Being one of the oldest Fire Departments in the Great State of Texas, the Palestine Hose Company petitioned the newly formed City Government for recognition June 1, 1876. The proposal was accepted by the City Government and all Fire Fighting Equipment was turned over to Palestine Hose Company at that time. The equipment consisted of some axes and a couple of lanterns.

All the Firefighters were volunteers at that time and their firefighting equipment was hand-pulled carts with hand operated pumps. The water supply came from nearby wells and community water holes. In 1881, the first water mains were laid and the first Fire Engine which was horse drawn was purchased. During the early 1880's, the Hope Hook and Ladder Company #2 and the Burkitt Hose Company #2 were formed. Both of these Companies were staffed by Volunteers. For many years the City of Palestine boased 3 Fire Departments. June 25, 1887 the Drivers of Palestine Hose Company #1 became paid by the City of Palestine. Still at this time, the Fire Chief and the Firefighters were volunteers.

In April 1900, all three units, the Palestine Hose Company #1, Burkitt Hose Company #2, and Hope Hook and Ladder Company were combined to form the Palestine Fire Department. In 1904, the Palestine Fire Department became fully paid. It was in 1922 that the City of Palestine purchased it's first motorized Fire Truck, a Robinson Pumper. During this same time frame the Crawford Street Fire Station was opened. While Palestine had a motorized Fire Truck, the Department still had Horse drawn Fire Equipment.
The last two horses that the Department owned were named Barney and Warren

In 1955 the Y.M.C.A. located on Hoxie St. between Sycamore and Magnolia Sts. alongside the railroad tracks burned. The Firefighters fought a couragous battle, but because of the headstart the fire had and the building construction materials that were used, the building was a complete loss. The 'Y' was never rebuilt on this location. Currently the site is used as a parking for the Union Pacific Railroad

The Crawford Street station was the only remaining Fire Station until 1964 when the City built Fire Sub-Station #1 (later renamed Station 2) on 7th Street in the Westwood area. In 1968 the Central Fire Station was moved to its present location at 611 Avenue A near the County Court House in the Old Town area. It was later renamed Fire Station #1.


In 1971 the Anderson County Ambulance Service was absorbed into the Palestine Fire Department. Training in Emergency Medical Proceedures and related rescue was instituted at this time. The Ambulance Service was transferred to Memorial Hospital in 1989. In 2000 Palestine's Memorial Hospital's name was changed to it's current name of Palestine Regional Hospital.


Palestine has two other Fire Stations, Station #3 was opened in 1982 on Benbrook Street. The property for Station #3 was donated by M.V. Stuteville. Four years later, in 1986 Fire Station #4 was opened in the City 'Community Forest' on West Spring Street which is actually Hwy's 19/287 North. Fire Station #4 is just outside Loop 256. Fire Station #4 was closed in 1992 due to buget cutbacks. Fire Station #4 was reopened in 1993 as the Fire Department Administrative Offices with offices for the Fire Chief, the Fire Marshal, the Assistant Fire Marshal, and the Training Officer. In 2000 the position of Assistant Fire Marshal was removed due to budget cutbacks.


In 1994 another major milestone was reached when the city aquired a ladder truck. The truck named "Tower-One" is a 1994 E-One Hurricane chassis 95 foot aerial platform. You can read the trucks specifications in the equipment pages. Tower-One's first fire was in May 1997 at the Silvagios Restaurant fire at the corner of Palestine Avenue (U.S. 79 E) and North Link Street (Texas 155). Silvagios, a converted Victorian two story house was fully involved when the Fire Department received the call.
Tower-One was used in a defensive posture. Tower-One's next major incident was in the fall of 1999 at the Lincoln School. Lincoln School was closed and had been abandoned for many years. While a valiant effort was made by Firefighters to save the historic structure, it was nevertheless lost due to the fact that Firefighters had to make only an exterior attack because of the building being in serious disrepair.

Mailing Address 504 North Queen St., 75801

Fire Station 1
611 Ave. A
Business Line: 903-729-7100
Emergency Business Line (Alarm Companies):
903-729-2121
Fax (Admin Office): 903-729-3552

Fire Station 2
107 7th St. 75803
Business Line: 903-723-0192

Fire Station 3
518 Benbrook 75801
Business Line: 903-723-5916