After a devastating fire destroyed much of the downtown Trinity district in 1910, city leaders chartered the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department on February 14, 1914. The twelve founding members elected Jim Wilkinson as chief, Jesse Renfro as assistant chief and E.C. McDonald as secretary. The additional nine members were A.L. Arnold, C.P. Goyen, S.S. Manry, H.S. McKay, O.V. Ramey, S.E. Vann, C.P. Wade, L.F. Waller and H.E. Warner. The department kept equipment in a barn on what is now Highway 19 between East Main Street and Madison Street. In 1915, the department purchased a Ford Model T, allowing them to rapidly respond to emergencies. In the 1920s, the department acquired a Ford Model A chemical truck and REO pumper. To house the new equipment, the department relocated to Railroad Street. Firefighters won second place in two pumper race competitive drill contests. By 1931, Trinity had 19 members and was considered one of the best volunteer fire departments in east Texas. The department retired the REO in 1949 and purchased a Chevrolet pumper. After Chief Wilkinson’s death in 1951, others who served as chief included Jesse Renfro, Allen Chamberlin, Bert Smith, Winston Ainsworth, Pete Trow and Coby Smith. Under the leadership of Chief Hayne Huffman in the 1970s, the department made several upgrades, including three new trucks and a new fire station at South Elm Street and Madison Street. From this site, the firefighters responded to a big fire in 1975 that burned half a city block on the west side of Robb Street. The fire was extinguished due to the firefighters’ skill and assistance rendered from Huntsville and Crockett Fire Departments. For over 100 years, the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department has faithfully and skillfully served the city. (2023)