The Denver Fire Department has come a long way in moving past segregation and racial injustice, so in honor of Black History Month, the Denver Firefighters Museum is highlighting black firefighters.
The exhibit “A History of Black Firefighters in the Denver Fire Department” features the story of Station No. 3, an all-black fire station founded with about 12 firefighters in 1894 in the predominantly black community of Five Points. The museum at 1326 Tremont Place also spotlights the few black firefighters who helped pave the way for future generations.
Nathan Biffle was the department’s first black captain, who broke the hiring hierarchy by fighting and submitting letters or complaints. He was promoted to captain only after meeting with Mayor Ben Stapleton.
In 1957, Robert “Bob” Nickerson broke the department’s segregation barrier and was the first black firefighter assigned to work with white firefighters at Station No. 10. Around the same time, another African American firefighter, Glen Davis, was also assigned to work at the formerly all-white station No. 4.
Although the department is no longer segregated, the department still has strides to make, said Colorado Black Professional Firefighters vice president Jamal Jackson, a Denver firefighter.
“Some people don’t see there is an issue with it,” he said Saturday. “It hasn’t changed much since I came on. I was hired in 2008 and there was a dry spell from 2000 to 2006. They didn’t hire any African Americans.”
Of the 982 firefighters in Denver, 4.7 percent are African American compared to 6.8 percent of firefighters nationally, according to the 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Capt. Greg Pixley said Saturday that the Denver Fire Department is actively looking to diversify across all races and genders.
“We recruit try to find the best candidate we can for the potential to be a Denver firefighter,” he said. “I am just trying find those that can also represent the community demographics they come from and provide a greater service to these people.”
Most of the Denver Fire Department recruiting is done through word-of-mouth, Pixley said, but the department recently added a second lieutenant to help with hiring efforts.
“We are a culturally diverse and progressive fire department in Denver that embodies the courage and willingness to risk their life to save others,” Pixley said. “I’ve got to find those people regardless of their color or gender. We are inclusive and we are driven to better represent our communities.”
The Denver Firefighters Museum is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CORRECTION: This story was updated at 12:08 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2017, to correct the rank of Denver firefighter Jamal Jackson.
