Dr. Lester L. Williams Fire Museum

The Lester L. Williams Fire Department Complex in Colorado Springs, CO was completed in August 2001 and fully occupied by September 17, 2001. The 45,000 square foot complex located at 375 Printers Parkway sits on 13.6 acres and currently houses the Dr. Lester L. Williams Fire Museum that depicts the Colorado Springs Fire Department’s last 100 years of service to the community, as well as the Fire Department’s Administrative Offices, the Office of the Fire Marshal and the Training Division. In recognizing that "Today is Tomorrow's History," the Friends of Dr. Lester L. Williams Fire Museum committee is dedicated to coordinating and overseeing the resources of this museum, which consists largely of Dr. Lester L. Williams' life-long collection of fire memorabilia. Additional information on this museum can be found at www.fire-museum.com.

I had the opportunity to re-visit this museum when I was up in Colorado Springs teaching a National Fire Academy class. These photos were shot on May 19th, 2014. Soon after his move to Colorado Springs, Dr. Williams became interested in the Colorado Springs Fire Department. His interest was noticed by Chief Fred Lausch who submitted his name to City Council for appointment as Fire Department Physician. In 1953, the City Council passed a special ordinance to this effect with Dr. Williams being named to the position without pay or any designated responsibilities. Dr. Williams took his affiliation with the Fire Department very seriously. He was concerned about firefighter safety and became a proponent for the use of self-contained breathing apparatus. He researched and wrote a paper entitled, "The Hazards of Smoke," which he presented at the Memphis Fire Department Instructors' Conference in 1959.

Over the years, Dr. Williams wrote numerous articles and papers related to the fire service. Among these were, "A History of the Volunteer Fire Department of Colorado Springs, 1873-1894"; "Horse-Drawn Days of the Fire Department, 1894-1917", "The Cripple Creek Conflagration", and "The Antler's Conflagration of 1898". As a culmination of his work, Dr. Williams published a book entitled, "Fighting Fire in Colorado Springs" in 1992. If you find yourself in “The Springs,” I would encourage you to visit and enjoy the many exhibits, as well learn about the history of the Colorado Springs Fire Department.