St. Louis Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State Missouri
City St. Louis
Agency overview[1][2]
Established
  • September 14, 1857 (1857-09-14)
  • (167 years ago)
Annual calls110,000 (2022)
Employees1141 (2022)
  • 950 – Uniformed personnel
  • 191 – Civilian members
[3]
Annual budget$72,704,965 mil.USD [FY 2022][3]
StaffingCareer
CommissionerDennis Jenkerson
EMS levelALS & BLS
IAFF73
Motto"Justifiably Proud"
Facilities and equipment[4]
Battalions7
Stations36
Engines15
Trucks20
Squads2
Ambulances12
Tenders0
HAZMAT3
USAR1
Fireboats2
Rescue boats4
Website
Official website
IAFF website
St. Louis Fire Department fighting a fire, March 2021

The St. Louis Fire Department (STLFD or STL City Fire) provides emergency medical services, fire cause determination, fire prevention, fire suppression, hazardous materials mitigation, and rescue services to the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The department is also the second oldest professional and fully paid fire department in the United States.[5][6] The STLFD is responsible for 69.0 square miles (179 km2) and has a population of approximately 294,890 with a daytime population of over 2 million.[1]

The Fire Department Division is a division of the St. Louis Public Safety Department.

The St. Louis Fire Department is led by the Fire Commissioner, currently Dennis M. Jenkerson.[7] The Fire Commissioner and Chief is appointed by the Director of Public Safety and each bureau is commanded by a Deputy Fire Chief, who oversees the department's bureaus. Administrative Services, Fire Prevention, Operations, Support Services, Emergency Medical Services are the major operational units in the St. Louis Fire Department.

History

The first organized fire department in St. Louis was created in 1822, had several volunteer fire departments in the area. An ordinance was passed to purchase the equipment, which primarily consisted of leather buckets. When the alarm sounded, members of the department would fetch their bucket and rush to the scene.[8] On September 14, 1857, the department transitioned to an all-paid department. The St. Louis Fire Department is the third oldest fully paid fire department, behind the Cincinnati Fire Department and the Providence Fire Department.[9]

Specialized units

In addition to fire suppression and emergency medical services, the St. Louis Fire Department also has specialized units that include:[10]

Fire Administration

The St. Louis Fire Department is headed by a Fire Commissioner. Currently, the Fire Commissioner and Chief is Dennis Jenkerson, who replaced former Fire Commissioner Sherman George in 2007.

The SLFD'S's organization consists of seven bureaus. These include the following: Each bureau is commanded by a Deputy Chief or Deputy Fire Chief or Manager.

  • Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
  • Bureau of Prevention
  • Bureau of Communications
  • Bureau of Support Services
  • Bureau of Fire Inspections
  • Bureau of Fire Investigations
  • Bureau of Fire Suppression

Administration

Command StaffTitle and Department
Derrick Phillips Deputy Fire Commissioner - Bureau of Administrative & Homeland Security
Valerie Porter EMS Chief – Bureau of EMS
Charles E. Coyle Deputy Chief – Bureau of Prevention
Michael Richardson Battalion Chief – Bureau of Communications
Ray Daniels Fire Captain – Bureau of Fire Inspections
Adam Owens Chief Fire Investigator – Bureau of Fire Investigation
TBA Battalion Chief – St. Louis Lambert International Airport (ARFF)

Ranks of the STLFD

Typical rank insignia in the St. Louis Fire Department.

In the St. Louis Fire Department, helmet colors often denote a fire fighter's rank or position. In general, white helmets denote chief officers, while red helmets may denote company officers. The specific meaning of a helmet's color or style varies from region to region and department to department. The rank of an officer in the St. Louis Fire Department is most commonly denoted by a number of speaking trumpets, a reference to a megaphone-like device used in the early days of the fire service, although typically called "bugle" in today's parlance. Ranks proceed from one (lieutenant) to five (fire chief) bugles.

