In the early part of 1926, Houston and the surrounding area was the scene of several bad fires which brought the attention of the community to the need for some kind of organized fire fighting. A few people met several times privately to discuss the problem and finally decided to call a public meeting to find out what the feelings of other residents of Houston were.On march 8, 1926 a large number of towns people and local farmers gathered in Houston Public School. H.F. Scott acted as temporary chairman and J.B Counselman as temporary secretary. Everyone at the meeting was encouraged to express their opinions on organizing a fire company and a vote was taken. The question to support a fire company was unanimous. With no time to waste, an election of officers was immediately held. H.F Scott was elected president; J.B. Counselman was elected temporary Secretary; Merrill W. Thistlewood was elected first Fire Chief; Fred Hayes and D.E Greenley were elected Assistant Chiefs; David Vinyard was elected treasurer and William H. Sapp was elected Engineer and Driver.

    Charter members in addition to elected officers were Irving Vienot, Lawrence Armour, Lloyd Armour, Thomas Sharp, Harvey Marvel, Emory Webb, G.S Armour, Oley Sapp, William Reynolds, Augustus Morgan, William Ennis, Joseph Hayes, Clinton Marvel, Elmer Dawson, John A. Dawson, Thomas Cahall, and John Brittingham.

    A collection was taken that night to start a fund to buy equipment. The exact amount of the first collection is unknown, but in the minutes of the meeting of April 16, 1926, slightly more than a month later, it is recorded that $168.00 had been raised.

    The Town of Houston owned a hand-drawn chemical wagon, a 16 foot ladder, a 32 foot extension ladder, and two 12 quart buckets which they officially turned over to the newly formed fire company. The town had owned this equipment a few years before the organization of the fire company, but few attempts had been made to use it.