| 1800 |  A typical fire company had eight men, five horses, three hose reels, a ladder truck, 165 fireplugs and 27 signal boxes. |
| 1836 |
March 9, 1836 the first attempt to establish a fire department by The Town Fathers. |
| 1852 |
March 1852, a hose carriage built by J & B Bruse and Company was delivered. Hose was purchased and Samuel Cummins built a fire engine, which was named the “Torrent.” |
| 1854 |
March 15, 1854 the fire department was established through incorporation. It was named the Washington Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1. |
| 1861 |
Samuel Barber became the first firefighter killed in the line of duty in Northern Kentucky. |
| 1866 |  After several attempts to build a firehouse, a building contract was issued to P. H. Wilson. Construction, was completed by October 25, 1866 and dedicated November 4, 1866. The building was named “Washington Hall” located at 10 East Fourth Street. |
| 1868 |
City of Newport Purchased a steam fire engine from Amos Keag Manufacturing which was named Newport No. 1. The equipment cost was $2,189.55 and was housed at 10 East Fourth Street. |
| 1868 |
June 9, 1868, the City of Newport passed an ordinance that created the first steam fire engine company, establishing the beginning of a paid fire department. Soon after the ordinance passed the volunteer group disbanded. All of their effects were given to the City of Newport and all monies in the treasury were divided among all members in good standing on December 18, 1869. |
| 1872 |
The City of Newport established a fire-alarm system with boxes at certain intersections. Residents were instructed on proper use of these boxes. |
| 1893 |
The Fire Department installed a telegraph system to better utilize their resources in order to never leave the City of Newport without fire protection. |
| 1894 |
The Fire Department operated three stations:
|
|  Washington Fire Company No. 1
(10 East Fourth Street) |
|  Phoenix Fire Company No. 2
(On Monmouth between 10th and 11th) |
|  Hose Company No. 3
(On West 7th between Isabella and Patterson) |
| 1896 |
Fire Department budget amounted to $11,264. (approximately $183,600 in modern currency) |
| 1898 |
 The greatest fire in municipal history occurred on July 20, 1898. It started at the Unnewehr Sawmill in West Newport from unknown causes. The fire eventually destroyed the sawmill and sixteen homes. Intervention by the Covington and Cincinnati Fire Departments kept the fire from spreading and farther. Estimated property losses totaled $100,000. (about 1,630,000 in modern currency) |
| 1904 |
Firefighter Lee Howe died from injuries received from a vehicle accident while responding to a fire. |
| 1908 |
June 16, 1908, a coal lamp exploded at 512 East Front Street. Firefighter John Murphy was walking on the roof advancing toward the fire when he stepped into a hole, landing on his back and shoulder. Murphy was bruised all over and one of his ears was torn off. Murphy recovered from his injuries. |
| 1913 |
In May 1913, the Newport Fire Wagon was racing down Fourth Street when it attempted to make a quick turn onto Columbia Street. One of the horses threw a shoe and fell, knocking the wagon over and tumbling Firefighters Ben Graham and John Mason onto the roadway. Both firefighters recovered from injuries. |
| 1915 |
 A motorized hose wagon was purchased from Schacht Motor Car Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. |
| 1918 |
On February 28, 1918 the labor organization Local 45 was established. |
| 1918 |
All horses phased out of the Fire Department. “Old Captain Jim” the last of Newport’s horses made his last run in August 1918. Captain Jim had answered over 1500 alarms over his nineteen years of service. |
| 1930 |
City of Newport population has grown to 29,744. |
| 1931 |
January 27, 1931, Firefighter William Wagner fell through a vent hole. He fell only a few feet getting caught in rafters, where he hung until other firefighters could lift him back to the roof. |
| 1934 |
During the Great Depression, the labor organization Local 45 had to give up their charter for financial reasons. |
| 1935 |
 The town of Clifton was annexed into the City of Newport. As part of the annex agreement, Newport housed a fire company in the old Clifton city building, serving the citizens of Clifton. This firehouse is referred to as South Newport and is still in use today. |
| 1935 |
The Washington Fire Company house was torn down to make way for the new firehouse headquarters. Newport Fire Headquarters remained at 10 East Fourth Street until 1997. |
| 1943 |
 On March 3, 1943 the labor organization was re-organized and re-chartered as Local 386. |
| 1947 |
Newport Fire Department took delivery of a Seagrave 75 foot Aerial Quint open cab. This piece of apparatus was stationed at 10 East Fourth Street. |
| 1950 |
Newport Fire Department began providing ambulance service to the City of Newport. |
| 1952 |
Newport Fire Department purchased 2 pieces of apparatus:
Ahrens Fox pumper for Fire Headquarters at 10 East 4th Street
Army surplus Mack pumper for South Newport at 171 Main Street
(The Mack pumper had to be modified to fit in the station) |
| 1958 |
 Retired last piston pumper from service. Purchased a Peter Pirsch pumper to be stationed at 10 East Fourth Street. |
| 1959 |
Mobile radios installed in the ambulance and the pumper at South Newport Station. |
| 1962 |
