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1976
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January 9, 1976 - Hallar Warehouse fire, 2nd and Mead.
1976 - Fire, fire everywhere.
1976 - Watchman's booth, Station No. 2.
c. Late 1970's - Station No. 2 B-Shift with Chief Hobbs, Chaplain Greenlee, and TV's "EMERGENCY" star Kevin Tighe.
c. Late 1970's - Actor Kevin Tighe with Station #11 "C" Shift.
c. Late 1970's - Station 19 crew during visit of actor Kevin Tighe.
c. Late 1970's - Fire Appreciation Day - actor Kevin Tighe at West Side Christian Church.
c. Late 1970's - Kevin Tighe with Gary Smith visiting local hospitals.
1425 S. McLean - "Keeping low."
| January 1976, the 1975 statistics fell by the wayside as fire destroyed the Hallar Warehouse at 2nd and Meade with a $100,000 loss. A month later, one of the fire-weakened brick walls collapsed on a car, injuring two citizens. This incident occurred in spite of warnings by the Fire Department that it should be considered a dangerous building and that it should be demolished immediately.
It only seemed fitting to end the busy month of January with a "Bang." As the new Aerial Platform Truck AP2 turned the corner of Lewis and Emporia, a fifty foot ladder mounted on the side came loose from its brackets and crashed through the rear window of a car and continued up through the roof, showering the occupants with glass. No one was seriously injured; however, the company officer Lt. B.G. Campbell nearly suffered a myocardial infarction when he was advised by the dispatcher of the accident; he didn't know the machine had lost the ladder.
March of that year, the City opened firefighter positions to women after an affirmative action plan was adopted. Six women applied - none qualified.
In January of 1976, the Wichita Fire Department took over responsibility for fire hydrant maintenance, and hydrant inspection by firefighters was started.
Accepted with more enthusiasm was the advent of the Kelly days, 48 additional hours off per year. This was later lengthened to four days the following year.
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Related to 12 - A New Beginning |
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