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IFD names station after first African-American chief

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Fire Department has named one if its stations after the department’s first African-American chief.

IFD Fire Station 1 was renamed in honor of Joseph Kimbrew Sr. on Saturday.

He was the department’s 37th chief and served with IFD from 1955 to 1992.

He’s credited with helping bridge the gap between African-American firefighters and white firefighters.

Kimbrew was an Indianapolis native, Crispus Attucks High School graduate and still lived in the city at his death in July 2015.