Anadarko Oklahoma Fire Department Hook and Ladder Truck Real Photo Postcard

The early 20th century saw a significant shift in municipal fire services, as horse-drawn apparatus began to be replaced by motorized fire engines. This transition, evident in cities like Wichita, Kansas, by the 1910s, represented a modernization of urban infrastructure and emergency response capabilities. Motorized engines offered greater speed, reliability, and the ability to carry heavier equipment, dramatically improving a fire department's effectiveness in protecting growing communities.