History of the Bethany Fire Department
The Bethany Volunteer Fire Department was organized on December 1, 1926. The first members were Chief Charles Jernigan, Paul Jernigan, WB Owens, JD Dallas, JM Cunningham, KS White, WL Street, John Stockton, LI Martindale, Ross Biggers, FH Stockton, CA Wallace, AB Johnson, JC House, and Alonzo Norwood.
The original equipment the department used included two hand pulled hose carts and a few hundred feet of fire hose that were purchased through the sale of water. One of those hose carts in on display in front of the current Bethany Fire Station.
In 1934, one of those hand carts was extensively overhauled and modified, and the first motorized fire wagon was put into service. The department purchased a "new" fire truck in 1941.
The original Fire Station located on North Asbury burned in 1947, receiving national news coverage.
Fire Chief Jim Smith became the first full-time paid employee of the City of Bethany Fire Department in 1951. The station was operated with the Chief(paid) and volunteers and college students who lived in the station. The students volunteered as fire fighters in exchange for room and board. 1954 would bring the addition of new fire apparatus, two-way radios, and additional paid personnel.
The current fire station was built in 1964 at a cost of approximately $115,000.00 funded through a bond passed by the citizens. The design won a prestigious award from the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Volunteer firefighters were phased out in exchange for paid personnel. the last volunteer, Darwyn Coody, retired in 1969.
By 1971 the department consisted of 28 full time personnel, 4 pumper apparatus, 1 aerial truck, 2 brush trucks, 1 rescue unit, and a Chief's vehicle. That same year Bethany Fire Department became the first in Oklahoma to put large diameter hose into service, this 5" hose was capable of delivering up to 2,000 gallons of water per minute in fire suppression operations.
In 1984 Bethany Fire was reduced to 26 full time personnel including the addition of a Deputy Chief position, and we purchased our first set of "Jaws of Life".
In 1989 Bethany Fire became the first fire department in Oklahoma to achieve 100% Emergency Medical Technician certification, followed by the first to become 100% EMT-D (automatic external defibrillator) a few years later.
The department was downsized in 2005, bringing personnel to 23 full time employees, the current level of staffing today.
In 2016, through the generosity of Bethany's Citizens, the department was able to purchase a 2015 Ferrara pumper and a 2016 Ferrara 77' ladder truck. These two trucks replaced vehicles over 20 years old. A new brush truck was purchased in 2020 replacing a 2001 model, and a new Pierce engine was purchased in 2023 replacing a 2003 model.
New living quarters and administration offices were added onto the original Fire Station in 2024, paid for by a General Obligation bond passed by the Citizens of Bethany.
Today the dedicated staff of the Bethany Fire Department provide the best and most current level of emergency medical care and firefighting techniques to aid our citizens in their times of need.
Bethany Fire Chiefs Past to Present
1926-1929: Charles Jernigan
1929-1933: Joyce Johnson
1933-1935: ES Pickens
1935-1949: Earl Harris
1949-1690: Jim Smith
1960-1971: EU "Blackie" Norris
1971-1983: Ed Hogan
1983-1994: Tom Barnett
1994-2005: Eddie P Hogan
2005-2008: David Beck
2008-2014: Scott Schroder
2014-2018: SR Hunter
2018-2021: Shaum Jennings
2021-Present: Brian Murray
The Bethany Volunteer Fire Department was organized on December 1, 1926. The first members were Chief Charles Jernigan, Paul Jernigan, WB Owens, JD Dallas, JM Cunningham, KS White, WL Street, John Stockton, LI Martindale, Ross Biggers, FH Stockton, CA Wallace, AB Johnson, JC House, and Alonzo Norwood.
The original equipment the department used included two hand pulled hose carts and a few hundred feet of fire hose that were purchased through the sale of water. One of those hose carts in on display in front of the current Bethany Fire Station.
In 1934, one of those hand carts was extensively overhauled and modified, and the first motorized fire wagon was put into service. The department purchased a "new" fire truck in 1941.
The original Fire Station located on North Asbury burned in 1947, receiving national news coverage.
Fire Chief Jim Smith became the first full-time paid employee of the City of Bethany Fire Department in 1951. The station was operated with the Chief(paid) and volunteers and college students who lived in the station. The students volunteered as fire fighters in exchange for room and board. 1954 would bring the addition of new fire apparatus, two-way radios, and additional paid personnel.
The current fire station was built in 1964 at a cost of approximately $115,000.00 funded through a bond passed by the citizens. The design won a prestigious award from the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Volunteer firefighters were phased out in exchange for paid personnel. the last volunteer, Darwyn Coody, retired in 1969.
By 1971 the department consisted of 28 full time personnel, 4 pumper apparatus, 1 aerial truck, 2 brush trucks, 1 rescue unit, and a Chief's vehicle. That same year Bethany Fire Department became the first in Oklahoma to put large diameter hose into service, this 5" hose was capable of delivering up to 2,000 gallons of water per minute in fire suppression operations.
In 1984 Bethany Fire was reduced to 26 full time personnel including the addition of a Deputy Chief position, and we purchased our first set of "Jaws of Life".
In 1989 Bethany Fire became the first fire department in Oklahoma to achieve 100% Emergency Medical Technician certification, followed by the first to become 100% EMT-D (automatic external defibrillator) a few years later.
The department was downsized in 2005, bringing personnel to 23 full time employees, the current level of staffing today.
In 2016, through the generosity of Bethany's Citizens, the department was able to purchase a 2015 Ferrara pumper and a 2016 Ferrara 77' ladder truck. These two trucks replaced vehicles over 20 years old. A new brush truck was purchased in 2020 replacing a 2001 model, and a new Pierce engine was purchased in 2023 replacing a 2003 model.
New living quarters and administration offices were added onto the original Fire Station in 2024, paid for by a General Obligation bond passed by the Citizens of Bethany.
Today the dedicated staff of the Bethany Fire Department provide the best and most current level of emergency medical care and firefighting techniques to aid our citizens in their times of need.
Bethany Fire Chiefs Past to Present
1926-1929: Charles Jernigan
1929-1933: Joyce Johnson
1933-1935: ES Pickens
1935-1949: Earl Harris
1949-1690: Jim Smith
1960-1971: EU "Blackie" Norris
1971-1983: Ed Hogan
1983-1994: Tom Barnett
1994-2005: Eddie P Hogan
2005-2008: David Beck
2008-2014: Scott Schroder
2014-2018: SR Hunter
2018-2021: Shaum Jennings
2021-Present: Brian Murray