| The history of the Westerly Fire Department is etched in the smoke and grit of the late 19th century, a time when the growing industrial town rapidly outgrew its old hand pumpers and Steam Fire become the norm. Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Company No. 2, an organization born out of necessity, political friction, and a commitment to modern firefighting technology.
The Catalyst for Change: The 1870s and 1880s
Before the Cyclone was ever fired up, Westerly relied heavily on the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1 (organized in 1869) and the hand-pumped N.F. Dixon No. 2. However, bitter rivalry and friction between the "Ones" and the "Dixons" led Chief Engineer William P. Coy to officially disband the N.F. Dixon company in 1877.
For nearly a decade, the town lacked a reliable secondary pumping apparatus. The critical turning point arrived in 1883, when a devastating fire tore through P.S. Barber’s Soap Works on Mechanic Street. The blaze exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the town's defense, proving that Westerly desperately needed specialized ladder equipment and additional water-throwing capabilities. While this fire immediately inspired the formation of the Alert Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 in 1884, the town's leaders knew they also needed a second modern steam engine to support the Rhode Island Ones. In 1887 the village of Pawcatuck established the P.S. Barber Hose Company, this provided relief in terms of man power and hoses.
1885: The "Cyclone" Arrives
In 1885, the Westerly Fire District purchased a brand-new, state-of-the-art steam pumper to replace the old hand-pumping framework that acted as supplemental water supply for the Rhode Island Ones, This powerful piece of machinery was proudly christened the Cyclone.
The timing was impeccable. That same year, the Westerly Water Works began aggressively installing the town's first network of downtown fire hydrants. The Cyclone, capable of drafting and throwing massive volumes of water compared to human-powered hand brakes, represented the dawn of modern fire suppression in Washington County and it served as a 2nd piece for the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. 1.
1895: Formal Organization of Company No. 2
For its first ten years, the Cyclone was operated without its own completely distinct, independent organizational structure, it was a second steamer that members of the Ones would use at fires. That changed in 1895.
To maximize efficiency and handle the growing number of structural threats in the busy commercial district, the department officially organized the Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Company No. 2 as a separate entity.
Led by its first Foreman, Thomas C. Bell, the organization of this new company was received with immense fanfare across the town of Westerly. There was a palpable sense of civic pride in seeing the local fire defense double its suppression footprint. 10 members of the RI Ones became the first members, along with newly recruited recruits eager to learn and serve the town and its citizens.
The Cyclones wasted no time getting to work. The charter crew immediately began drilling the green recruits on hose line operations, and steamer operations to ensure the company was battle-ready.
A Socially Minded Tradition
From its very inception, Company No. 2 proved to be as dedicated to community engagement as it was to fire suppression. Just before the summer of their founding year, the company ventured down to the shore and built a prominent dance pavilion in Watch Hill to anchor their fundraising efforts. This quickly established the Cyclones' enduring reputation as a deeply socially minded company, a group that knew how to rally public support, throw a community gathering, and fund their own high standards of service. This tradition of being socially minded served the Cyclone’s well in the coming decades, The Cyclone’s have had more members elected to serve as Assistant Chief’s on the Board of Engineers then any other of the three companies in the department, cementing the legacy of the company in departmental history.
Trial by Fire
The Cyclone’s first true trial by fire came in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 5, 1895. Around 2:00 AM, a Westerly police patrolman was investigating the smell of smoke near Main Street in downtown Westerly. According to a contemporary report in The Westerly Sun, the unnamed officer ultimately left the area, believing the odor was simply coming from the chimney of John Berry’s Bakery.
A short time later, the mistake became clear. Two men leaving the Bliven Opera House noticed actual flames erupting from Theodore Chapman’s candy store, located just a short distance from the bakery.
The fire alarm was quickly sounded. Chief Engineer Crandall was first on the scene, followed closely by the Rhode Island Ones, the Cyclones, and the Hooks. The two engine companies wasted no time, rapidly establishing a water supply via a local hydrant and by drafting directly from the river. Within a short period, they had three active streams playing on the flames. Meanwhile, the Hooks went to work with ladders and hooks, opening up the building for the engine companies to extinguish the hidden fire. The P.S. Barbers arrived shortly thereafter, providing vital manpower and extra hose lines from their hose wagon.
Thanks to the coordinated effort, the fire was quickly brought under control, though its official cause was never determined. Led by veteran firemen who had split from the Ones, alongside eager new recruits out to prove their mettle, the Cyclones more than proved themselves a worthy outfit during their very first fire, the addition of a quality crew and steamer saved the strip of stores that could have easily spread and caused greater destruction.
Triumph, Tragedy, and Legacy
The Cyclone Company's history is deeply woven into the fabric of Westerly Fire Department History
Line of Duty Sacrifices: The Cyclone Company holds a somber distinction within the department. The only two line-of-duty deaths in the history of the Westerly Fire Department were both proud members of Company No. 2:
Chief George E. Egger (July 28, 1930)
First Assistant Chief John "Jake" Keena (January 31, 1976).
Today, the spirit of the original 1895 Cyclone’s lives on. The Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 2 remains a badge of immense pride, tradition, and generational service within the Westerly Fire Department, and to all members who served the Company. |
