Department History

City of Lake Worth, Lake Worth Village, and Indian Oaks are all current and previous names of one of the best cities in Texas, with a fire department to match! The Lake Worth Fire Department is rich in history and culture making it one of the greatest fire response organizations in the State. To commemorate their service, the fire department will be celebrating a tremendous milestone in its history. During 2023, the LWFD will celebrate 75 years of service to the community! First established in 1948, the Lake Worth Fire Department has grown to become a full time, fully staffed, all hazards emergency response organization providing service to the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Though officially recognized as a fire department in 1955, the Lake Worth Fire Brigade was formed in early 1948 following calls for additional service capability in the Tarrant County area. The department has its roots in the larger Tarrant County area along with the neighboring communities of Fort Worth, River Oaks, and Sansom Park. Believe it or not, the fire station located on Fire Hall Drive was first known as a community gathering spot for local citizens to congregate to discuss city matters. The local volunteer fire department also organized and responded from this location. A very large outdoor siren, also known as “Big Bertha” by folks in the community, would summon firefighters to the station when services were needed. This is drastically different compared to how firefighters are notified today. “Advancing technology allows firefighters to respond more quickly, safely, and efficiently to help those in need,” said Fire Chief Ryan Arthur. Chief Arthur mentioned, “Though technology has played a significant role in how the department operates today, we hold true to our rich history and culture by learning from those who have paved the way for us today, and our 75th anniversary will be an excellent opportunity for us to do just that.”