The first record of any organized fire protection in Rose Hill indicates that in 1954, four local individuals (Francis Walton, Short Cox, George Waitt and Worth Showalter) went together and bought a pre-1920’s fire truck from
American LaFrance Firetruck
Joyland Amusement Park in Wichita for $400. This vehicle had wooden spoke wheels and was chain driven. The apparatus was manufactured by American LaFrance in approximately 1917. It was reportedly purchased by Joyland from the City of Hutchinson. It was housed in various garages around town and the men would go find it when it was needed.
Three years later, in 1957, the Butler County Commission signed a resolution forming Butler County Fire District #3 and it consisted of
1957 Building Plaque
all of Pleasant and Richland Townships and included all of the City of Rose Hill. A brick building with two bays was erected on what is now Yeager Street just east of Rose Hill Road. The building is still there and is currently owned and used as storage by a local dentist. A telephone system that would simultaneously ring in six homes and the fire station was installed and a siren atop of the fire station could be activated from any of these phones to alert the firefighters to come to the station for a fire call. The siren was recently retrieved and now sits on a short pole in front of the current Fire Station at 911 N. Rose Hill Road as a reminder of our past.
The first modern fire apparatus was purchased in 1957 and consisted of a fire engine and a tanker. Both had 500 GPM pumps and the tanker could carry 1800 gallons of water to a fire. The tanker is currently owned by a long-time BCFD#3 volunteer firefighter and can be seen cruising the area every now and then. Over the years, the fleet of equipment has grown to two fire engines, two tenders, one tanker, three brush trucks, an aerial truck, a rescue truck, a trench rescue equipment trailer and three staff vehicles.
Old Fire Station circa 1995
Two building expansions have taken place since the first station was built. In the 1960’s a metal building was erected just west of the brick fire station and it was connected with a walkway. That building more than doubled the space available for fire equipment and also provided some much needed storage and office space. That building is now Redline Auto Repair.
A completely new facility was then built and opened in 2004 at 911 N. Rose Hill Road. This modern facility has not only room for the fire trucks, but also offices and living quarters for future expansion. It also houses an ambulance from Butler County EMS. A community meeting room/training room was provided and many meetings have been held in it.
Butler County Fire District #3 Fire Chiefs:
- Francis E. Walton – April 1957 to April 1961
- Tom Clinger – April 1961 to April 1963
- Joe Sears – April 1963 to May 1968
- E. S. “Shorty” Cox – May 1968 to July 1991
- Tom Linot – July 1991 to January 1995
- Steve Perkins – January 1995 to September 1996
- Doug Hereford – September 1996 to December 1996 (Acting Chief)
- Daniel Armstrong – December 1996 to March 2009
- James Woydziak – April 2009 to July 2020
- Kevin Webster – July 2020 to Present
Starting in 1996 with the hiring of the first full-time employee (Chief Armstrong), the Fire Board has been working to get paid firefighters in the station to answer the calls during the day when most of the volunteers are out of the district at their regular daytime jobs. Currently there are six paid personnel on duty (three on Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. and three on 24 on / 48 off A, B, C shift.) The evenings and weekends are still protected by the approximately 15 volunteers who not only respond to fire and medical emergencies, but also devote one Monday evening and one Saturday morning each month to training to maintain their skills.
The history of Butler County Fire District #3 was researched and written by Chief James Woydziak and updated by Chief Kevin Webster.