The first record of any organized effort to fight fire was an ordinance passed by the Town Trustees in May of 1836.  This ordinance made it compulsory for every owner of a building in Piqua to provide a ladder of sufficient length to reach any part of the building, and every building must have at least two leather buckets of three gallons capacity.  These leather buckets were made by Jacob Landes for many of the owners. 

This "Bucket Brigade" when responding to an alarm, would form in lines to the nearest well or stream and pass the filled buckets along one line to the fire where the water was thrown on the fire, and the empty bucket passed back along a second line for a refill.  The line passing empty buckets was frequently composed of women and children.  In those days, the excitement of a fire could only be compared to the excitement of a circus. 

In the first week of March, 1839, a team was sent to Columbus to take delivery of a first rate fire engine.  This fire engine, costing $1075, was soon called "Teakettle" because of its shape, although its official name was Reliance No. 1.  This engine was purchased by public subscription and it came supplied with 250 feet of hose, suction hose, coupling boxes, wrenches and other supplies.  "Teakettle" was kept for a time in the old frame market house, but in December of 1842, the engine was moved to a room rented from Col. John Johnston just south of the National Hotel. 

In 1845 hooks and ladders were ordered from Caleb Jones & Sons for the use of the newly organized Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1.  Also in this year, three firewells were dug.  They were six feet in diameter and placed near the curb line of the street.  There was one at the southwest corner of North and Downing streets, one at the southwest corner of Ash and Downing, one at the southwest corner of High and Downing.  Each of these wells were supplied with large wooden pumps installed by Jonathan Legg. 

These wells were intended to supply water to the bucket brigade, the fire engine, and also public drinking places.  At this time, wells were still on the north and south sides of the public square about fifty feet from Main Street.

 Also in 1845, fire-wardens were appointed in each ward.  In 1st ward, then warden was Isaac S. Clark.  In the 2nd ward, Simeon French was appointed warden.  In the 3rd ward, David Jordan and in the 5th Ward, John Keyt.

In the fall of 1848, a committee of the town council bought a Farnam & Swift hand fire-engine in Cincinnati at a cost of $900. This engine was peculiar from the fact that the men working the brakes were seated in two rows on top of the machine, and pulled back and forth very much like rowing a boat.  Its seating capacity was 24 men. The engine was originally named the “Ohio No. 2,” but was better known as the “Old Row-boat.” It was taken in charge by “Independent Co. No. 1.” 

Jan. 2, 1855, new fire-wardens were appointed as follows: 1st Ward, S. S. McKinney; 2nd Ward, W. N. Foster; 3rd Ward, T. J. Lawton; 4th Ward, Henry Rouzer.

April 4, 1856, a new hand fire-engine similar to but larger than' the Reliance.   It was named the “Washington No. 1,” and was kept temporarily in the engine room of the town hall, while the Reliance was moved to a building on River street between Main and Wayne, which was rented from Mr. Humpreville at $50 per year.

In 1857, “Messengers” were appointed for the different fire companies. Their duties were to call out the firemen when needed, and take care of the engines and hose. The following year F. D. Jordan was messenger for the Washington company and B. F. Baily for the Reliance company. 

In July, 1857, the first fire-cistern was constructed at the intersection of Water and Downing streets. Its capacity was 300 barrels.  Later in the year another was built at the intersection of North and Downing by Winans. These cisterns were pumped full of water and used as a supply for the fire-engines.

Jan. 1, 1858, a fire company was organized in the 2nd ward and called the “German Fire Engine Company.” They were given the “Ohio” engine, (Old Row-boat), which they renamed “The Jefferson.”
Late in the year 1858, a new engine was bought from Huneman & Co. $900. This engine had a six and one-half cylinder. It was given to the Jefferson company in place of the Old Row-boat which was nearly
useless. 200 feet of “Gumelastic” hose was also ordered for this new engine, being the first rubber hose used by the fire department.

A new hand fire-engine was bought from Wm. M. Jeffries & Co. for $1,400. It was delivered July 1, 1859, and turned over to the Reliance company. Their old engine, Reliance No. 1, was sold to New Carlisle, Ohio, for $225. In 1859, three more fire cistern were constructed for the city by W. H. Hetherington. One at the intersection of Young and Downing streets; one at the intersection of Main and North; and one at Main and Water. In the following year, another fire cistern was installed at the intersection of Boone and Broadway.

May 18, 1866.  On this date the old Piqua house at the corner of Main and Water streets was partially burned, and the men of the different companies indulged in a fist fight instead of fighting the fire. Council soon passed a resolution ordering the different fire-companies of the city to meet and select by vote some competent person to act as “Chief Engineer” of the fire department, who would have full and exclusive control of all questions of precedence or positions of fire companies at fires, and who would direct any fire company on what duty to perform, and whose decision in all matters shall be final. Dick Manchester was selected for the position.

