In the 1920s and 1930s (and for some time after that) Pompano's Fire Department was composed almost entirely of volunteers. There was a paid fire chief and assistant, at times, but the community had to rely on everyday citizens for fire fighting.

When a fire call came in, the siren on the city's water tank, which was located on NE 2nd Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues, was used to alert volunteers as the approximate location of the fire. One blast meant volunteers should go to the northeast part of town, two blasts for the northwest, three for the south and four for the beach. All volunteers who were available and able would respond and travel to the designated area; they would then listen for the siren on the truck to locate the fire if it was not visible.