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1944
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April 1944 - Flood of 1944 - Chastain Lumber Co. fire at 115 Pattie.
April 1944 - Lumber yard fire during the flood.
April 1944 - Army crews worked from No. 1 station during the flood of 1944.
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April 1944 - Chief Inspector Braden's funeral - 3rd death in 6 months. | Five months after this tragedy on April 6, 1944, Chief Fire Inspector Gail F. Braden was killed during a routine fire inspection of a tailor shop located at 221 South Main. He and Assistant Chief Wood had gone to the shop on a reinspection, when without warning, the proprietor Bargel K. Stanley pulled a pistol and shot Chief Braden in the back. Chief Wood ran through a hail of gunfire, crashed through the front window and summoned the police. The proprietor was killed by Police officers when it appeared he was going to shoot at them.
Honor came to the Wichita Fire Department in 1944. Wichita Fire Prevention not only succeeded in winning first place in her population class but won the grand award among cities of all classes. A cup was presented to the City by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the NFPA presented the Grand Award plaque. Shoulder patches were worn on dress uniforms to commemorate this award.
Less glamorous than winning awards, the Wichita Fire Department was called upon to help sandbag along the Little Arkansas River when it flooded. Horses from the City Yard were hitched to the one remaining hose wagon and used to answer fire alarms in flooded areas, stationed at No. 7 Station.
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Related to 10 - New Leaders |
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