The Aransas Pass Fire Department is a Fire and Rescue
Department that responds to over 350 Fire Department related emergencies a year.
The staff includes 11 employees: a Fire Chief, a Captain, 2
Lieutenants, and 7 Firefighters. The Captain, Lieutenants and the firefighters work
three shifts of 24 hours on duty and then 48 hours off.
The Mission Statement of the Aransas Pass Fire Department is to save life and property and teach our
children and citizens about "Fire Prevention and Fire Safety.”
Our guiding principle is that “Fire prevention in our daily lives will make a difference in our
community.”
The Aransas Pass Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1929 and became a paid department
in 1956.
 1929 Aransas Pass Volunteer Fire Department
Active Members: C. C. Tedford, H. A. Thomas, Frank Belken,
Joe A. Payne, Ted Bigelow, Frank Clendening, Ted Burke,
Rob Roy Rice, Nunc Snyder, King Custer, Wm. T. Kopperl,
Arlin Yeager, Ira H. Cundiff, J. M. Barnwell, J. M. Crenshaw,
Red Fricke, Q. D. Hughes, Sam Kaufman.
The First Fire Department Pumper
 The Aransas Pass Fire Department was start 1929 by volunteers
and Fire Chief Charles C. Tedford it was volunteer Fire
Department until 1954 became a pay Fire Chief and drivers
and the volunteer did the fighting and 1982 were two fighters
per shift in 2002 went from two fighters to three fighters
per shift fire department until now.
History of the Fire Station
 The
old Fire Station at 338 S Arch
The Fire Department on Arch is where Retired Fire Chief Martinez,
Fire Chief Gilbert Ritz and Captain Rickie Kilgore, several
other paid and volunteers started their fire service career.
The
Fire Department also had a “Mascot”. The dog,
whose name was Sam, was also Chief Pete Martinez’s
dancing partner during Fire Prevention Week.
Aransas Pass Fire Department Past Fire Chiefs
 1929 - Volunteer Fire Chief Charles C. Tedford
 1932 - Aransas Pass Fire Chief Ted Bigelow
1954 - First paid Fire Chief Ray B. Crinklow (left) with City Manager Fred Robbins
 1959-1968 - Fire Chief Allen Berna
 1955-1989 - Pete M. Martinez. Councilman for 12 years.
Pete Martinez served as Fire Chief for 34 years before he retired. He is the only Fire Chief to retire
from the department. Over the years, Chief Martinez was promoted from Volunteer fireman, to paid fire
fighter, truck captain, Assistant Fire Chief/Assistant Fire Marshal. At his retirement he was holding
the following positions: Fire Chief/Fire Marshal/ Arson Investigator. Ray B. Crinklow was the chief who hired Martinez as a paid
firefighter.
Gilbert Ritz - Fire Chief/Marshal Arson Investigator
Call # 301
• Department Head Suppression
• Arson Investigator Basic
• Firefighter Intermediate
• Fire Service Instructor
• Inspector Basic
Rickie Kilgore - Shift B Captain
Call # 302
• Firefighter Advance
• Fire Investigator Basic
• Fire Service Instructor
• Inspector Basic
Donald Obenhaus - Shift Lieutenant Shift A
Call #304
• Firefighter Basic
Juan Jose Cruz (JJ) - Shift Lieutenant Shift C
Call # 305
• Fire Service Instructor
• Fire Investigation Basic
• Fire Intermediate
Steve Tuck
Call # 311
• Firefighter Basic |
Jason Padron
Call #315
• Firefighter Basic |
Edward Borrego
Call # 312
• Firefighter Basic |
Judson Hedberg
Call #316
• Firefighter Basic |
Chad Goodrum
Call #313
• Firefighter Basic |
David May
Call #317
• Firefighter Basic |
Shawn Spellman
Call #314
• Firefighter Basic |
|
2003 Freightliner FL80
Pump 1250 G.P, M.
Water tank 1000 gallons
Put in service 11-07-2003 |
1993 Freightliner FL80
Pump 1250 G.P.M.
Water tank 1000 gallons
Put in service 05-05-1993 |
1993 Freightliner FL 60
Pump 500 G.P.M.
Water tank 500 gallons
Rescue equipment “ Jaws of Life” |
|
1972 Reo 6x6 2 ½ ton
Pump 180 p.s.i. 150 G.P.M.
Water tank 725 gallon
|
1972 Reo 6x6 2 ½ ton
Pump 180 p.s.i. 150 G.P.M.
Water tank 725 gallons |
Command Post: 1974 Ford Box Van
Chief Vehicle: 1997 Ford Crown Victoria
Station Pick Up: 1997 Chevrolet
Fire Prevention
The Aransas Pass Fire Department does Fire Prevention programs for over 2000 student in the Aransas Pass
School District which are given Fire prevention material which consisted of coloring books, fire prevention
logo pencils, Fire Safety Video, Fire Helmets and programs with our Robot Pluggie the talking hydrant.
Hands on fire Extinguisher In service for Hospital and Nursing Home staff.
Foster home inspections.
The Aransas Pass Fire Department with the help of The Aransas Pass Volunteer and The Aransas Pass Ladies
Auxiliary whole an Annual Haunted Fire Station on October 31 during Halloween for a Save area for our children of our community.
The Aransas Pass Fire Department, Aransas Pass Volunteer Fire Department
and Aransas Pass Ladies Auxiliary buys the candy, apple and oranges for Santa Claus arrival on the fire
truck into town. |
