Even though Bellevue was incorporated in 1953, the city did not have its own fire department until 1965.

Prior to that, fire protection was provided by a volunteer fire department, which began in the 1920s. In 1942, this volunteer force became Fire District No. 14, uniting volunteers from Bellevue, Enatai, Medina and Wilburton. Under the leadership of chief George Sheets, 18 volunteers worked out of a rented building in Old Bellevue, using a retired forest service truck with a small pump and an air raid siren. In 1946, the fire-alarm was moved to Bill Crooker’s grocery store on Main Street.

The city of Bellevue did not form its own paid fire department until 1965. In the first year, Captain Leo Wenner oversaw 14 firefighters. In 1969, the Bellevue Fire Department officially took over the fire coverage for the Points communities, and has continued to contract with those cities for protection ever since. The Bellevue Fire Department was one of the first in the nation to offer paramedic services through the Medic One program, and has continued to grow along with Bellevue, developed special response teams and plans for operating in a dense downtown core and battling high rise fires.

This information and image were provided by the Eastside Heritage Center. To learn more about Bellevue and Eastside history, contact the Eastside Heritage Center at 425-450-1049 or visitwww.EastsideHeritageCenter.org.