Today in DFD history – February 13, 1997
Detroit Firefighter Joyce Stoll is promoted to Seargant, becoming the first female boss in fire operations.
Photo by Sean Doerr/SNweb.org Photography
See more of his work at http://snweb.org/
Joyce has continued to move through the ranks and is currently a Battallion Chief.
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Today in DFD history – February 7, 2007
Detroit FEO Joseph Torkos, E-17, died as the result of a car / rig accident while responding to a fire.
Listen to a related audio story: There’s No Book For This
Please share your memories of FEO Torkos by leaving a comment.
Detroit, Devil’s Night in the 1980’s.
If you worked those nights, you remember. How did you have enough energy left to drive home in the morning? “And you want me to come back tomorrow and do this again?”
The Superbowl of Firefighting
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Brother of Chief Vincent Gibson
Lived: 01/22/1943 to 10/27/2013
Served: 0122-1973 to 10-01-2001
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Service: Saturday, November 2, 2013
10:00 am Family Hour
11:00am Service
Church of the Madonna
1125 Oakman Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48238
(VIEW MAP)
Interment: Mt. Elliot Cemetery
Detroit, MI
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Lived: 08/22/1927 to 10/26/2013
Served: information to come
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Visitation: Friday, November 1, 2013
9:00am – 9:00pm
Family Hour – 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Tribute Service – 7:00pm – 9:00pm
James H. Cole Home for Funerals
Northwest Chapel – 16100 Schaefer Hwy.
Detroit, MI
(VIEW MAP)
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Service: Saturday, November 2, 2013
11:00am
Repast at Church Hall following mass
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
9844 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI
(VIEW MAP)
Private Interment:
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Southfield, MI
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Today in Detroit Fire History – October 5th, 1894
The Detroit Fire Department suffered the loss of firefighters’ lives from a single incident in its history.
On the morning of October 5th, 1894 wood shavings in the basement of Keenan & Jahn’s Furniture Store caught fire. The fire quickly spread up the elevator shaft to the top of the 5 story building.
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This is a guest post by Retired Detroit Firefighter John Randall. |
My first assignment with Detroit Fire Department in 1973 was Engine 27 at Junction & Rogers. My Captain was Charlie Fisher. I worked with Best, Ventre, Haig, Mlinarich, Gurski, Klann, Kelly, Lisuk, Birmingham, Brachulis, Bartlett, Moyer, Foresi, Michinchak, Roman, Bitten, Brown, Lipscomb, Strach, Baxter, Hickman, Bryce, Dodson, Shirley, Pancake, Haney, Hoffman & Rocky. 
There was a racket ball court on the 3rd floor, which we used often. The 7th Battalion was a lot slower back in those days. Rocky was the engine house mascot.
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Did you know that Detroit Fire Department had a 2 time Mr. Michigan winner among it’s ranks?
Don Van Fleteren, Detroit Firefighter and bodybuilder won the title of Mr. Michigan in both 1952 and 1960. For a number of years, he also competed in the Mr. America contest where in 1955 he placed 3rd overall.
This 1960 press photo of Don is offered for sale by Historic Images. (www.historicimages.com) If you like historic photos, they’ve got a great selection.
The caption on the back of this press photo reads:
GUIDED MUSCLES
Detroit, Mich: A mountain of muscle, Detroit Fireman Don Van Fleteren shows off the biceps that helped him win the title of Mr. Michigan of 1960. Chosen as a highlight of Michigan Week festivities, Van Fleteren is a 6′ 1 1/2″ 225-pounder, married and the father of a 5-year-old girl, the 31-year-old Hercules placed 3rd in the Mr. America Contest five years ago.
Strength and Health Magazine 1954 featuring Detroit Firefighter Don Van Fleteren on the cover.
The third Detroit Fire Department Headquarters building was completed. It was located at 250 W. Larned, (Larned & Washington Blvd.). This replaced the previous headquarters located at Wayne & Larned.
It was designed by Hans Gehrke. Mr. Gehrke designed several fire stations in the city during the 1920s abd 1930s.
The 5 story building’s first floor originally housed fire apparatus assigned to cover the growing downtown area. Other floors of the building were designated as living quarters for the men assigned there and offices for department administrations. In the later years fire companies were reassigned to other stations, and the building was use solely for adminsistrative offices.
Fire Headquarters was moved to a new Public Safety Headquarters in July 2013. This building has been sold to a developer who plans to convert it into a botique hotel.
View video of the 250 W. Larned, Fire Headquarters here.
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Being called a Jake in Detroit, is an insult,