NORTH TONAWANDA, NY — August 4 — North Tonawanda Professional Firefighters Local 1333 celebrated the 36th anniversary of a fire that became a significant event in the city's fire service history.

On August 4, 1990, a call was received by the North Tonawanda Fire Department's business line, reporting flames coming from the Salvation Army building on Webster Street.

Firefighter Dave Schmidt was working in the dispatch area and quickly assigned Box 51, which was the response code for that location.

North Tonawanda police arrived before the fire companies and informed dispatch that the initial response would not be sufficient.

Engine 4 then reported that it would be “laying in the big lines,” offering incoming crews an early indication of the fire's scale.

The fire generated heavy smoke over the downtown area as firefighters worked to manage the building fire.

The incident was later recognized within the department as one of the notable fires of that time.

By 1990, North Tonawanda had a long and established fire service history.

The city's first organized fire company was formed in 1876, and the department expanded over time, incorporating several volunteer companies.

Today, the North Tonawanda Fire Department operates as a combination department, employing both career and volunteer firefighters, continuing a fire service tradition that spans more than 140 years.

The August 4 anniversary offered an opportunity to reflect on the firefighters, equipment, and communication methods that were used during the response to the 1990 Webster Street fire.