine, a 250 GPM pumper with a 750 gallon water tank.
A county allotment, along with the support of the local citizens
and the continued enthusiasm of the Volunteers, raised funds to
purchase a 1942 GMC 500 GPM pumper in early 1955. The first major fire encountered by the newly organized department
was the explosion of a residence on Wanda Way Drive, where two small
children were rescued from beneath the wreckage. The damage was
estimated to be $13,000 to $15,000 with no serious injuries.
The proficient department won many events at the area pumper races,
winning various pieces of equipment for the department. Other equipment
was purchased piece by piece. Funds were raised by the Volunteers
and the Ladies' Auxiliary through activities and events such as
style shows, barn dances, Christmas tree sales, and chili suppers
that were supported and enjoyed by the entire community.
The construction of the new brick fire station on Holder Drive
in 1955 could well symbolize the dedication of the Volunteer Department.
The labor and much of the material was given freely by the men of
the Department, and businessmen of Hurst in the interest, protection,
and pride in their city. In 1956 the first squad truck, a 1947 International telephone
service truck, was purchased and put into service. The first apparatus
purchased by the City of Hurst was a new 1956 American LaFrance,
500 GPM pumper and a 250 GPM GMC tanker with a 750- gallon water
tank in 1957.
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In 1959 the City purchased a new 1,000 GPM American LaFrance series
900 pumper for the rapidly growing community. Two full-time paid
drivers were added to the Department in 1961. Within the following
four years four more paid men were added. All of these men had served
as Volunteer fireman and are now serving as officers in the Hurst
Fire Department.
A second fire station was built in 1961 at 1229 Hurstview Drive
by the City of Hurst. It was manned on a 24-hour basis. In 1966
another station was added to the Department. During this time the
Department was operating as a volunteer-paid Department. Civil Service
status was adopted in 1968 and the Fire Department was authorized
to hire its first paid Fire Chief.
The station is located at the intersection of Precinct Line Road
and Redbud Drive. That same year, the City of Hurst hired their
first paid Fire Chief, L. C. "Bud" Miller. Chief Miller
was a retired Battalion Chief from the Dallas Fire Department. Under the leadership of Chief Miller, the Hurst Fire Department
began to expand and grow. In 1971 the Fire Department had 18 paid
men. In November 1971 the Fire Department was authorized to hire
9 new members which would increase the shift manning from 6 men
to 9 men. With the increased size of the Department, more room was needed
to accommodate the 9 men shifts. There was a city building located
at 1229 Hurstview Drive that was being used by the Water Department
Dispatchers. The firefighters remodeled the building themselves
and made it ready for Hurst Fire Station # 2. Hurst now had 6 men
located in Station #1 and 3 men located in station #2.
In 1972, the Hurst Fire Department purchased a new fire engine.
It was a Chrome Yellow, 1250 GPM, Mack Pumper. In 1974, a second
1250 GPM Chrome yellow Mack Pumper was placed into service. The Hurst Fire Department was the first department to break from
the traditional "Fire Engine Red" vehicles. Safety and
visibility was an important issue and the Chrome Yellow was much
more visible than the traditional Fire Engine Red, in the daylight
and dark.
In 1977 Chief Miller resigned from the Hurst Fire Department to
spend more time with his wife and grand kids. Chief Joe Irwin was
appointed as the second Fire Chief of Hurst.
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Under the leadership of Chief Irwin the Fire Department began to
grow. The population of Hurst began to grow and the northern part
of Hurst was becoming more and more populated. There was a need
for better fire protection in the northern part of Hurst. A site
for a new station was chosen at the corner of Precinct Line Road
and Cannon Drive.
The new Main Fire Station was opened in 1980. In that same year,
the City of Hurst purchased a new 100-foot Sutphen Aerial Ladder.
It was the pride of Hurst, and the envy of most of Tarrant County. A new station and a new aerial ladder would require more manpower.
In 1980 6 new firefighters was added to the Department. This gave
Hurst 12 men per shift. Hurst was now responding to emergencies
with 3 engines and a 100 foot aerial ladder.
In the late 1970s and the early 1980s medical training was becoming
more and more a part of the fire service. All the firefighters in
Hurst were EMT's. In 1989 the Hurst Fire Department began its Advanced
Life Support first responder program. Several members of the Fire
Department went to Paramedic School so that every engine was manned
with at least one paramedic.
In October 1996 the Hurst Fire Department expanded and was authorized
to hire an Assistant Fire Chief. Rick Frye was appointed in May
as the Chief over Fire Operations. After nearly 20 years of service to the City of Hurst and the
Hurst Fire Department, Chief Joe Irwin retired. Assistant Chief
Rick Frye was appointed as the new Fire Chief. Lt. Jerry Henderson
was appointed as the new Assistant Fire Chief of Fire Operations.
The City Council authorized the Fire Department to begin a "fire department based ambulance service." in July 1999. This included purchasing two ambulances and hiring nine personnel to staff the ambulances.
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 October 1, 2000 the City of Hurst Fire Department began running the emergency ambulance service for the citizens of Hurst.
The Department added 3 more firefighter/paramedics in October of 2002, to help with the manning of the ambulances and the fire vehicles. Seventeen personnel on each shift with fourteen personnel minimum staffing per shift. Fifty personnel total on the three shifts. In November 2002, John Brown was appointed Fire Chief. Chief Brown retired as the Assistant Fire Chief of Albuquerque New Mexico Fire Department and was Chief of the Odessa (Texas) Fire Department before coming to Hurst.
August 2006, the Fire Department refurbished the MICU ambulances. This significance of such is that they were painted with the new “red and white” paint scheme. These vehicles were the first red vehicles since approximately 1970. 
In January 2008, the Fire Department took delivery of the first red fire apparatus, Quint 203.
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