MWCFD Retired

05/04/2026

****** Monday Memories *******

March 1976 from L to R … D. Leonard, L. Claypool, Chief Canfield, R. Jiles

(Additionally details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o OHS

04/27/2026

******* Monday Memories *******

February 6th, 1992 - from L to R … Capt. J. Bell, J. Williams, and S. Masoner at the scene of an apartment fire in the 1400 blk. N. Midwest. As you can tell, we had quite the variety of bunker gear back then.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed.)

c/o in-house collection

04/24/2026

******* Fire Truck Friday *******
————— Revisted ——————

One of the current members of the department stopped and grabbed a few photos of our 1960 Dodge / Boardman. Still sitting in a field out in Hammon, OK

c/o C. Straka

04/20/2026

******* Monday Memories *******

ca. 1997 … L to R - M. Womack, B. Lott, D. Perry, Training Chief Richey, J. Metheny

That big yellow box that Chief Richey is pointing to is one of the first Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) purchased by the department. They were placed on Squad 1 and Squad 2 because one of the squads responded on every potential cardiac related incident in the city along with the Engine from that district. By the mid 2000’s every front line apparatus was eventually equipped with an AED.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o in-house collection

04/13/2026

******* Monday Memories *******

- March 14th, 1957 - Meals at the fire station have always been a vital part of the life of a firefighter. From discussing the days activities at the fire department to telling stories of little league football games or cheer and dance competitions of the loved ones at home. Guys form and strengthen lifelong friendships sitting at the dining room table. Pictured here from L to R are D. Haywood, C. Bryce, Chief Johnson, C. Muscio, E. Orcel, and W. Cox

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o OHS

04/10/2026

******* Fire Truck Friday *******

Pictured here on delivery day is Engine 4. She’s our 11th and final apparatus built by Boardman Fire Appartus in OKC. It’s a 1990 Boardman built on a Spartan Diamond chassis. The rig was equipped with a Waterous 1250 GPM pump and had a 750 water tank and was powered by the Cummins 6CTA 8.3L 6-cylinder inline diesel engine commonly used in medium-duty fire engines at the time. Known for durability, it features a 504 cubic inch displacement, turbocharging, and aftercooling producing 250 horsepower @ 2200 rpm. Pictured in the photo with Engine 4 from L to R are B. Deal, J. Fry, Chief Bower (nice stache chief!), Mayor Weir, and Asst City Manager T. Canfield (former Fire Chief). She was sold around 2000 to Lexington, OK FD. Current whereabouts unknown.

*edit * - currently still serving the state by training future firefighters at the OSU-OKC campus

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o Midwest City Sun article / in-house collection

03/30/2026

******* Monday Memories *******

Early 70’s … left to right … Capt. J. Rhoden, A. Fennel, M. Fuller, J. Webb, W. Hubers

(Note the apparatus behind them says “No. 6” but this didn’t mean that it was “Engine 6” … the numbering system back then was different than it is currently, I’m sure one of the super old 🤣 timers will clarify)

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o in house collection

03/27/2026

******* Fire Truck Friday *******

This beast right here is the original Truck 1. She’s a 1974 Duplex/Boardman (job # F-2081). This rig was equipped with a Waterous 1000 GPM pump, 300 tank, and an 85' platform. She’s was equipped with the Detroit Diesel 8V71N motor, a legendary 568-cubic-inch (9.3L) two-stroke V8 diesel engine from the Series 71 family, produced starting in the late 1950s. Known for its high-pitched roar ("Screaming Jimmy"). New cost: $134,975. Sold in the late 90’s to Bristow, OK Fire Dept. Current whereabouts unknown.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcome - which we’re sure there will be a few 🤣)

c/o OSF Museum collection

03/23/2026

******* Monday Memories *******

Spring 2012 - left to right - D. Hodges, R. Fielder, S. Masoner

All three of these men were some of the best men to ever wear the badge.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o private collection

03/16/2026

******* Monday Memories *******

Date unknown - sorry for poor image quality, scan of very old photograph

Caption states - “Asst. Chief Charles Brice and 3rd grader from Soldier Creek Elementary, Steven Nelson. Chief Brice started Fire Prevention in Midwest City schools in 1952. Ben Kennedy Insurance Agency provided helmets, stickers, and brochures. Chief Brice gave fire prevention talks at all MWC schools. This was the first Fire Marshal program “

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o in house collection

03/12/2026

Well said !! A simple handshake or hello might make their day. You never know what’s on their mind, where they’ve been that day, what they’ve seen, or where they’re going when you see them run out the door, leaving a full grocery cart behind. The kitchen - dining room table is essential to a firefighter’s life. The relationships, comradery, and stress relief that occurs around this simple location is just as important, if not more so, than any training they could attend or any life they may save the very next time they turn that siren on. So shake their hand, they won’t bite! We know, we were there once.

WHY ARE FIREFIGHTERS AT THE GROCERY STORE?

Firefighters work 24-hour shifts, which means the fire station becomes their workplace, kitchen, and home for their shift.

So at some point during the shift, you’ll often see firefighters making a grocery run to pick up ingredients for the meals they’re cooking together.

And here’s the part many people don’t realize: The firefighters pay for the food themselves.

❌ Tax Dollars Do NOT Pay For Meals

If the alarm sounds while shopping, or while food is on the stove or plates are on the table, everything gets left behind and the crew responds immediately. It’s not uncommon for firefighters to come back to a cold meal… or occasionally a slightly overcooked one.

So if you see firefighters in the grocery store, take the opportunity to say hello, and know that while shopping — they are always ready to respond to the next call for help. 🚒

03/09/2026

******* Monday Memories *******

Early 2000 … everyone around at this time remembers this good boy! This is Max sitting in the 2000 American LaFrance 75’ ladder truck. We didn’t have this rig for very long as it was traded back to ALF for the 1999 ALF featured last year. Max was a great dog and would visit the station quite often. Max belonged to Maj. R. McGee.

(Additional details / stories / and corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o in house collection