ROCKPORT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Est. 1885

In 1885, Sam Smith bought a fire wagon with a chemical tank and horse for $1,400 and donated it

to the City of Rockport. Fred Hoopes was named the first Fire Chief. It is believed that the fires

in 1891 were started for the insurance claims. The first one may have started in a saloon in the

business district; it swept down the street destroying everything in its path, including Sorenson’s

two level brick store. The fires continued in different parts of town until a rumor started that there

was an effort to burn Rockport. A watch patrol was organized; men in their blocks took turns patrolling

each night.

In 1912, a 1911 Model T Ford was purchased for $300 and the chemical tank was placed on it. In 1916,

a Chalmers truck was donated to the department. E.C. McClary was the Fire Chief at the time. W.C. “Bill”

Stevenson became the Chief after McClary. In 1926, an International truck was purchased to replace

the Chalmers. The fire department went inactive during The Great Depression. An effort was made to

keep one truck running, but on many occasions the truck could not be moved due to lack of gasoline or

flat tires. At times, the tires had been stolen from the truck. This continued until Saturday June 6, 1938

after a fire at Natalie Apartments on Water Street. The Aransas Pass Fire Department was called to

extinguish the fire. On June 14, 1938, Dr. Albert Collier formed the Aransas County Emergency Corps.

The mission of the Corps was to provide fire protection, patrol the beaches, and run an ambulance

service. The city appointed Dr. Collier Fire Chief. Rockport purchased a 500-gallon per minute pumper in

January 1939. The County in the meantime had a chassis and the department constructed a 300-gallon

booster, which at its time, was one of the largest in Texas.

The Corps now had 4 trucks and no place to put them. The Aransas County Emergency Corps held their

first annual ball and used the proceeds to purchase a lot. The city furnished the necessary materials.

The work on the building was mostly constructed at night, after working hours. Construction was

completed July 1, 1939. The department purchased helmets, fog nozzles, hoses and other equipment for

approximately $800. On May 1, 1939, Chief Collier moved away and the city appointed Francis Smith as

its Fire Chief.

A first aid unit was organized and American Red Cross First Aid instruction began. Money to operate the

Fire Department came from various sources; sodas sold at ballgames, a boat raffle, quilt raffles, benefit

shows and dances were held. Donations were also made. Members were charged an initiation fee and

monthly dues. Members were subject to fines for non-attendance and for misbehavior.

In 1947, the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department joined the Aransas County Emergency Corps after a brush

fire in Live Oak Peninsula. The fire began when a landowner set a control burn. The fire burned from

Copano Village to the Airport. It jumped the highway and continued towards Fulton beach. Wild land

firefighters from the Valley traveling through Rockport trained the local firefighters how to set backfires.

Fire departments from Rockport, Fulton, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, Portland, Corpus Christi, Mathis, Odem

and Port Lavaca battled the blaze. The fire started Saturday night and continued until Monday afternoon.

In the end, 9 houses and buildings at 2 tourist cottages burned down, Live Oak Grooves and Thickets,

the wood markers at the Old Fulton Cemetery were destroyed.