Engine Company 8 was organized on January 22, 1889 and located at 637 North Carolina Avenue SE. The company went in service with an 1884 Clapp & Jones 450 GPM steam fire engine. In 1889 the fleet was updated with the purchase of a McDermott Broothers hose reel carriage.  The Department's Training School was also located in the rear of the fire house along with the black smith and barns to house the fire department's horses.  On March 25 1964 the company moved to their present location at 1520 C Street SE.