Volunteer firefighters on Hawaii Island are some of our most unsung heroes, with a history that dates back 132 years. Organized fire protection in Hawaii County began in 1888 with the formation of volunteer companies using horse-drawn apparatus, according to trade magazine Firehouse. The first station was on Kekaulike Street in Hilo with Jack Wilson as the first volunteer fire chief. By 1910, the Hilo Volunteer Fire Department had 60 members and responded to 11 fire calls that year. Today, there are eight volunteer companies in West Hawaii that complement the operations of the Hawaii Fire Department in Ocean View, Kona Paradise, Kalaoa, Puuanahulu, Waikii Ranch, Waimea, North Kohala and Paauilo with about 120 active volunteers serving the community. The Big Island is the only county in the state with a volunteer department.