MFRD Accepts Historic Donation

Mobile Fire-Rescue Department 

Accepts Historic Donation

Mobile, AL – The fire service, in general, is saturated in deep history and tradition, and Mobile’s fire department is certainly not exempt. The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department (MFRD) maintains 20 fire stations in the City of Mobile, most of which are named for former MFRD Fire Chiefs or fallen Mobile firefighters. Along the walls, in the halls, and even in the engine bays, many of Mobile’s historic and new fire stations display images, plaques, and more from the department’s rich history developed by generations past.

The Henry J. Reid Fire Station (512 Stimrad Road) has long since been a staple of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department, the Happy Hill community, and the City of Mobile. Henry Reid represents a lineage of Creole firefighters from a time and age before the City of Mobile even held a paid, professional fire department. As the first firefighter of Creole descent to hold the rank of Captain in Mobile, Reid’s legacy and lineage of firefighting continued for generations to follow. Sadly, however, no images have been displayed connecting the station to its namesake, until now.

Celebrating the legacies, traditions, and history of MFRD's families  -
Mobile Fire-Rescue accepted a generous donation from the family of Henry J. Reid, for whom Station 21 (512 Strimrad Road). Reid was a staple of Creole1 and Mobile's volunteer fire departments in the late-1800s. After Mobile created a fully paid, professional fire department in 1888, Henry J. Reid was the first firefighter of Creole descent promoted to the rank of Captain.

Andre Reid (great grandson) and family have graciously provided MFRD with original portraits of Henry Reid to proudly be displayed in the fire station bearing his name.