The Wellington Fire Protection District was originally formed as the Wellington Fire Department in 1905 with twenty six members, each of whom paid $1.00 for the privilege of serving on the department. In 1906, a fire alarm bell was purchased for $25.00 from the town of Windsor to be used to alert firefighters to trainings and fires. The bell is no longer used for its intended purpose, but it remains today on display at Station 1 located on Third Street in Wellington. It is interesting to note that the population of the town was listed as 350 residents at that time. Also on display, inside Station 1, is a horse-drawn hose cart purchased by the department in 1907 for the sum of $441.00. It has been restored to its original condition through fundraising activities. It is believed that the location of the fire station in 1910 remains as the present site at Third and McKinley.

Through the early part of the twentieth century, fire station construction, equipment and apparatus purchases were accomplished by fundraising activities in the form of musical and minstrel style variety shows put on by the fire department. In the 1920’s, a piano was purchased for $40.00 by the department. In addition to be used for these musical fundraisers, the piano was rented out to townspeople for the sum of one dollar. It seems that department revenues were also funded in part through the customary practice of accepting, perhaps demanding, a donation for fire response to property owners. In 1930, department expenditures were recorded as $184.07 for the entire year. The accounting listed items from beer (eighty cents), to $1.66 for pies. It seemed that a disproportionate amount of money was spent for alcohol, cigars and tobacco back in the day. The ledger does record a $25.00 payment towards a fire truck, so not all department funds were spent on fun and games by the members.

During World War II, few entries were recorded in the department history books, due in part to the war effort. There are entries indicating efforts to raise funds for a fire truck, which was purchased in 1944. It is believed this truck is Old’ Red, currently on display inside Station 1 and undergoing restoration as fundraising allows. It should be noted that department funds are not used for the restoration of these historic pieces; rather fundraising activities such as chili suppers provide the resources for this purpose. The department retired from show business many years ago! The department history during the war years also references the utilization of teenage children to fight fires due to the shortage of available members, who were off fighting for our country. The department sent a letter to the high school to inform school children that they were not to respond to fires while school was in session unless they were summoned.

Throughout the early fifties, the records indicate a waiting list was established to join the department, although it also contains references to rules regarding hanging out at the station unless you were a member. Evidently the waiting list and this ruling was the result of a growing interest in poker games held at the station. An entry from this time, states “the members were not much at fighting fires, but they had some very good poker players.”

1952 marked the first time the department functioned independently from the town of Wellington and was established as a separate tax entity. Acting on its own, perhaps the department enacted some rules changes affecting the poker games, as the entries indicate firefighter numbers were way down and ways to recruit new members were discussed. Though the poker games may have disappeared, expenditures on cigars, cigarettes and alcohol survived through the seventies. The department continued to find ways to make payments on the new truck (Old Red). In 1953, the district recorded $1252.00 collected in tax revenues. Again in 1956, the department discussed a shortage of members, needing four firefighters to fill the twenty five member roster. It is interesting to note that during this timeframe until 1963, if residents had a fire, they were instructed to call the Y-Knot Café (presently the T-Bar Inn) and tell whoever answered the phone their problem. They would then run next door to the station and sound the siren. Quite a change compared to today’s enhanced 911 Computer Aided Dispatch system. The population of Wellington in 1962 was listed at 532 residents. Attributable in part to our nation’s struggle during the Cold War, the department held classes on radioactive fallout. Department call volume was never accurately tracked, but in 1970, 19 recorded calls were logged; far from the 500+ incidents the department responds to today. Another tie to national events of the times, a notation in the department meeting minutes was made January of 1972 that the department received “two Christmas cards from a hippie.”

The eighties and nineties saw continued growth of the department, but difficulties in funding for equipment repairs and apparatus persisted, as it had since its inception. A resolution passed by the fire board in 1983 ended the practice of alcohol consumption at department functions. 1985 marked the construction and dedication of the Waverly Station, located at its present site on County Road 15. Records also referenced the demonstration and purchase of a new pumper for the department. Acquisition of new and used apparatus and equipment continued to keep pace with department needs.

Today, the Wellington Fire Protection District proudly serves over 3000 residents living throughout an area of 280 square miles in northern Colorado. The members respond to over 500 calls per year ranging in nature from medical emergencies to hazardous material incidents. Although we no longer rely on horse-powered fire apparatus to respond to emergencies, nor do we produce minstrel shows, we do honor our department history and all the members who have served this community over the last hundred years.