Clark County Fire Department History

1. Clark County Fire Department History Revised February 2011 MISSION STATEMENT Provide optimum protection and prevention for our residents and visitors, with the highest level of valor, integrity, commitment, teamwork and community involvement.

2. Introduction • The Clark County Fire Department was founded November 23rd, 1953. • 29 paid fire stations • 27 engines, 5 trucks, 23 rescues, ARFF units • 13 volunteer stations • 3 Battalions • St. 18, St. 27, St. 34 • All units besides trucks are ALS. • Fire Investigators, Fire Prevention, Fire Suppression.

3. The Beginnings • CCFD was founded November 23, 1953 • The first Fire Chief was William H. Trelease • Initially responded from City Station 2 (located at Maryland and Charleston) and worked only day shifts

4. The 50’s • Jan 1, 1954 Station 11 opened • Located at 88 E Flamingo • 1 -1953 Seagrave pumper • 2 platoon system (72/96 hour work week) • Stations 12 & 13 opened in 1956 • 1959 Station 16 opened on Nellis Blvd just South of Washington

5. Stations 14, 15, &17 were opened. Station 13 was replaced The rank of Battalion Chief was created Jan 1964 – First Rookie School On December 12, 1964 Chief Trelease passed away He had begun his career as a charter member of the Las Vegas Volunteer Fire Department in 1922 42 years in the fire service with the last 11 at the helm of the CCFD He had seen the births of Stations 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and Mt Charleston. Assistant Chief Herman Carson was appointed Fire Chief. Station 18 was built in 1967 and housed the administrative offices. It was located at 707 E Desert Inn January 1968 4 full time civilian dispatchers were hired January 1, 1968 CCFD adopted the 3 platoon 56 hour work week. Sanson Company Dice Factory Fire – March 1, 1968 Colin Hanley became the first Line of Duty Death The 60’s Chief Trelease Chief Carson

6. The 70’s • April 11, 1970 Captain Frank Testa died of a heart attack while fighting a fire at the Stardust. • Clell Henley became Fire Chief in 1971 – he was a founding member of the department. • July 1973 a joint dispatch centered was established for Clark County, Las Vegas & North Las Vegas. • Leroy Hawkes was appointed Chief in 1974, after Chief Henley’s retirement • July 1975 – State of Nevada’s first paramedic class • Also in 1975 two new fire stations were opened: Station 19, dedicated to the memory of Captain Frank Testa & Firehouse 20 dedicated to the memory of Colin Hanley. • 1977 Chief Hawkes retired and Chief Roy Parrish was appointed in his place. Chief Clell Henley 1971-1974 Chief Leroy Hawkes 1974-1977 Chief Roy Parish 1977-1990’s

7. The 80’s • 1980 MGM Hotel and Casino fire. • 1981 Hilton Hotel and Casino fire. • 1981 Retrofit Law took place requiring all High Rise buildings to have a sprinkler system in place. • Caesar’s Palace Hotel and Casino Fire • 1983 Training Center was built • 1988 Pepcon fire

8. 1990 voters passed a bond issue that shaped the department as we see it today. Stations 23, 24, replaced 14, 17, 18, 11 Chief Parrish retired and William Bunker was appointed in his place. 1992 Technical Rescue program started at Sta 23 Also in 1992 CCFD became the first county fire department in the country to obtain an ISO Class 1 rating. USAR Nevada Task Force 1 Formed in 1993 Nevada Task Force 1 deployment to the World Trade Center (2001) Nevada Task Force-1 deployment to Hurricane Rita (2005) Nevada Task Force-1 deployment to Hurricane Katrina (2005) Clark County Fire Department Honor Guard Established in 1996 with 7 original members. 1996 Chief Earl Greene became the 7th Chief of the Clark County Fire Department In his 10 years as Chief he saw unprecedented growth in Stations, personnel and call volume. The 90’s

