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 10 employees: a Fire Chief, a Captain, 2 Lieutenants, and 6 Firefighters. The Captain, Lieutenants and the firefighters work three shifts of 24 hours on duty and then 48 hours off.
Mission Statement
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.
Ride Along with the Aransas Pass Fire Department
If you would like to ride along with the Aransas Pass Fire Department, please download and complete the Citizen Observer packet (PDF).
History of the Aransas Pass Fire Department
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.
The Aransas Pass 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 CaptainRickie Kilgore, several
other paid andvolunteers 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 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.
Annual Events
Community Events