History

Serving since 1924, the exceptional quality of Fire and Emergency Medical Services provided by the University Park Fire Department is no exception to the general theme of our community.

The dedicated members of our department provide comprehensive services that include fire prevention/education, fire suppression, and state-of-the-art paramedic-based Emergency Medical Services. All department members receive substantial training prior to employment and are provided extensive continuing education in all services provided. Along with these core services, our department responds to a broad spectrum of public service calls including:

  • Emergency vehicle and home lock-outs
  • Lift assistance for residents who are incapacitated
  • Natural gas leaks, power line hazards, electrical emergencies
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Elevator and other rescue scenarios

Along with general duties such as alarm, sprinkler, and life safety building plans reviews, business fire code safety inspections and coordinating the department's public education programs, the department's Prevention Division offers child safety seat installation and home safety inspections. Thanks to these efforts, the department maintains a pro-active approach to accident loss prevention and community preparedness.

1925 American LaFrance Pumper

One of University Park's earliest apparatus once again resides in its original home, the UPFD fire bay. 

pumper

Here’s the backstory:

Beginning years of service

Soon after UPFD’s first engine/pumper was destroyed while fighting a dormitory fire on the SMU campus, the department purchased a 1925 American LaFrance engine/pumper to replace it. The new piece of equipment remained in service until the late 1930’s when it was sold at auction.

Years later, an aficionado of antique fire equipment found the pumper in storage inside an airplane hangar at an old military base. That collector, Bobby Ramsey, an Assistant Chief with Travis County Fire Control, also owned a 1952 Seagraves pumper that he purchased from the city of Austin. While using the pumpers in various parades, for several years Chief Ramsey also used both to respond to fire scenes from his home.

A chance meeting and the long pathway home

In 2000, after Chief Ramsey passed away, the Jollyville Texas Fire Department purchased both pumpers from the Ramsey family so that they could continue to use them in parades and other community events. During that time period, wanting more information about the 1925 model, Chief Brad Landi contacted LaFrance and found that it was built for use by the City of University Park.

Advancing this story to the recent past, in 2020 the pumper was refurbished by Robert Behrens, who funded the entire project out of his own pocket. Initially, the Jollyville Fire Department planned on selling the reconditioned beauty to a fire museum, but plans changed when Chief Landi ran into UPFD Assistant Chief Scott Green at a training conference.

Soon into their conversation it was decided that the much-loved 1925 pumper should come home to University Park. In February 2021, UPFD purchased the pumper from the Jollyville Fire Department, and after being loaded on to a trailer, the pumper completed the trip back to its original firehouse accompanied by UPFD Chief Randy Howell and Assistant Chief Green.

Chief Howell described the trip as very nostalgic, and said, “I couldn’t help but wonder as we were pulling off Central Expressway onto Mockingbird Lane, if the pumper was taking in the sites of the community it served nearly 100 years ago.”