Clovis Fire Department History

The City of Clovis adopted its first fire ordinance in May of 1912. One month later, it purchased its first equipment: four dozen buckets, two axes and two hundred feet of half-inch rope. By the end of the year, the City built its first Fire Station. 
 
Restoration

The purchase of the 1936 Ford Fire Engine is still the pride and joy of the Department. The G.W. Rall Ford Agency sold the unit to Clovis in 1937. The old brick building still stands at Clovis and Bullard Avenues. The ‘36 was last “officially used” in 1997 to pump flood water near downtown. The engine is now completely restored and is used today for static displays, parades and funerals.

Times Change

Things have certainly changed since Clovis volunteers shared their fire station with the California Department of Forestry. The first full-time paid Chief and 5 full-time paid firefighters signed on in 1966. From 1977 to 2000, the City added 4 fire stations to better serve the growing population. Special teams like Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue and Investigations were added, along with more modern firefighting equipment. Today, there are 54 firefighters and 5 support staff.