Although the City of Moriarty was incorporated in 1953, the City of Moriarty Fire Department began officially in 1952. In this dry, desert area, thecommunity was understandably eager for fire protection.  The Department is relatively young, yet has a brief, but proud history.

    The Fire Department frequently changed chiefs during its early years, beginning with Chief W.R. Wood, followed by Chief Verol Chilton, Chief Lawrence Smith, Chief Lloyd K. Williams, and Chief Richard Bradfute, who remained as Chief until the early 1970's and then stepped down for health reasons.  Ralph Anaya then became Fire Chief until the mid 1980's, and when Chief Ralph Anaya left the Department the family lineage continued, bringing in one of the Department's first Emergency Medical Technicians, Carlos Anaya.  Chief Carlos Anaya was very instrumental  in bringing in several new pieces of apparatus, increasing training and puchasing our first true Ambulance. Prior to this, a 1959 Chevy Parkwood wagon was used for that purpose.
Following Chief Carlos Anaya, Brian Bird became Fire Chief in 1195, and in June, 1998, Karl Ehl was appointed Fire Chief by the Moriarty City Council.
 

                                                                      Karl Ehl, Fire Chief
 

    Currently, our Department has a roster of twenty-five members.  We are a combination Department, utilizing some paid full-time staff members, as well as volunteers.  On an average, we answer approxiately one thousand fire and EMS calls per year.  The number of alarms is on the rise, due to the growth rate of the community.  An unfortunate, but unavoidable fact of life is that many of the original and older members of the Moriarty Fire Department have passed away.  As the new Fire Chief, I relish hearing tales of "the way it used to be."  These tales are healthy for the heart and soul.  Hearing these accounts brings me to realize how far we have come, and to some degree, how much easier our jobs are.   Furthermore, it helps us never to forget our Firefighters of yesteryear.

    If you have any "good ol' tales about the way it used to be," drop me an e-mail.

                                                                  citymoriar@aol.com

    Or, if you are ever in Moriarty, look us up and we can talk over a fine cup of Firehouse coffee (bring your fork!).