In September, 1870, Henry Rouzer, acting as a committee from council, bought a lot from Mr. Butterfield on the east side of north Wayne street. On this lot a brick building, known as the 4th Ward Engine House, was built by A. A. McCandliss . It was completed Nov. 9, 1871, and the Reliance company, who had been in the Butterfield shop, took immediate possession.  A similar engine house was completed in Oct., 1878, for the reorganized Jefferson company. It was on the east side of south Wayne street, and was built by E. Brilmier & Bro.

After the completion of the Piqua hydraulic, and when a part of the water mains of the city lied been laid, the Reliance company made a test on one of the hydrants. The natural fall of the water gave them more of a supply than they could pump through the engine. This test was made on Thanksgiving day, 1875.

At a meeting of the Reliance company on July 14, 1870, it was determined to reorganize as a hose company, and Stephen Genslinger was electing captain, with F. A. Hardy as secretary.

On Aug. 21, 1876, council passed an ordinance providing for the organization of a city fire department. This was to consist of not less  than 40 men, to be divided into 4 divisions of 10 men each, and each division to receive $100 per year for their services. Each division, in  addition to the city organization, was to form a separate company, and to annually elect a captain, lieutenant, secretary and treasurer. Thus the Reliance company became the 4th ward hose company, and each of the other three wards organized in the same manner.

The first electrical fire-alarm system in Piqua was ordered by council on Sept. 17, 1877. It was a single line from the City hotel to the pump-house. It was constructed by Lane & Machir. 

Sept. 19, 1881, two one-horse hose reels were ordered from the Central Carriage Co., of Cincinnati. These carts arrived in December. Two horses were soon afterward purchased, with Mont Hardy and Mike Firman being placed on duty as drivers.  Dave Reynolds became night man for the central company.

On May 4, 1882, a new organization of the department was formed with Stephen Genslinger as chief,  and Richard Lee as assistant chief.  Company No. 2 consisted of Henry Hasebrook, Wm. Schubert, Amos Abley, Wm. White, and John Barr as call men.  The call men for Company No. 3 consisted of Willis Dial, Wm. Danford, Geo. Duncan, Thomas Aspinall, and Perry Thompson.  The call men for Company No. 4 were Frank Steiner, John Fessler, Jos. Glaser, Chas. White, and Frank Hunter. These call-men received $25 each per year for their services. 

The new hook and ladder truck was delivered July 1, 1882 then December 24, 1883 the old Spiker carriage shop on the east side of Wayne, High and Ash, was fitted up and the equipment moved in. The fire-bell was removed from the city hall and hung in the new quarters on Oct. 20, 1888.

On Oct. 5, 1885, Frank Hunter was appointed chief of the fire department.  During the period of Chief Hunter’s administration, more regular firemen were added to the force, and the “call” men were gradually dropped.

The Gamewell Fire-Alarm System was installed with 12 boxes in different parts of the city, all connecting with the central station. 

On June 20, 1892, a Champion chemical engine was bought of the Fire extinguisher Co., of Chicago, for $2,000.

September 6, 1892, an Ahrens No. 2 Steam Fire Engine was ordered from the American Fire Engine Co.  It was named the D. S. Bates in honor of a councilman of that name who was then serving on the fire department committee.  A substation was build on the north side of Garnsey Street between Main and Wayne by H. Strohmeyer.  Strohmeyer also finished five rooms in the second story.  The new Steamer was placed in this building with team and men always on duty.

July 17, 1893, Frank Hunter resigned as Chief of the department and was replaced by Frank R. Dye.

January 2, 1894, Adam Conover, John Fessler, Peter Hileman, Louis Lobenstine, Geo. Conover, John Gigandet, W'. H. Harrison, and Frank Hardy, the last of the “Call Men” of the fire department, were paid off and discharged from further duty. Hardy had been in continuous service in some fire company for 57 years.

Jacob Shaub was appointed chief of the department Feb. 8, 1890.

 June 19, 1800, the Babcock Ariel Truck was purchased from the Fire Extinguisher Co. of Chicago. This machine was at once named “The Cherry Picker” by Captain Downs.

The new municipal code, passed in the winter of 1902-08, placed the fire department under the control of a board of public safety.  Dr. W. J. Prince and Chas. Suessman were elected for four years and two years respectively.

On March 17, 1904, the Board of Safety ordered a steam fire engine from the American Fire Engine Co., of Cincinnati with a capacity of 800 gallons of water per minute. This fine steamer was named the L. C. Cron, who was at that time Mayor of Piqua.

 On Aug. 10th, 1804 $14,000 was voted to the safety board for the purpose of erecting a new central fire station on the former Frye property on Water Street between Wayne and Downing.  The contractor was Oscar Richardson, and with C. A. Thompson as architect, this handsome new building was complete and turned over to Chief Caulfield and his men on Feb. 14, 1905. The historic old fire-bell (bought in 1853) was placed in the tower of the new station.