The entire history of the Opelika Fire Department, or at least from 1854 (when the city was organized) to 2008, is now available in the book “This History of the Fire Department in Opelika, Alabama.”
The book was presented by the Genealogical Society on Saturday at the Cooper Memorial Library in Opelika. The author Edna Edwards Ward, former Opelika Fire Chief Charles Albert “Buddy” Smith and current chief Terry Akins all spoke at the event.
Edwards shared some facts from the book while speaking.
For example, since 1854 Opelika has had 25 fire engines, one of which took two drivers to operate, some early fire trucks were called “squirts” and the department has had 16 chiefs.
“Opelika has been truly blessed by the men and women of that department,” Edwards said. “Anyone who loves history will love this book.”
Smith, the former chief, worked with Edwards to fill in some history for the book. He began working at OFD in 1949 where he served until his retirement in 1990.
He said firemen worked 24 hours a day, six days a week. They wore wool, even in hot weather, because it was fire retardant, and in the book, he said he made $100 a month.
“We was a close family … It was just like your brother,” he said.
In high school, Smith said he and his friend began volunteering with the fire department and training at night.
“We told the teacher if we heard the siren we had to go. Some would let us go and some wouldn’t,” he said.
He also recalled the worst fire he remembered.
“The greatest loss we ever had was in 1980. It was March,” he said. “We lost eight children in a mobile home.“
He said the childrens’ mothers left the house, and the children somehow started the fire.
“They hid in different places,” he said. “It was something you just don’t want to witness.”
The book costs $50. Money raised from the book will go to build new classrooms at the fire training facility.
Place book orders with the Opelika Fire Department Headquarters Station at 1015 Avenue B, Opelika, AL 36801.
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