1718 W. Houston, Tyler, TX 75702
P.O. Box 2039, Tyler, TX 75710-2039
Phone (903) 535-0005, Fax (903) 535-0011
E-Mail: Fire Department
Neal Franklin, Fire Chief

The City of Tyler, incorporated in 1846, had its first organized fire protection in 1882. A group of citizens lead by Chief Bothwell organized the Tyler Volunteer Fire Department. This group of volunteer's, 25 members strong, were dedicated to protecting the citizens of Tyler from the ravages of fire. They used a hand-drawn hose wagon and 500 feet of hose. They were alerted to a fire by a large bell atop a tall pole located on the courthouse square.

On January 1, 1908, the City of Tyler formed the Tyler Fire Department, a full paid department of firefighters. Chief J. J. Daglish was the first leader of the newly formed department. The volunteer department continued to exist until sometime in the late 1910's when it finally disappeared from historical records. The City was served by both a paid and a volunteer department until the volunteer department disappeared.

Until 1916, the Tyler Fire Department used horse drawn hose wagons and 2-1/2 inch hose connected to fire hydrants to deliver water to the fire. In 1916, Tyler purchased their first motorized fire apparatus, a Type 45 American LaFrance fire coach and a chemical fire engine. In 1923, the chemical fire engine was replaced with another American LaFrance fire engine. Engine1 and Engine 2 both still exist and are part of the East Texas Historical Fire Society. This organization hopes to soon have a fire museum in Tyler with a focus on Tyler Fire Department apparatus.

Tyler Firefighters Host Combat Challenge for the Second Year 

Tyler’s firefighters participated in the 2007 Brookshire’s Firefighter Combat Challenge over Memorial Day weekend. 

The Fire Entrance Exam was held March 5, 2010 
 

•  2010 Eligibility List
• CIVIL SERVICE  TESTING ANNOUNCEMENT
•  

• FIRE ENTRANCE APPLICATION

NOTE: If you have previously downloaded and submitted a Fire Entrance Application to our Human Resource Department, please be aware that the application MUST be re-submitted on or after the release date of February 1, 2010.

• Civil Service Commission

  The Civil Service Commission is required by state law in a City like Tyler that has voted to apply the state Civil Service law to Tyler Police and Firefighters. The Commission acts as an appeal board to review disciplinary actions of the Fire and Police Chiefs and to decide questions on hiring and promotion tests.

  The City Manager appoints the three (3) member Commission with Council Approval. The Civil Service Director (Tyler Personnel Specialist) serves as the Commission staff liaison. The Civil Service Commission meets only on call. A member can serve a maximum of three (3) consecutive, three (3) year terms.

  The Commission acts to:

  1. Review, adopt and amend Civil Service Rules.

  2. Review and approve department rules.

  3. Hear appeals from examinations.

  4. Hear appeals from disciplinary action.

  (Please refer to Sec. 3-31 of the City of Tyler Code and State Law Local Government Code Chapter 143 for further details on the Civil Service Commission.)

  Commission Members
  Place	Name	Term
  1	Robert Myrick	2007-2010
  2	Joe Lagman	2008-2011
  3	Brenda Balch	2008-2011

  Staff Liaison: Rose Ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Marshal's Office

Information for Contractors    

Permits and Fees

Commercial Development Regulations

Click here for information regarding commercia/business fire regulations.

Home Fire Safety

For Our Citizens Safety and Health

Burn Ban / Outdoor Burning

Fire Prevention Programs

Fire Safety Check List

Home Oxygen Safety

checklist.pdf

Disaster List

    EXPLORERS POST #904

 

           

Explorers with Instructor             At the Drill Field                           Getting ready for a Ride-Along

   
Advancing hose line into Smokehouse
 

 

These exceptional young men make up the core of the now two-year-old Tyler Explorers Post.  Explorers is a national organization supported by the Learning for Life division of Boy Scouts of America that is designed to develop leadership and build character as the members explore a particular career. They attend various high schools around Tyler/ Smith Co., with one being home-schooled – three of them have firefighters in their family.  They have helped with the Fire Department toy drive, the Fire Department booth at the East Texas Fair, ridden on the fire truck in the Rose Parade and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the annual banquet.  Membership is open to all young men and women that have completed the eighth grade and meet the age requirement of between 14 and 20, are currently enrolled in school or can prove that he/she is being home schooled and does not have a felony record.  Training is held at the Fire Drill Field on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday evenings, 6:30pm to 8:00pm of each month.

