The Campbell County has a vibrant firefighting history that reflects the struggles surrounding western boom towns. In 1892, Gillette was officially founded as a small railroad community in Northeastern Wyoming. For the first few years of the community’s existence there would be little to no fire suppression efforts, though there were several major fires in the town. Then in 1904 James Morgan decided to donate a fire bell (on display at the Alan Mickelson Fire Training Center) to the Town of Gillette to begin the organization process of firefighting efforts.  Under the bell tower, there was a “bucket brigade” cart stored. Once the bell would ring, any civilians available would rush to the cart and proceed to suppress the fire. Finally in 1906, the City Marshall was given the position of Fire Marshall to officially start the Gillette Fire Department. After the first water system and fire hydrants were installed in 1908, the Gillette Fire Department was able to purchase a hose cart (which was parked in front of Morgan’s Store) to significantly increase their firefighting abilities. Finally in 1910, the Gillette Fire Department was able to purchase a traditional horse-pulled hook and ladder truck for $350.

As the community continued to grow through the early 1900’s, the fire department’s responsibilities began to increase. By 1925, the city department had an old Model T with a small tank on it, their first unit with a tank. The county fire district was battling wildland fires with wet gunny sacks and shovels. 1929 brought another new development; the Gillette Fire Department obtained their first fire engine that could actually pump from a hydrant, a 1929 Chevrolet with a 500 gallon tank. In 1933 Gillette would see a modern fire alarm system that enabled firefighters to hear calls from the telephone system. This system would remain in use until 1975, where it would then be moved to the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch.

Through the 1930’s and 1940’s the department would face a financial standstill that would prevent growth. The effects of a nationwide depression and World War II would cause funding for the department to nearly cease completely. Finally in 1949, the department was back into the growth stage with the $9,845 purchase of Ford-Howe Fire Engine. The department also received their first Fire Hall, located at 4th Street and Gillette Avenue. Then in 1964 after a large fire destroyed the Fiesta Theatre as well as large amounts of firefighter’s clothes and boots, the department made another technological achievement. The department decided to purchase bunker gear and air packs for the first time, enabling the firefighters to take a more aggressive stand against fire.

After a busy year in 1969 (173 responses) a new problem started to become evident. With 80 responses happening in City limits and 93 responses occurring in the County and two sets of trucks to respond, funding was becoming a problem. The City units were not able to respond to the County and visa-versa, even though the firefighters were the same. This was creating a large disparity between the two jurisdictions. The problem came to a head on November 5th, 1971 when a house fire occurred on the boarder of the two jurisdictions on the County side of the line. With the county having only grass and brush trucks, the apparatus was not sufficient enough to stop the fire. This incident caused the spark that ignited the push for a City/County Fire Department.

In 1974 the City and County began to make some headway on combining forces when the two jurisdictions purchased a new Fire Hall located at 200 Rohan Avenue. At this time the City department had 27 members and the County had 20 members.  Finally in 1975 the Joint Powers Fire Board consisting of both City and County officials was created, causing the creation of the Campbell County Fire Department as well as the first career firefighters in Campbell County. With three new career firefighters, the new governing agency was able to allow both city and county units to meld into one mutually beneficial department. This system continues to govern the Campbell County Fire Department to this day.

In 1981 CCFD was able to purchase a modern ladder truck to enhance their firefighting abilities. Then in 1989 tragedy stuck the Campbell County Fire Department. On January 31st, 1989 the Campbell County Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at the Antelope Valley Baptist Church. This cold snowy night would result in the only loss of a firefighter in Campbell County’s history; Alan Mickelson would fall through the roof of the church and perish. This incident would spark another major change in the development of the Campbell County Fire Department. The firefighters and citizens of Campbell County would raise funds to build a large training facility to both honor Alan and prevent future incidents such as his. On August 18th, 1990 the Alan Mickelson Fire Training Center would open.  This series of events would help CCFD become one of the most progressive and premier fire departments in the State of Wyoming.

Today the Campbell County Fire Department responds to more than 2000 emergencies per year, is staffed 24 hours per day, has 29 career staff, over 150 volunteers, over 80 pieces of apparatus, covers a population of approximately 50,000 people and 5000 square miles, and continues to provide top notch emergency services. We have come a long ways from the fire bell activated bucket brigade and look forward to continuing to enhance our ability to serve the citizens of Campbell County, Gillette, and the Town of Wright.

A History of Gillette’s Fire Bell

The fire alarm bell was ordered from the Simmons Hardware Company in St. Louis Missouri by James (J.T.) Morgan a prominent Gillette Business man and Postmaster. He sold it to the City of Gillette on February 9, 1904.
J.T. was born 1866 and died 1934

530 Pound Fire Alarm Bell 30 inches in diameter

Base - 41 inches wide
28 inches deep
38 inches high

Made by O.S. Bell & Company in Hillsboro, Ohio

Cost of bell was $31.00

Freight cost to ship from St. Louis, Missouri was $12.06
25 foot tall bell tower constructed on May 2, 1904 on the Northwest corner of Gillette Avenue & 2nd Street where Pat’s Hallmark is located. 

In the pictures accompanying this article shows the fire tower, the first warning device erected by the City. The date it was built is not certain, but the bell has shown up in pictures as early as 1904.

The tower was about 25 feet tall and a double clapper bell was mounted in the top. This was rung when a fire was discovered and later was used to announce curfew. A carbide light also was installed. The carbide lights had to be lowered to light or to extinguish. A hose cart was stored in the base, but at first it surely didn’t have any hose because there were no hydrants to supply water. At this time fireman used what was called the “bucket brigade,” filling buckets from available barrels and forming a line to pass the buckets to the fire, once they heard the bell.

When the tower was dismantled is not certain, but it is shown in pictures taken in the 1910-1915 era. Currently the bell resides at the Alan Mickelson Fire Training Center on Larch Street. A stone tower has replaced the wooden structure that once held up the bell and is surrounded by a memorial flower garden to honor Alan Mickelson. This bell stands in remembrance of the vibrant history of all those who have served the citizens of Campbell County and Gillette through the Campbell County Fire Department.