Two weeks ago, H.D. Murphy’s successful quest in 1965 to buy Sun City’s first fire hydrant was outlined here with a promise to continue the story.

Before proceeding, more background would be useful. Mr. Murphy’s fixation with fire insurance premiums was widely shared in the community. The first organized effort to resolve the absence of hydrants had begun with appointing a Fire Hydrant Study Committee at the Sun City Civic Association circa 1962. The committee took a passive role, assuming Sun City would follow Youngtown’s lead and incorporate.

Leaders believed city government would prioritize contracting with Citizens Utility for fire hydrants and would form a fire department or contract with Rural Metro. Both assumptions proved wrong. Residents resoundingly defeated incorporation in a Maricopa County supervised election. The date was Dec. 1, 1964, and nearly 100% of eligible voters participated. Incorporation supporters were disappointed when only 28% approved the mayor-city council plan. That 1964 election was the only formal vote on incorporation ever conducted in Sun City, though the topic remained a front-burner issue for another two decades.

Before advancing Sun City’s story beyond the incorporation decision, another look backward reveals other forces at work. In Murphy Part 1, it was noted the Fire Rating Bureau was not impressed with protection in Sun City, and for good reason. From day one, residents could hire Rural Metro to respond to fires or other emergencies at a cost of $1 per month. The first newspaper description of Rural Metro services appeared in 1961. Rural’s one small truck, manned by a single firefighter, was housed at 111th Avenue and Windsor Drive, one block south of Grand Avenue. The phone seldom rang at the fire station. Most often a call was for the fireman to bring his oxygen bottle to a heart attack victim waiting for an ambulance dispatched from Glendale. 

Having but a single fireman available did not go without notice. The local newspapers also noted concern in the community over Rural Metro’s fire truck having a very small water tank and no hydrants available for refilling. A Rural official tried to ease concern by explaining that all their fire hoses were equipped with state-of-the-art misting nozzles, which considerably stretched the water supply. The official pointed out they had another station only a few miles away on Bell Road and a second truck could respond if more water was needed. The agency that rated fire risks was not swayed by Rural Metro arguments.

One further illustration of concern with fire insurance premiums must be noted. In January 1961, Del E. Webb Development Co. approached community leaders with a startling offer. The keys to Community Center, now Oakmont Recreation Center, including all the buildings, the pool, the rose garden and the lawn bowling and croquet greens were offered as a gift to the early residents. A quick vote was taken, and an overwhelming majority accepted the offer. The community leaders chosen in December 1960 to advise on recreation and public interest concerns accepted the deed and immediately split itself into two parts. One part would operate Community Center and incorporated itself as Sun City Civic Association, Inc. (Later it became Recreation Centers of Sun City). The other part remained as just plain Sun City Civic Association. Later it became Sun City Home Owners Association. Both groups had the same board of directors, but only for one year.

The recreation leaders struggled with finances from day one of the takeover because dues were voluntary. The concept of a required “facilities agreement” mandating annual recreation fees had not been developed when the owners in the area of the Community Center bought their homes. Budgets were tough to balance those first years. The recreation center treasurer suggested a way to reduce a major expense — fire insurance on Community Center buildings.

His proposal was to have the corporation borrow money for sprinkler installation. The entire community weighed in on the decision and approval for securing a loan was given. Significant premium savings enabled paying off the loan in only a few years. The recreation department loan was unique in the history of the Sun Cities.

Contrast the amount of discussion time of fire insurance premiums in the years 1962-65 to the year 2020. Sun City of 1965 was ready for dramatic change in fire protection involving installation of an entire network of fire hydrants coupled with creation of a community-wide fire protection. Mr. Murphy’s hydrant proved to be the needed catalyst for moving forward. With that background, the story can advance in the next history installment in two weeks. 

At the end of Murphy Part 1, readers were asked, “Why are Sun City’s fire hydrants painted yellow?” It was implied the answer would be forthcoming. Officials from DEVCO, Rural Fire Department and Sun City Civic Association met and debated yellow vs. red and other options for hydrant color. Yellow was the decision, but the reason likely will not be guessed by all readers. The story continues in two weeks.