9. The Millennium • On February 21, 2003, the Clark County Fire Department was recognized for excellence by being accredited by the Washington, DC-based Commission on Fire Accreditation International • In Feb 2006 Chief Steven Smith takes command of Nevada’s largest Fire Department • LODD • FIREFIGHTER RICHARD WASHINGTON • 8-8-2006 • Station 16 • Collapsed while running on the treadmill Sudden Cardiac Arrest • Brothers from Station 16 & LVFR Station 8 worked him and then transported

10. The Millenniumcont. • New Years Eve 2008 • CCFD Serviced over 300,000 celebrants on the Las Vegas Strip • Monte Carlo Fire • 17 minor injuries – 0 deaths • Ricin Scare • CCFD Haz Mat responded to positive Ricin in motel room. • Nevada Task Force 1 • 32 members spent 21 days at hurricane Gustave and Ike down in the Gulf. • Rescued over 700 elderly victims in Galveston Island, Texas • Public Education Division • Educated over 4,000 children about home fire safety. • CCFD ran over 122,111 calls • 7% more in 2008 then within the past 5 years of a demand on units and personnel. • ISO rating went from a rating of 1 to the rating of 2. • New Units • E-29, R-227, R-318, Mass Causality Unit at 29

11. The Millenniumcont. • 2009 Two new stations opened. • Station 32 and Station 33 • The department is an active one, responding to 120,413 incidents in 2009 • 3,035 fires, • 91,134 medical calls • 26,244 other calls • False alarms • Mutual aid responses in other jurisdictions. • 2010 Chief Steve Smith retired • The department is lead by Fire Chief Bertral Washington. He is the department's ninth chief, appointed on Nov. 3, 2010.

12. GRINDER

13. El Rancho Vegas Fire Built in 1941 Was hailed as Las Vegas’ first resort hotel June 17, 1960 Became CCFD’s first large hotel/casino fire. No fatalities, no injuries

14. MGM Fire(1980) November 21, 1980 Originated from an electrical source in the Deli. Within six minutes of discovery the entire casino floor was burning at a rate of 15 -19 fps. 85 people died 700+ were injured Fire codes were changed not only in Las Vegas, but nationwide because of this fire

15. Hilton Fire(1981) 8 people killed Over 200 injured Arson 4 different point of origin on 4 different floors Philip Cline was convicted on 8 counts of murder and sentenced to 8 consecutive life terms

16. Reports of a fire at the luxurious Caesars Palace were coming in and the Clark County Fire Department answered the call. Around 10:30 A.M., first-in units arrived to find smoke coming from the west side of the building on the fifth floor. There was heavy smoke throughout the floor and the power had been lost. Captain Don Warren of Engine 12 had sent his only firefighter with Engine 11's crew while he remained at the stairwell to help guests evacuate. Surrounded by flames, Captain Warren tried to find a way out. A crew had cut through the fire and saved Warren’s life. When the first firefighters saw him, the straps on his air pack were still burning. Firefighter Ron Patron put out the remaining fire and, with the help of Captain Carl Lowe, assisted Warren out of the hotel. Captain Warren suffered painful burn injuries and endured numerous surgeries. A little over two years later, he was back to full duty. 16 Injuries, 0 reported deaths Third hotel fire in less then 5 months Caesar’s Palace Fire (1981)

17. Pepcon Fire(1988) $100,000,000 in damage Damage radius of 10 miles Blast equivalent of 250 tons of TNT 4000 tons of ammonium perchlorate(oxidizer)

18. Firenze Fire (2003) 4-Alarms 2 Structures Fully involved prior to First arriving Engine 350 units lost Over $15,000,000 in damage

19. Murano Fire (2007) 3-Alarm 150 units Millions of Dollars in damage 1 Firefighter Burned

20. Monte Carlo (2008) 3-Alarm $100,000,000 in damage and lost revenue 32 floor abandoned 120 firefighters responded 17 civilian injuries

21. THE END