On January 21, 1885, the Susanville Hose Company No. 1 was organized to become the town’s first official fire department. The officers consisted of C.M. Stoll, foreman, A.E. Blum, secretary and Henry Bereman as Treasurer. Besides the initial officers eighteen men comprised the company. The volunteer firemen met weekly for practice sessions with the hose cart.
They were initially a ambitious lot. In July 1885 they held their first election for commissioners and David Knoch, Noble McKinsey and Hiram Skadan were elected. On June 6, 1887.the commissioners held. special election to levy for an $500 assessment for the purchase of additional equipment. It was approved 71 to 3.
In the fall of 1891, the company sought to acquire a permanent home. On November 19 they purchased a lot from James P. Keener on Lassen County, which is now the current site of Susanville’s City Hall. A fire hall was built with a fifty-foot bell tower, becoming the town’s tallest landmark. It was designed specifically that way so when the bell was rung it could be heard throughout the town.
Like all volunteer organizations they have their peaks and valleys, but the organization continued for several decades when it would reorganized as the Susanville Volunteer Fire Department.