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1942
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1942 - Drill Crew at Station No. 2. Note khaki uniforms and Captain Bob.
Captain Bob surveys his kingdom - Station No. 2.
New Station No. 9 opens in 1942. Kellogg & Dellrose.
October 7, 1942 - Dedication and Auxiliary Firemens' Induction during Fire Prevention Week at Fire Station No. 9.
| In May 1942, the appointment of six new District Chiefs, nine Captains, twelve Lieutenants and replacement of the Drillmaster again boosted morale. Midyear 1942, trouble erupted again for the department when fireman Byron E. Baker (Union president) was terminated, which again resulted in charges being brought against the Fire Chief. Fire Inspector Kinsall charged intolerable conditions existed in the Fire Department, and the Chief had fired Baker because he couldn't shove him around. Fortunately, this matter was groundless and the issue was settled.
On August 3, the department was stunned by the accidental death of Fire Chief Wendel. He had gone to his cabin on the Ninnescah with several friends on a fishing trip. Before retiring for the evening, he had stepped outside and hearing a hump, the guests went to investigate and found Chief Wendel lying at the foot of a flight of stairs. He had injured a foot during a fire several years before, and it had caused him severe pain for several days. It was believed that this injured foot contributed to the cause of the fall. In a period of less than two years, there were to be three chiefs of the department.
On August 7, 1942, Iva A. Martindale was appointed Chief of the Wichita Fire Department and District Chief Elgin Wood was selected as his Assistant. Chief Martindale had been a member of the department for forty-one years and was 72 years of age at the time he assumed the Chief's position.
In September of that year, 200 auxiliary firemen, trained by station captains, put on a review of their firefighting skills for the public. A new Fire Department Training Manual was adopted, which was expected to do away with disputes and establish the duties and responsibilities of each department member.
A change in uniform went into effect in the summer of 1942, when khaki work uniforms were adopted for summer wear. This came as a welcome relief, since the old blue serge pants and chambray shirts were almost unbearable during the hot months spent in drill sessions. This change probably occurred as a result of a statement made by Chief Martindale after a news article quoted him as saying "Some of the men are wearing Khaki, others wear overalls or old tattered clothing, making an unsightly looking group of men."
The old fire house dog "Captain Bob" went to dog heaven and ended a career of 12 glorious years with the Wichita Fire Department. He was probably in the news more than any other member of the department, with literally dozens of pictures and articles being written about him. He was a genuine fire dog in every respect. He had answered approximately 7,000 alarms during his career and was said to have been an excellent plug finder.
Later in the year, New No. 9 Station was opened at Kellogg and Dellrose, sixteen men were trained to man the new facility.
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