![]() In Februthe grand opening for Fire Station 6 was held. Replacing Chief Wagner, by an appointment of the fire district board was the current Assistant Fire Chief, Rick Southey, who started his firefighting career with the Bullhead City Fire Department in January of 1982 at the age of 22. His retirement did not last long as he was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives from District 3 in November of 2002. In January of 1998, after 18 years of service to the citizens of Bullhead City, Fire Chief Bill Wagner retired to pursue his hobbies and spend more time with his family. This remodel expanded the living quarters and provided much needed space for a rapidly expanding department. Late 1997 saw a considerable remodel to Fire Station 1. There is currently a back-up agreement in place between the airport authority and the Bullhead City Fire Department to assist in any emergency that may occur on airport property. On Januthe airport internalized the airport firefighting operation and the Bullhead City Fire Department distributed the existing staffing to other fire stations and discontinued full time service to the Laughlin/Bullhead City International Airport. On Septemthe grand opening for this station was held and the temporary station was closed. One of these subdivisions, El Camino Village, donated a prime parcel of land along the parkway that would become permanent Station 5. Several subdivisions were opened along the newly created "Bullhead Parkway" that ran along the eastern boundary of the city. At nearly the same time, a temporary Station 5 near the entrance to Palo Verde Meadows sub-division opened. In October of 1991, Station 4 at the Laughlin/Bullhead City International Airport opened and was manned full time. The Bullhead City Fire Department in cooperation with the City of Bullhead City built and manned a state of the art facility from which to dispatch emergency units. Late 1990 saw the opening of the 9-1-1 joint dispatch center. Station 3, on the corner of McCormick and Mercer in the northern part of the fire district was manned full time in November of 1989. Also, because of the change in structure, Bill Wagner was promoted to the position of fire chief, making him the first full time career chief of the department. The first chairman of the board was Allen Carlson, who had been a volunteer member of the department for many previous years. At this time, the citizens of the community elected to change from an elected fire chief and secretary/treasurer to a fire board consisting of five members. The most significant change that has occurred to the Bullhead City Fire Department happened in 1989. This included the areas of Clearwater Hills, Arroya Vista Estates, and El Camino Village, bringing the fire district to its current 45.9 square miles. During the late 1980's, two other annexations occurred in the southern end of the fire district. Also this same year, the residents in the Rio Lomas sub-division voted to join the Bullhead City Fire District. In 1986, the Fort Mojave Fire Department started an ambulance service, which further cut this ambulance district to its current 23 square miles. In 1983, the citizens living in the Punta de Vista and Lake Mohave Highlands sub-divisions voted to become part of the fire district. At this time the fire district was approximately 33 square miles. This effectively cut the service area of the Bullhead Ambulance Service in half. In late 1982, the Mohave Valley Fire Department started serving all areas south of Boundary Cone Road with an ambulance service. In the minds of many, this year started the phenomenal growth period that continues to this day. Bill Wagner, formerly of the Prescott Fire Department, started his career with the Bullhead City Fire Department as Deputy Chief in 1980. At this time there were only 14 full time members of the fire department. He had a short career with Bullhead City, serving only a few months in 1979. Chuck Allred was the second Deputy Chief hired by the department. The town was beginning to grow due to the casinos and the popularity of the water sports available on the lake and river. Over the next several years, the Bullhead City Fire Department saw many changes in apparatus, personnel, and call volume. A fire district election was held, Larry Adams was elected chief and remained in that position until 1989. Up to this time, all previous fire chiefs in Bullhead City were elected by the membership of the department. Also, this same year, a state law was passed that required fire chiefs to be elected by the general public. Station 2, located on Main just south of First Street was built in 1974.
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