Title Insignia Badge color Notes
Fire Commissioner (rank of Fire Chief)
Gold The Fire Commissioner holds the rank of fire chief and is appointed by the Mayor of St. Louis. Highest rank in the St. Louis Fire Department.
Deputy Fire Commissioner (rank of Deputy Fire Chief)
Gold The Deputy Fire Commissioner holds the rank of Deputy Fire Chief and is appointed by the fire commissioner. Second in command in the fire department.
Assistant Chief
Gold The assistant chief is the commander of a bureau within the fire department.
Battalion Chief
Gold The battalion chief is the commander of a battalion of fire stations and apparatus within his/her district.
Captain
Gold A captain is in charge of a crew of firefighters in the fire station.
Lieutenant
Gold A lieutenant is responsible for the administration and supervision of a fire company for fire suppression operations, hazardous material response, rescue operations, etc.
Engineer/Technician/Sergeant No Insignia Silver Engineers/technicians/sergeants are responsible for firefighting vehicles, such as fire engines, that transport firefighters, carry equipment, and pump water at fire scenes.
Firefighter No Insignia Silver A firefighter is a rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and animals from dangerous situations.
Candidate firefighter No Insignia None The primary responsibility of a probationary or rookie firefighter is to learn how to be a firefighter. They are both mentored and closely inspected by other senior firefighters and the officers.
  • Note: In place of bugles, ladder companies are signified by axes, rescue companies by life guns, squad companies by crossed ladders and stacked tip nozzles, and marine companies by bugles with an anchor.

Media

The firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs of STLFD are featured in A&E Network's reality series Live Rescue.[11]

Fallen Firefighters

From May 17, 1849, to Jan 13th, 2022, the Supporting Heroes Page reported that 171 Firefighters in the St. Louis Fire Department died in the line of duty.[12]

Marine Division

Jack Buck patrols the Mississippi during Fair Saint Louis
Stan Musial patrols the Mississippi during Fair Saint Louis
some fireboats of the STLFD
imagenamecommissionedretireddimensionspumping
capacity		notes
Jack Buck200327 feet4000 gpm
Stan Musial (fireboat)201344-foot7000 gpm

As of 2013, there are four small fireboats operated in St. Louis.[13] The largest two are named.[14][15] The 27 feet (8.2 m) Jack Buck was commissioned in 2003 and the 44 feet (13 m) Stan Musial in 2013.

Notable incidents

Great Fire of 1849

On May 17, 1849, at 9:00 p.m., an enormous fire broke out in the heart of St. Louis.[16] A steamboat named "The White Cloud" sitting on Cherry Street was on fire. The Fire Department, which, at that time, consisted of 9 hand engines and hose reels, responded to the scene. The moorings holding the boat broke, and the steamer floated downstream, setting 22 other steamers on fire as it went.[16]

The flames leaped from building to building, sweeping everything on the levee for four blocks.[16] The firemen were exhausted after fighting for over eight hours. The entire business portion of the city appeared lost. In a last-ditch effort to save the city, six buildings were spread with explosive powder and blown up. When the fire was finally contained after 11 hours, 430 buildings were destroyed, 23 steamboats along with over a dozen other boats were lost, and three people had died, including a fire captain.[16]

Stations and apparatus and Fire Boats

Below is a complete listing of all Fire Station and Apparatus Locations in the city of St. Louis by Battalion District, as of October 2019. In addition to the primary services (Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Prevention, Fire Cause Determination, Hazardous Materials Mitigation, and Rescue Services) The St. Louis Fire Department also provides structural fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue response, and aircraft rescue firefighting at St. Louis Lambert International Airport from the two fire stations located there.[17][18]

