PALESTINEFIRE DEPARTMENTHERE to Serve You!HOMEHISTORYNEWSSERVICESCONTACT USBECOME AFIREFIGHTERFIRE DEPTPERSONNELAPPARATUS HOME MISSION StatementThe purpose of this program is to save lives and protect the property of citizens through fire protection efforts and general education of the public. Suppression, inspections, investigations, and answering complaints for the prevention and correction of fire hazards are included in this program.
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NEWS and recent eventsThe Palestine Fire Department has recently hired Rhion Jordan. Rhion is currently in the process of getting his Fire Certification from Kilgore College Fire Academy. Rhion will start on duty when he graduates in December. Posted: September 20, 2011

HISTORY HISTORY of the fire dept. Being one of the oldest Fire Departments in the Great State of Texas, the Palestine Hose Company petitioned the newly formed City Government for recognition June 1, 1876. The proposal was accepted by the City Government and all Fire Fighting Equipment was turned over to Palestine Hose Company at that time. The equipment consisted of some axes and a couple of lanterns. All the Firefighters were volunteers at that time and their firefighting equipment was hand-pulled carts with hand operated pumps. The water supply came from nearby wells and community water holes. In 1881, the first water mains were laid and the first Fire Engine which was horse drawn was purchased. During the early 1880's, the Hope Hook and Ladder Company #2 and the Burkitt Hose Company #2 were formed. Both of these Companies were staffed by Volunteers. For many years the City of Palestine boasted 3 Fire Departments. June 25, 1887 the Drivers of Palestine Hose Company #1 became paid by the City of Palestine. Still at this time, the Fire Chief and the Firefighters were volunteers. In April 1900, all three units, the Palestine Hose Company #1, Burkitt Hose Company #2, and Hope Hook and Ladder Company were combined to form the Palestine Fire Department. In 1904, the Palestine Fire Department became fully paid. It was in 1922 that the City of Palestine purchased it's first motorized Fire Truck, a Robinson Pumper. During this same time frame the Crawford Street Fire Station was opened. While Palestine had a motorized Fire Truck, the Department still had Horse drawn Fire Equipment. The last two horses that the Department owned were named Barney and Warren. In 1955 the Y.M.C.A. located on Hoxie St. between Sycamore and Magnolia Sts. alongside the railroad tracks burned. The Firefighters fought a courageous battle, but because of the headstart the fire had and the building construction materials that were used, the building was a complete loss. The 'Y' was never rebuilt on this location. Currently the site is used as a parking for the Union Pacific Railroad. An artists color rendition of this picture has been painted on the side of Fire Station 3. The Crawford Street station was the only remaining Fire Station until 1964 when the City built Fire Sub-Station #1 (later renamed Station 2) on 7th Street in the Westwood area. In 1968 the Central Fire Station was moved to its present location at 611 Avenue A near the County Court House in the Old Town area. It was later renamed Fire Station #1. In 1971 the Anderson County Ambulance Service was absorbed into the Palestine Fire Department. Training in Emergency Medical Procedures and related rescue was instituted at this time. The Ambulance Service was transferred to Memorial Hospital in 1989. In 2000 Palestine's Memorial Hospital's name was changed to it's current name of Palestine Regional Medical Center. Palestine has two other Fire Stations, Station #3 was opened in 1982 on Benbrook Street. The property for Station #3 was donated by M.V. Stuteville. Four years later, in 1986 Fire Station #4 was opened in the City 'Community Forest' on West Spring Street which is actually Hwy's 19/287 North. Fire Station #4 is just outside Loop 256. Fire Station #4 was closed in 1992 due to budget cutbacks. Fire Station #4 was reopened in 1993 as the Fire Department Administrative Offices with offices for the Fire Chief, the Fire Marshal, the Assistant Fire Marshal, and the Training Officer. In 2000 the position of Assistant Fire Marshal was removed due to budget cutbacks. In 1994 another major milestone was reached when the city acquired a ladder truck. The truck named "Tower-One" is a 1994 E-One Hurricane chassis 95 foot aerial platform. Tower-One's first fire was in May 1997 at the Silvagios Restaurant fire at the corner of Palestine Avenue (U.S. 79 E) and North Link Street (Texas 155). Silvagios, a converted Victorian two story house was fully involved when the Fire Department received the call. Tower-One was used in a defensive posture. Tower-One's next major incident was in the fall of 1999 at the Lincoln School. Lincoln School was closed and had been abandoned for many years. While a valiant effort was made by Firefighters to save the historic structure, it was nevertheless lost due to the fact that Firefighters had to make only an exterior attack because of the building being in serious disrepair.

HISTORY

SERVICES FIRE Administration Goals ~Continue the development and maintenance of innovative programs of fire safety education and training that reduce the total monetary loss, and to strive to eliminate injuries and deaths from fire.Objectives ~Reduce residential fires through effective Home Fire Safety Education programs. ~Inspect all commercial businesses to correct fire hazards. ~Provide fire prevention programs to all school districts.

