VIDEO: From blazes, to crashes and medical emergencies, firefighters risk life and limb everyday to serve their communities, and Great Falls Fire Rescue is no different, tackling all sorts of emergencies since the late 1800s.
In its 136 years of service, the Electric City's fire department is no stranger to the history books, scoring statewide firsts in firefighting over the decades, as they tackle both minor and major situations.
It all started with humble beginnings in 1886 as a volunteer fire department. Despite the lack of a readily available water supply in the 19th century, the Pioneer Hook & Ladder Company, named after its climbing devices, made the best with what they had working with water wagon businesses and townsfolk to tackle blazes in the city.
"You're basically relying on somebody to run or somebody seeing smoke, and calling the fire department from there," said Megan Sanford, an archives administrator at the History Museum in Great Falls.