s to provide an adequate alarm system
             included ringing church bells and sounding whistles from Northern Pacific Railroad
             engines. Finally, on August 8, 1884, the city council announced the purchase of 1500
             feet of hose and two wheeled hose carts. An appeal went out "for the boys to organize
             two hose companies to run the machines." By August 23 the equipment still hadn't
             arrived, but twenty men had announced their intention to "join in." Later in the week
             Rescue Hose Company No. 1" was organized, with Eugene B. Hyde being elected as
             During the last week of August, 1884, the town's luck failed, and the
             consequences of complacency and dry weather were demonstrated. Two large fires struck
             the downtown area; one wiping out sixteen businesses along Main Street, the other
             destroying the Sprague House hotel. The infant fire department had no equipment, the
             water system was inadequate, and a lack of leadership bred confusion. Only the absence
             of wind kept the flames from gutting the center of town. Frightened citizens pledged
             money to build improved water works and on October 1, 1884, Spokane Falls' first
             volunteer fire department ordinance was read. Two companies Rescue Hos
             ...