Kentucky Professional Firefighters supported 56-hour workweek law. Required a (on 24 off 48) work shift schedule. City discontinued Kelly day (24/24 shift with a shift off every seventh day). Increased the personnel to seventeen. |
| 1963 |
Henry Weitholter Fire Chief, established the first radio base station in Campbell County. |
| 1964 |
Shift Lieutenants were appointed. All appointments had support on the City Commission. |
| 1965 |
Fire Department purchased a 75-foot Seagrave Quint. This piece of apparatus was stationed at 10 East Fourth Street until 1989. |
| 1967 |
The City of Newport gave fire personnel a salary increase but decreased personnel. |
| 1967 |
Purchased International Travel-All to be used as an ambulance (custom design). Place GMC panel truck into surplus equipment. |
| 1969 |
Purchased International Highboy to replace Travel-All. |
| 1970 |
Cadillac ambulance purchased. Two ambulances were then placed into service with ambulance two responding only as a back up for a second run. Personnel came from fire equipment to man the second ambulance. Runs per year were greater than 2,000. |
| 1970 |
 Galaxie Club, located in the 600 block of Monmouth Street was gutted by fire spreading in to the Querner Wall Paper Store next door. |
| 1971 |
Purchased first SCBA, two Scott Units and four Globe Units. |
| 1971 |
The City of Newport decreased staffing by eliminating one person per shift. |
| 1973 |
Sixteen shift personnel and three civil dispatchers phased out the Box Alarm System. |
| 1974 |
Fire personnel called a strike because of money, benefits and written agreement. The strike lasted for less than fourteen hours. |
| 1974 |
Ralph Quitter was appointed Fire Chief after negotiating strike issues with the City of Newport. |
| 1974 |
Purchased two Seagrave Pumpers with jump seats to be located at 10 East 4th Street. Upgraded radio system to a two-channel system and all turnout gear was upgraded to Nomex. |
| 1975 |
The City of Newport decreased pay schedule after the Fair Labor Standard Act was implemented. This was to prevent pay changes. |
| 1976 |
Ralph Mussman was the City Manager and no labor contract was signed this year. |
| 1976 |
Fire personnel called a strike because they were being ordered to perform functions, which were outside of their job descriptions. The strike lasted approximately two days. |
| 1976 |
First portable radio was purchased for the pumper. |
| 1976 |
 The new addition was completed which added two extra bays, a small rear bay, and additional 2nd floor space for sleeping quarters. |
| 1977 |
 On the night of May 28th, a fire broke out at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate Kentucky, killing 165 people. Newport Fire Department was one of many departments called in to battle the blaze. One week prior to the incident, the Newport firefighters participated in a training session at the Supper Club with Southgate and Ft. Thomas Fire Departments. |
| 1981 |
 A garage at 938 John Street manufacturing illegal fireworks, exploded without warning leaving severe damage up to a six-block radius. |
| 1987 |
Chief Larry B. Atwell replaced Chief Martin Dooley. |
| 1989 |
Fire Department purchased a 121ft Grumman Aerial Cat Ladder Truck, the tallest ladder in the State of Kentucky. Also purchased this year were one Seagrave pumper and one Seagrave squirt. All of this new equipment was housed at 10 East 4th Street. |
| 1994 |
An International E-ONE ambulance is purchased and placed in service |
| 1995 |
On March 14th, 1995 the Newport Professional Firefighters were reissued their original Local 45 charter. |
| 1996 |
A new fire headquarters is completed at 998 Monmouth Street, connected to the newly built city building and police headquarters. |
| 1996 |
A new Ferrara pumper is purchased and placed in service at the South Newport fire house. |
| 1998 |
On July 1st, Newport Fire/EMS began providing an Advanced Life Support service for the City of Newport. Another International E-ONE ambulance was purchased and two ALS ambulances were licensed and placed in service. |
| 1998 |
Newport Fire/EMS hosted the first Paramedic Program. There were a total of 24 students in the program, nine of which were Newport Fire personnel. |
| 1999 |
The old Fire Headquarters at 10 East 4th Street was demolished to clear a site for the World Peace Bell. Fire Headquarters was in service from 1934-1997. |
| 1999 |
On October 2nd, Newport units responded to a structure fire at 416 East 10th Street at the Newport Aquarium warehouse. The fire was a major property loss of 1.5 million dollars with the loss of three exotic fish. |
| 2000 |
Newport Fire/EMS hosted their second Paramedic Program. There were a total of 18 students enrolled and proved to be a success. |
| 2000 |
The World Peace Bell and Millennium Monument is completed and dedicated on the former site of Fire Headquarters. |
| 2001 |
Newport on the Levee became a reality, boosting the City of Newport into leading economical growth. The Levee is the finest and only entertainment district in Northern Kentucky. The Newport Aquarium was the first to open its doors but many other businesses followed. The Fire Department responses increased due to the growth in the city. |
| 2004 |
Newport Fire/EMS celebrates 150 years of service to the City of Newport. |
| 2005 |
Purchased a new ambulance on an International chassis from the AEV Company. |
