HAYS FIRE DEPARTMENT MUSEUM       The Hays Firemen's Relief Association started working with Ellis County Historical Society in April 2008 to bring the City of Hays Fire Department Museum to their facility. The museum was replicated after the fire station that was built in 1927 located at 11th and Fort.When this station was built, it was manned with the first two full-time firefighters for the city. The Fire Department Museum officially opened to visitors in April 2012.     The Hays Fire Department was said to have formed around May of 1885 when the City of Hays became incorporated. At that time, any male who could lift a pale of water was said to have been on the bucket brigade. It was not until December 23, 1895 that the Hays Volunteer Fire Department received its charter as members of the Kansas Firemen's Relief Association. At that time there were a total of sixteen volunteer firefighters.