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Westlake Fire Department History

The origin of the Westlake Volunteer Fire Department is a little hard to pinpoint. So, we will do our best to give you as much information as possible since on records are available. The first truck Westlake used to fight fires was owned by Kelly Weber. Mr. Damon Robinson was in charge of Kelly Weber and could get the truck anytime it was needed. Some members of the first department were: W.S. (Sonny) Hawkins, Jack Dennis, Barry C. Naff, Sonny Oliver, Edwin (Buster) Broussard, Jim Champagne, and Damon Robinson.

About 1950, the first elected Mayor, Jack Grout, appointed W.S. (Sonny) Hawkins the first volunteer fire chief of Westlake. In 1953, a Ford pumper truck was purchased by the Town of Westlake and room was made for it at City Hall. Chief Hawkins served the town until 1970. Mayor Charlie Carroll appointed W.L. Squyres as the new chief. Somewhere in this time a fire station was built on the corner of Shady Land and Jones Street.

In 1976 the newly-elected Police Juror, Mrs. Bonnie Smith, put to the voters of Ward 4, District 3, a bond issue for fire protection outside the city. The bond issue passed and Westlake Volunteer Fire Department doubled its size as they accepted the responsibility of Westlake and the surrounding area. Chief W.L. Squyres stayed during this time and resigned in 1978.

Mayor Wilridge Doucet appointed Sam Morrison as the new Volunteer Fire Chief in 1979. During this time Mayor Doucet got West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital to let the department have a fully-equipped ambulance if they would hire E.M.T. and First Responders to man it. This job was turned over to Mrs. Harvey (Naomi) Carlock who had the ambulance on call 24 hours a day. Westlake now had emergency service at its best. Mayor Doucet, State Representative Mrs. Margaret Lowenthal and Senator Cliff Newman managed to get some help from the state to build a larger fire station located on Guillory Street.

Mrs. Lowenthal was asked if she would help in getting a tractor and truck from the Louisiana Forestry Service. We got the tractor for $1000.00 and the truck for $300.00. Westlake is now one of the few departments with such equipment.

Chief Morrison served until 1984. The Volunteer Department had both male and female fire fighters. They served Westlake and the surrounding area with pride, knowing they were protecting everyone's mot cherished possessions... peoples' lives and property.

When the department was made up of volunteers it was first designated as a Class 10. Later it became a Class 4 and then was graded to Class 3 when the volunteer department was converted to a combination paid and volunteer department. This is worthy information, for insurance rating is based on classification. A higher Class means a higher insurance rate. Thus insurance rates have been lowered as the Class rating changed.

In 1983 a new fire station was built on Guillory Street and moved from the corner of Jones and Shady Lane streets. Chief Robert McClelland was appointed the first paid fire chief. He had five paid firemen. Six fire trucks were available for serves in Westlake and the surrounding. In 2000 Chief McClelland retired and Jacques Picou took over as chief.

The Westlake Fire Department responds to calls in Westlake, North of Westlake, Mossville, Highway 90 West and Houston River Road.

An ambulance is stationed at the fire department for answering emergency calls and transporting those needing medical assistance to area hospitals.

All personnel affiliated with both fire and ambulance service are well trained to deal with all kinds of emergencies.

In 2000 the voters of Ward 4 Fire District 3 passed a new bond issue to purchase new equipment and hire 4 new paid personnel. Two new fire stations were built. Station 2 on Houston River Rd and Station 3 on Davis Rd. One new engine, one tanker and one mini pumper was also purchased. In 2001 four new personnel were hired bring the total number of paid firefighters to 13.