SERVICES

Fire Suppression Goals ~Save lives and protect the property of the citizens of the City through training, researching new technologies, and innovative methods in order to produce the most cost effective results.Complete fire hydrant data program that includes the location, size of mains, static/residual pressures, and flow rates of each hydrant in the City.Objectives ~Maintain well-trained personnel for fire prevention and suppression. ~Attend seminars and schools to stay current on technical information. ~Locate and number all hydrants within the city. ~Check all hydrants for static and residual pressures. ~Flush and record flow rates on all hydrants.
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Battilion
Engine 1
Engine 2
Engine 3
Tower 1
Engine 4 (reserve)
Grass 1
1957 Mack

Fire Dept.

Vehicles

CONTACTS

Fire Chief: 903-731-8464

Fire Marshal: 903-731-8463

Fax: 903-729-3552

Fire Station 1

611 Ave. A

Business Line: 903-729-7100

Emergency Business Line (Alarm Companies):

903-729-2121

Fax (Admin Office): 903-729-3552

Fire Station 2

107 7th St. 75803

Business Line: 903-723-0192

Fire Station 3

518 Benbrook 75801

Business Line: 903-723-5916

Fire Station 4

Administration Offices

2001 West Spring St (Hwy 19/287

North),75803

Mailing Address 504 North Queen St., 75801

CONTACT

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News

Latest News

September 20, 2011 The Palestine Fire Department has recently hired Rhion Jordan. Rhion is currently in the process of getting his Fire Certification from Kilgore College Fire Academy. Rhion will start on duty when he graduates in December.August 22, 2011 The Palestine Fire Department has recently hired Johnathan Duncan. Johnathan has his Texas Fire Certification and his EMT-Basic. Johnathan will start on B-Crew.April 20, 2011 The Palestine Fire Department will be administering an Entry-Level Fire Fighter examination on Saturday, June 18, 2011. The test will be given at 9:00 a.m. at the Palestine Civic Center, Palestine, Texas. To recieve an application you may go to Palestine City Hall and give your name, address, and phone number to recieve an application in the mail. March 9, 2011 The Palestine Fire Department has recently hired 2 new recurits, Chance Wesson and Kayne Parrish. Chance has his EMT-Basic and will be attending fire academy at Kilgore College starting in May. Kayne has his fire academy certification and has finished his EMT-Basic class and will be taking the National Registry test soon. We are excited to see these two men join our ranks. Kayne will be staffed on A-Crew while Chance will be staffed on B-Crew.
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Fire Department Personnel

Our dedicated staff is here ready to serve you and your community. We belive that through working hard and staying up-to-date on our knowledge of fire science and safety development, we can help save you and your property in times of need. Flip through our personnel to learn a little bit more about them!

Alan Wilcher
Rhion Jordan
A Crew
Mike Phillips
Matt Davis
John Norwood
Tim Ingram
Kayne Parrish
Nathan Reed
Donald Sloan
David Adrews
David Taylor
Eric Gartman
Kelly Murphy
B Crew
Ernest Crawford
Kyle Betterton
Geary Johnson
Derek Hunt
Chance Wesson
Johnathan Duncan
Kelly Hughes
Jeff Cooper
Bumper Clayton
Ken Brossett
Steffem Wilson
C Crew
Victor Poff
Dean McInnis
Shannon Davis
Roy Patterson
Dwayne Grumbles
James Reed
Ken Wilbanks
Jeff Croft
Alan Parker

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Station Locations

Here are the three active duty stations. Each shows a Google Maps location of the station. Feel free to come by between 8-5 for a station tour. Click the images to enlarge the photos.

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BECOME a

For the City of Palestine there are a series of “screenings” that must be passed, (failure of any one of these will disqualify applicant) they are as follows:~Civil Service Exam 70% or higher~Physical Agility Test (pass)~Oral interview (Ad min staff)~Chief's interview~Mental evaluation by Dr. of Psychology~Physical exam by Dr. MD, & drug screen~Background check through Department of Public Safety~Driving record (DPS)~Polygraph examination~One year Probation period If you are not Certified we will hire you and then send you to the next available Fire School at the City's expense, you have one year (from date of hire) to get your ECA EMT or higher and complete your certification with the State. If you are already Certified through the Commission you will go right to a Shift on duty.

Firefighter

List of Events to become a Firefighter with most Civil Service & Paid Departments.~18 years to 35 years of age~Make Application to city of Choice (Personnel dept.)~Clean Record (no Felonies)~Good Driving record (less than three moving violations / 3-5 yrs)~Civil Service Exam 70% or higher (5 extra points for Military)~Exam given by City that is hiring, usually once a year, call or watch news paper.~Some departments require that applicant be “Certified” through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection prior to applying.(See list of Fire Schools) 478 hrs training by a certified facility and ECA or higher cert. with TDH. And pass the State Fire Exam Written and Skills. Some departments have an open application policy and will hire you first and then send you to Fire School. Others require the certification and then still send you to “their” fire school.Still others require a Fire Commission Certification and a Paramedic Level TDH. By the rules that govern Civil Service, certification is not an issue, because an applicant's exam score is the only factor that is taken into consideration during this phase of the hiring process. Once The applicant passes the exam, and depending on how many “openings” the department has, the top 25% are chosen as possible “new hires” and will advance to the next phase of the hiring process. As new openings arise the next 25% are contacted to continue on. This is done as many times as necessary to fill the positions until the “test list” is exhausted or one (1) year elapses, which ever comes first. (The test list is only good for one year regardless).