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KCLV Channel 2, the city of Las Vegas’ government access television station, will air a special on the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22, in honor of its 65th anniversary.
The special will also air at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23; 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 24; 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25; 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26; 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 27; and noon on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
This special will chronicle the department’s history focusing on its growth, achievements and continued service to the community.
In addition to the special broadcast, a public service announcement (PSA) campaign, which will present 65 fire safety tips, has begun airing on KCLV. The department was also presented with a proclamation from the Las Vegas City Council at one of its recent meetings.
On Wednesday, Aug. 1, the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department celebrated 65 years of service; however, its history goes back much farther. The department actually got its start in 1906, a year after the city of Las Vegas was founded. The Las Vegas Volunteer Fire Department had a station located along Fremont Street where the Binion’s Horseshoe parking deck now stands.
The department continued to be operated by volunteers until 1942, when members of the Las Vegas Volunteer Fire Department petitioned City Hall to create a full-time fire department. With nearly 25,000 people visiting Las Vegas each weekend, members of the department were concerned with safety. The Las Vegas City Commissioners agreed and approved the formation of a full-time fire department. The paid firefighters were assisted by volunteer members as needed for large emergencies. In the beginning the department had two older pumper trucks, a pickup truck and two civil defense pump trailers. The department answered approximately 450 calls a year.
Today the department has 692 employees who work out of 16 fire stations and various other facilities. The department has more than 60 pieces of some of the most modern equipment in the world, answering more than 81,000 emergency calls a year. The department has an Insurance Services Offices Class One rating and is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. Only eight fire departments worldwide have achieved such status, which means the department has the highest standards in rapid response for the public.
For more information on the department, visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov.
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