1904 - February 19th: Firefighter Lee Howe was thrown from a fire wagon after it was struck by a street car at Fourth and Washington streets. The fire wagon was responding to a report of a fire at Fourth and Berry streets which turned out to be soot burning in the chimney. Lee 24, later died from the injuries he sustained from the accident. This was Newport's second line of duty death. That Same Year Newport Purchased a replacement Ladder Wagon built by the Seagrave Company.
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.
1910 - It was around this time that Newport Fire Department purchased their first motorized apparatus from the US Motor Truck Company.
1912 - The City of Clifton was incorporated just south of the City of Newport in what was considered a rural area.
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 Newport Firefighters Local 45 was established and became one of the original charter members of the International Association of Firefighters.
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 1,500 alarms over his nineteen years of service.
1919 - An Ahrens Fox Model K piston pumper was purchased and placed in service. The Clifton German Methodist Chapel was purchased by 10 citizens of The Clifton Welfare Association for use as a community center. The German Mission's numbers were greatly reduced during the onset of the First World War.
1919 - February 21st: Captain Benjamin Graham of Newport Hose Company #4 died of pneumonia as the result of a cold which he received while fighting a fire on February 18th. Graham 47, was considered a popular fireman and a fearless Ohio diver. This was considered Newport's third line of duty death.
1922 - The first ladder wagon was purchased from Ahrens Fox Company. The apparatus was a tiller-style ladder truck build by Ahrens Fox and the ladder portion built by the Seagrave Company. Newport Purchased this apparatus after Cincinnati Fire Department brought over their ladder for a demonstration.
1924 - Fire Company No.2 on Monmouth Street became very unsafe and in dilapidated condition. The building would shake every time a horse would lie down, and when the bell tapped for a fire all the firemen ran out on the street for fear the building would fall down on them. In 1903, an attempt to replace the station by building one further east at the beyond Saratoga railroad street, failed. The station was ultimately shut down as a cost-cutting move. The firefighters and engine assigned to the house were relocated to 4th Street.
1928 - An Ahrens Fox Model N piston pumper was purchased and placed in service.
1928 - Newport Firefighters Local 45 withdrew from the IAFF because of dissension and discouragement.
1930 - City of Newport population grew to 29,744. In January, the City of Clifton officially voted in members to the Clifton Volunteer Fire Department.
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.
1932 - During the City election, Clifton citizens voted a fire truck bond issue and the council purchased a 500-gallon Mack pumper. The accessories for the truck were purchased with volunteer funds.
1933 - In the fall of 1932, the City of Clifton took over the Community Hall (former chapel) and renovated the building to house the newly formed fire department and administrative offices. The building was dedicated on September 9th, 1933.
1934 - March 22nd Newport Firefighters were successful in re-organizing as Newport Firefighters Association Number 386.
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. During the time of construction, the Newport Fire department temporarily ran out of the Wiedemann brewery.
1936 - 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 Administration building, serving the citizens of Clifton. This firehouse is referred to as South Newport and is still in use today. The Clifton Volunteer Fire Department was de-activated and its members immediately formed the Clifton Third Alarm Associates and were voted full membership in the NKFA. This organization was headquartered at the S. E. corner of Main and Ash Streets.
1937 - Newport staffing has 36 total firefighters with 3 chief officers, 3 captains, 27 privates, 1 fire alarm electrician, and 2 telephone operators. This formed a two-platoon system that operated since June 1923
1944 - 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.
1948 - 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.)
1950 - Newport Fire Department began providing ambulance service to the City of Newport.
1958 - Retired the last piston pumper from service. The department purchased a new 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 a 56-hour workweek law. This required an (on 24 off 48) work shift schedule. The City discontinued Kelly days (24/24 shift with a shift off every seventh day). Department personnel increased to seventeen members.
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.
1964 - Purchased an International Travel-All to be used as an ambulance (custom design). Placed the GMC panel truck into surplus equipment.
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.
1969 - Purchased International Highboy to replace Travel-All.