On August 23, 1886, Mayor Aldrich appointed A.G. Walden, Fire Marshal, a position Mr. Walden held until the time of his death in 1917. At the time Mr. Walden assumed charge as head of the Wichita Fire Department, the equipment consisted of three small frame buildings and the following equipment: No. 1 hand hose reel, No. 2 hand hose reel, one hook and ladder truck and 2,000 feet of inferior hose.

The following is the first report submitted by Mr. Walden to the council. It was unanimously adopted.

To the Honorable Mayor and Gentlemen of the City Council:

I would respectfully recommend that the City purchase a two-horse hose carriage and horses and harness for the same, 1,000 feet of hose, one fire alarm bell weighing not less than 3,000 pounds.

That the Fire Marshal be instructed to engage 16 men, 4 of them shall be experienced firemen, at a salary not to exceed $50 per month. Requiring them to be on duty at all times: the remaining 12 to be paid not to exceed $7 per month, and be required to sleep within one block of the engine house, and to forfeit $3 of their pay for each and every time they fail to be present when called by the fire alarm.

That the hook and ladder company remain in the 5th Ward until such time as water mains are extended to that ward, when it will be removed to this side of the river, and that one of the hand hose carriages with a sufficient quantity of hose be placed in the 5th Ward, the men in charge to be paid as above, but they will answer no call on this side of the river unless called by special signal from the central engine house.

That the City purchase 60 feet of 1 1/4 inch rope and a 12 foot ladder for the 5th Ward Company.

That the fire bell now in use on this side be removed to the 5th Ward as soon as practical and that the City purchase gongs, wire and battery sufficient to give electrical communications between the central and sub-stations.

It is further recommended that the hose house on North Market Street be repaired and made suitable for engine house purposes, and the building occupied by the hook and ladder company in the 5th Ward be newly roofed and a new floor put in.

Signed
A.G. Walden, Fire Marshall

There were those who were concerned with the extravagance of the new Chief and said, "The Chief was just letting out enough rope (60 feet) to hang himself."

Fire Marshal A.G. Walden began at once to build the newly formed department into a solid organization by the appointment of men who were in his opinion dedicated to the task of fire protection. One of the first was A.S. Brownewell, who was later destined to lead the department. The order was placed for two horses, a hose carriage and harness. Hose House Number 1 had been remodeled and made ready for the arrival of the new equipment.

After the arrival of the first horsedrawn equipment, the Fire Department really came into its own. Faster response could be made and consequently the loss by fire subsided somewhat. But Wichita was on a building spree and in 1886, 1,200 new dwellings and 108 brick businesses were erected (53 of the business buildings were 3 story).

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