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= El Paso Fire Department =

The El Paso Fire Department, also known as EPFD, is a department of the government of the City of El Paso that provides fire protection, technical rescue, primary response to biological, chemical, and radioactive hazards, and emergency medical services to incorporated areas of the City of El Paso.

The EPFD employs approximately 1000 uniformed firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. The EPDF is in charge of the El Paso City-County Office of Emergency Management and the El Paso 911 Communications Center. The EPFD's motto is Serving all with pride. The EPFD serves more than 600,000 residents within a 253.3 square mile area.

The EPFD headquarters is located at the BBVA Building in Downtown El Paso, and the EPFD Fire Academy is located inside Ascarate Park.

History
The El Paso Fire Department was created on January 18th, 1882 after the El Paso Fire Company No. 1 was organized. The City of El Paso did not count with a water system at that time time. The city granted a contract to Mr. Sylvester Watts to build a water works to supply the city's residents. Along with the water works, the contract stipulated that he was to supply the city's first 25 fire hydrants.

As the water works neared completion a meeting was held on August 22nd, 1882. El Paso Hose Company No. 1 was formed and officers elected, which where then approved by the City Council. The first test for the new fire department occurred on November 11th, 1882. Two one-story frame lodging houses were destroyed by fire. One of the buildings housed the performing actresses from the El Paso County Coliseum and was owned by one of the department's assistant chiefs, W.H. Carter. Although a fire hydrant was located across from the buildings, the infant department had only 100 feet of hose and could hardly do more than splash water on the buildings.

In the following week, a reorganization meeting was held. Hose Company No. 1, Hose Company No. 2, and Ladder No. 1 were formed. City Council passed the fire department ordinance that created and regulated the department. Firefighters were mostly volunteers until the department became a fully paid department in February 1909.