This is the “HISTORY OF THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT” as best we know it. Written from the perspective of the department itself, it is first and foremost for the men and women of the South Bend Fire Department, and the citizens of South Bend who have supported us over the years. Looking back through the years up to our present time one can’t help but see how today’s SBFD is part of something much bigger than any single generation of stations, apparatus, and firefighters. As you turn through the pages of our department’s growth and evolution hopefully you will realize how valuable our history is to a sense of pride, belonging and ownership. It is important for us not to forget where we came from.