Add an Article Add an Event Edit

Cottleville Fire Protection District



History

A group of local citizens saw the need for fire protection in the small town of Cottleville. On January 25, 1908 the "Cottleville Fire Department" came into existence. The records of the early events are for the most par nonexistent, but it is known that in order to be a member of the Fire Department, or to be protected by it each person had to pay 75 cents annually. In 1942 the Fire Department was reorganized and street dances were held to raise money for operations, and donations were readily accepted. The same year saw the rebuilding of the firehouse on the same property (the current location of the District Station One.)

In 1970 membership tags went up tp $7.00 each and bathrooms were added to the fire station (mainly used during dances and picnics). In 1971 a new Towers pumper was purchases for $24,000.00 and the 1950 pumper was sold.

Then in 1972 a petition drive allowed for the establishment of a Fire Protection District thus providing tax support for the Fire District. In 1973 a brush truck was purchased for about $6,000.00. A meeting room and two more engine bays were added to the old firehouse by the firefighters at a cost of $3,000.00. The county donated a step van to the district to be used as a rescue vehicle. The first "Jaws of Life" rescue tool in the county was placed on this unit.

In 1977 $150,000.00 bond issue allowed the purchase of a new pumper (1000 GPM & 1000 gallon tank), and the construction of Station Two in the Harvester Area.

In 1988 a new 15,000 square foot Station One was opened on the same piece of ground as the original station in1908. Staff at that time consisted of a full time Chief, Fire Marshal, Training Officer, and Secretary. A Part Time Inspector, 12 full time shift Firefighters and 45 Volunteers. Ground for Station Four was purchased. A new heavy-duty rescue unit was put in service in April of 1988. The operation budget had gone from the $152.00 in 1908 to over $1,000,000.00 in 1988. The alarms answered had risen from 1 or 2 a month to about 500.

Since 1988 the District has kept pace with the rapid growth of the area. The District opened Station Four in early 2000 and moved the administrative functions to new offices, allowing for expansion of crew areas in Station One. The District currently employees 46 full time uniformed staff consisting of a Chief, two Assistant Chiefs, twelve Captains and 30 Firefighters. The administrative staff consists of a full time inspector and Administrative Assistant .

The District is currently responding to over twenty-five hundred alarms a year from its four stations, which are manned twenty-four hours a day by full time firefighter/EMT’s. Future planning concerns involve the extension of Page Avenue through the District and dealing with the continuing rapid growth of the area. With a current operation budget in excess of $4,000,000.00 the District shows no signs of any slowing down in growth.