Fire Station Number Address Neighborhood Engine Company or Rescue (Mini Pumper) Unit Hook & Ladder Company, Truck Company or Crash Truck Units Medic Unit Special Unit Chief Unit Battalion
1 2910 S. Jefferson AvenueBenton ParkEngine 1Rescue Squad 1
Collapse Rescue unit
Strike Force 2		Battalion Chief 8022
2 314 S. Tucker BlvdDowntownEngine 2Hook & Ladder 2Medic 2Chemical Unit 1
Air Truck
Support Unit 7		2
4 4425 S. Compton AvenueDutchtownTruck 4Battalion Chief 8044
5 2123 North Market StreetSt. Louis PlaceHook & Ladder 1
Truck 5		Medic 5Battalion Chief 8011
6 5747 Manchester AvenueCheltenhamEngine 6 Marine Unit 13
7 2600 LaSalle StreetGate DistrictTruck 7Fire Investigation Unit 821
Unified Command Unit 900		Deputy Chief 8102
8 1501 Salisbury StreetHyde ParkEngine 81
9 814 LaBeaume AvenueNear North RiverfrontEngine 9 Medic 91
10 4161 Kennerly AvenueThe VilleTruck 10Medic 101
11 2224 S. 7th StreetKosciuskoTruck 11Marine Unit 2,Marine Unit 3, Marine Unit 4, Water Rescue Unit2
12 5214 W. Florissant AvenueMark TwainHook and Ladder 66
13 1400 Shawmut PlaceHamilton HeightsTruck 13Medic 135
14 3523 Magnolia AvenueTower Grove EastEngine 14 Medic 144
17 3238 Dr. Martin Luther King BlvdGrand CenterTruck 171
19 6624 Morgan Ford RoadBoulevard HeightsEngine 19 4
20 5600 Prescott AvenueNorth RiverfrontTruck 20Battalion Chief 806 6
22 1229 McCausland AvenueHi-PointeTruck 223
23 6500 Michigan AvenueCarondeletEngine 23Medic 23 4
24 5245 Natural Bridge AvenueMark Twain/I-70 IndustrialEngine 246
26 4520 Margaretta AvenuePenroseEngine 26Medic 266
27 5435 Partridge AvenueWalnut Park EastTruck 276
28 4810 Enright AvenueFountain ParkEngine 28Hook & Ladder 5HatMat 1, HazMat 2Battalion Chief 8055
29 200 S. Vandeventer AvenueMidtownEngine 29 Rescue Squad 2, 5
30 541 DeBaliviere AvenueSkinker DeBaliviereTruck 305
31 4408 Donovan AvenueSt. Louis HillsEngine 31Medic 313
32 3500 S. GrandTower Grove EastEngine 32Medic 324
33 8300 N. BroadwayBadenEngine 33 Medic 336
34 8227 S. BroadwayPatchTruck 344
35 5450 Arsenal StreetSouthwest GardenTruck 35Battalion 803 3
36 5000 S. Kingshighway BlvdPrinceton HeightsHook & Ladder 33
North Fire Station 6171 Aviation DriveSt. Louis Lambert International AirportRescue 42 (Mini-Pumper)Crash Truck 45Haz-Mat. Unit 47 , Battalion 808Battalion Chief 8088
West Fire Station 4578 Fee Fee RdSt. Louis Lambert International AirportRescue 49 (Mini-Pumper)Crash Truck 52 & 53 , Hook & Ladder 40Stairwell 53Battalion Chief 8088

References

  1. 1 2 "About". St. Louis Fire Department. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ "2022 Budget" (PDF). St. Louis. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Public Safety: Department Responsibilities" (PDF). Board of Aldermen. February 15, 2017. p. 153. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Fire Suppression". St. Louis Fire Department. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ "St. Louis Fire Department". St. Louis Fire Department. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Fire Department". stlouis-mo.gov.
  7. ↑ American, Chris King Of the St Louis. "Promotions under Jenkerson heavily favor South Side whites". St. Louis American. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Volunteer Department". St. Louis Fire Department. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ "History". St. Louis Fire Department. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ "About us". St. Louis Fire Department. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  11. ↑ "St. Louis Fire Department to be featured on A&E's 'Live Rescue' Monday night". KSDK.
  12. ↑ "Saint Louis Fire Department (MO)". Supporting Heroes. April 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ Brett Blume (May 24, 2012). "New Rescue Boats To Patrol St. Louis Riverfront". CBS News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  14. ↑ "St. Louis Fire Department names newest marine unit "The Stan Musial"". Fox News. September 29, 2013. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. The St. Louis Fire Department bought the boat, because of the growth of the St. Louis inland ports, which is now the third largest port in the United States.
  15. ↑ Bob Hamilton (September 29, 2013). "St. Louis Fire Department Getting New Boat". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013. It can pump up to 7,000 gallons of water or fire-suppressing foam per minute and can fight fires even while it's moving.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Great Fire". St. Louis Fire Department. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Station Locations". St. Louis Fire Department. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Firehouse Locations". stlouis-mo.gov. Retrieved May 3, 2020.

38°38′39.1596″N 90°12′46.5876″W / 38.644211000°N 90.212941000°W / 38.644211000; -90.212941000

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