What is Exploring?

Exploring is a career education program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) or 15 through 20 years old. Adults are selected by the participating organization for involvement in the program. Color, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, economic status, and citizenship are not criteria for participation.

Exploring's purpose is to provide experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Explorers are ready to investigate the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and communities.

Exploring is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth and the organizations in their communities. Local community organizations initiate an Explorer post by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, and develop.

Explorer posts can specialize in a variety of career skills. Exploring programs are based on five areas of emphasis: career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character education, and leadership experience.

EXPLORING’S FIVE AREAS OF EMPHASIS

Career Opportunities

·         Develop potential contacts that may broaden employment options

·         Boost self-confidence and experience success at school and work

 

 

Life Skills

·Build physical and mental fitness

·Experience positive social interaction

 

Citizenship

·         Encourage the skill and desire to help others

·         Gain a keen respect for the basic rights of others

 

 

Character Education

·         Help make ethical choices

·         Fulfill one's responsibility to society as a whole

 

 

Leadership Experience

·         Acquire leadership skills to fulfill one's responsibilities in society

·         Provide exposure to different leadership traits

 

Goals

Young adults involved in Exploring will

·         Gain practical knowledge of and experience in a career

·         Engage in a program of activities centered on career opportunities, life skills, service learning, character education, and leadership experience to encourage the development of the whole person

·         Experience positive leadership from adult and youth leaders and be given opportunities to take on leadership roles

·         Have a chance to learn and grow in a supportive, caring, and enjoyable environment

Methods

The methods of Exploring have been carefully chosen to meet the needs of young adults.

·         Voluntary association between youth and adults. Because Exploring is voluntary, youth are receptive to new ideas, experiences, and relationships. For the Explorer, these relationships provide a connection to new ways of thinking and acting as well as a new identity as a responsible young adult.

·         Ethical decision making. Exploring asks young people to be responsible for themselves, for a program of activities and experiences, and for other people, thereby providing numerous opportunities for youth to make effective and ethical decisions. These opportunities are enhanced by the influence of capable adults and structured activities.

·         Group activities. Exploring activities are interdependent group experiences. Success depends on the cooperation of all.

·         Recognition of achievement. Recognition might come through formal awards, but it also is achieved through the acknowledgment by peers and adults of a young person's competence and abilities.

·         Democratic process. Explorer posts provide exposure to democratic ideals and skills that are needed throughout life.

·         Curiosity, exploration, and adventure. Curiosity is encouraged and a sense of exploration and adventure is developed through new experiences that provide opportunities for youth to acquire new skills and participate in action-oriented activities.

Character Education

An important goal of Exploring is to help young adults be responsible and caring people, both now and in the future. Exploring uses "character education activities" to help young adults develop the ability to make responsible choices that reflect their concern for what is at risk and for the people involved. Because a character education activity is a problem-solving situation, leaders expect young adults to use empathy, invention, and selection when they think through their position and work toward a solution.

Post Activities

What an Explorer post does is limited only by the imagination and involvement of its leaders — build a glider, make an electric car, produce a play, conduct a mock trial, or teach disabled people to swim. Posts across the country today are experiencing all these adventures and many more. All that is needed are concerned adults who are willing to share a little bit of themselves with today's youth —tomorrow's citizens.

What Youth Want

Exploring research has revealed these major points:

·         High school students are interested in careers/vocations.

·         Teenagers want a broader experience that supplements career information with practical, "hands-on" experience and is tailored to their cultural backgrounds.

·         Teenagers want to belong to a group that provides a supportive place from which they can address the issues that affect them as they grow and develop. These issues include becoming more independent, developing social relationships, undergoing psychological changes, reaching sexual maturity, and re-evaluating values.