(1873-1880)

As a youngster, Thomas Wastie witnessed London’s Great Fire of 1845. Ten years later he joined London’s fire brigade as a member of the Rescue Company. Wastie left London and worked for fire departments in Detroit and St. Louis. He returned to London and rejoined the brigade.

Wastie was appointed as chief engineer of the volunteer brigade in 1872 and became the city’s first Fire chief when the fire department was formed in 1873.

Chief Wastie was a merchant by trade and operated a grocery store on Richmond Street. He had a quick temper and his seven years as chief included fistfights with his men and city politicians. Chief Wastie led the fire department in 1880 to operate a passenger steamship business on the Thames River. After one season, he sold his interests in the business and moved west to Manitoba. He worked as an auctioneer and for the provincial government. Wastie moved west again in the 1890s settling in San Jose, California.

Station No. 10 at 2125 Trafalgar Street bears Chief Wastie’s name.

To read more, use the tag Fire Chief Thomas Wastie.