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OFD patch was designed by one of the Oracle Firefighters.
The Oracle Fire District will be celebrating 50 years of serving the Oracle Community on Saturday April 30, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fire Chief Larry Southard and Assistant Chief Robert Jennings have extended an open invitation to the public.
“We are looking forward to sharing our history with you, as well as celebrating the continuing vision of our work, training and service today. Please come and bring your friends and family!”
Some of the activities that have been planned are:
• Self-guided tours of the fire house
• Climb inside fire trucks and talk to firefighters about their jobs
• Volunteers and staff will be available to answer questions
• Special display of firehouse scrapbooks full of historic newspaper clippings
• Free hot dogs, chips and water
• Free give-aways while supplies last…fun!
• From 2 – 3 p.m. the presentation of the Don Hartman Award will take place. The award ,named in honor of Don Hartman the first Oracle Fire Chief and an important contributor to the organization of the Oracle Fire District, will be given to the Firefighter of the Year.
A brief history of the first year of the Oracle Fire District follows:
On Jan. 18, 1966 an election was held at St. Helen’s Parish Hall to determine whether or not Oracle would become a volunteer fire district. The San Manuel Miner newspaper had been notifying residents where they could register to vote for the special election. Oracle residents were told the registration locations were the Oracle Post Office and the homes of Mrs. Thomas Clark, Mrs. Edwin Newman and Mrs. James T. Wilson. Only property owners were eligible to vote.
Leading up to the election, Don Hartman who had been operating the Oracle Fire Service had been promoting the idea along with other individuals and organizations like the Oracle Woman’s Club. It was reported that 150 property owners had registered to vote. Ninety three people voted. The final results were 75 votes for and 18 against. The Oracle Volunteer Fire Department was now a reality. The next step was to organize the department and select a Fire Chief.
The Miner reported, “If any organization influenced the outcome of the election, it was the Oracle Woman’s Club which fully favored a fire district. The club went all out to encourage a large turnout at the polls, and their efforts were rewarded with a solid ‘Yes’ vote.
“Following the election, there were reports of banners being waved throughout town proclaiming ‘Dora for Fire Chief.’ Presumably this drive was in behalf of Dora Varela, the lovely café owner in Oracle.”
The Miner went on to say that Dora Varela had been contacted and had said that she did not want to be the Fire Chief but “that just once she would like to get behind the wheel of that fire truck.”
A meeting was held on Feb. 14 at Trowbridge Hall for the purpose of electing officers for the new fire district. Pinal County Supervisor Jay Bateman was in attendance to help guide the proceedings and answer questions. Mike Smith operated as the temporary chairman to run the meeting. Around 50 citizens attended the event.
Don Hartman, who owned and operated the fire fighting equipment in Oracle, was elected the first Fire Chief for the Oracle Fire District. Jack Hanna was elected Secretary Treasurer. The first group of volunteer firemen was made up of 14 men. They were Bobby Barriga, Tony Canez, Bill Collett, Ed Newman, Jess Bemis, Jack Barrett, Earl Culp, Red Hildreth, Mike Smith, Tony Diaz, Clarence Johnson, Bob Boone, Don McCleod, and John Supanich.
During the last week of May 1966, the new fire district fought its first major fire. The brush fire was reportedly started by some young children. Before it was contained, 30 to 40 acres had been burned on the west edge of Oracle. A vehicle had been “scorched” and some trailers and a home were threatened. The Miner reported that Fire Chief Don Hartman and several firefighters had arrived with the fire truck and at one point “nearly had the blaze licked, but the truck broke down.” The volunteer firefighters, law enforcement and citizens of Oracle fought the fire for five hours.
Clipping from the San Manuel Miner about the hero boys.
“Some youngsters were the real heroes, however, as they stopped the blaze short of a couple of homes and trailers. The blaze had crept right next to a house trailer belonging to Chuck Anderson and up to the William Terrell home when the youngsters beat it back,” the newspaper said. The home of Bob Torkelson on Sunset Point was threatened but was not harmed.
The Oracle Fire Department approved its first budget in May. The budget was $8,500 and included workmen’s compensation – $220.80; operation and maintenance – $1,800; supplies and equipment – $2,500; utilities and fire plugs – $579.20; insurance – $300; and building – $3,000. To compare today’s Fire District budget which allows for revenues of $1,149, 889.00 and includes an operations budget of $125,000 and maintenance and repairs – $20,000 shows how things have changed over the years.
Fire plugs were being installed at Holy Cross, Sunset Point, old school, old and new Los Robles additions and Oracle Village Estates. Chief Hartman called for more volunteer firefighters. It was decided at an April meeting that each volunteer would be paid $3 per meeting, drill and fire.
The original fire station was at 1010 Mt. Lemmon Highway. It is still being used as a garage and storage area. In 1976 the new station at 1475 W. American Avenue was built. It was called Drake Station, named for the architect that designed the fire house, Cecil Drake. The fire house is now known as Station One but the shield saying Drake Station was reinstalled on the front of the new addition to honor the past and keep the history of the Oracle Fire Department alive.
A number of Oracle’s residents have been fire chiefs beginning with Don Hartman who cycled in and out of the position for more than 26 years. Some say his “spirit” still can be felt at the station. The other fire chiefs were Bill Collett, C. Newman, J. Roberts, J. Gatlin, Ron Strawn, Manny Navarro, Alan Hartman, Clyde Hartman and Albert Ortiz, The current Fire Chief is Larry Southard. Larry was the first hired (non elected) Fire Chief in 2013.
Over the years, there have been many changes in the equipment, training, district boundaries, finances, and faces of the department but the heart of the Oracle Fire Department is still those men and women that care about others and are willing to risk their safety to protect and serve the town of Oracle. The community of Oracle has also supported the Oracle Fire Department from the beginning.
The San Manuel Miner/Oracle Towne Crier staff would like to thank all the members past and present of the Oracle Fire Department and their many volunteers for their dedication to protecting the community of Oracle and the surrounding areas.
Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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