History of the
Pattonville Fire Protection District
Our fire department can trace its origins to the early 1930’s. However, due to the lack of water supply and funds, the department dwindled to nonexistence by World War II. After a tragic fire fatality in late 1946, a group of concerned citizens headed by Mrs. Will J. (Jackie) Clark obtained permission from the Emerson Marshall Sherwood Legion Post #213 to hold a meeting at the post to discuss fire protection for the town. After this meeting it was decided to canvass the town to determine if there was enough interest in creating a fire department.
On March 3, 1947 another meeting was held and the organizing group decided to form the "Pattonville Volunteer Fire Department". They purchased a pumper and installed three hydrants at Raymond and Prospect, Old St. Charles and Midview, and Fee Fee north of Old St. Charles. On October 7, 1947 the first pumper was accepted by the department. It was a 1947 Central Fire Truck (Squirrel Tail Type) with a mid-ship mounted 500 G.P.M. pump and a 250 gallon tank.
Not having a fire station, the pumper was kept in front of the Pattonville Restaurant during the day and at night housed in a resident's garage. When cold weather came, Mr. Preiss would allow the pumper to be kept in the Pattonville Garage. In the spring of 1948, an area Northwest of Pattonville called Bridgeton Terrace came in to the department's area of protection. This is when the name of the department changed to "Pattonville-Bridgeton Terrace Volunteer Fire Department".
The membership of the volunteer fire department then decided it was time to start building a fire station to house the pumper. The Pattonville School District donated a section of land to the fire department for the purpose of building a fire station at 4008 Fee Fee Road. A one story block building was constructed on the site by volunteer labor from the townspeople. The fire department sold fire tags at a cost of $3.00 to homeowners and $5.00 to businesses in 1948 and 1949. These were the only years that the tags were sold.
On September 7, 1949 the volunteers decided to form a fire district and this changed the name again to "Pattonville-Bridgeton Terrace Fire Protection District". Between 1955 and 1962 the district grew to protect a twenty-eight square mile area, at which time land was purchased to build another fire station. In 1963, fire station #2 was constructed at St. Charles Rock Road & McKelvey Road. A third pumper was purchased in August of 1963. There were approximately eighty volunteers with the district. In October 1964, the district hired its first five paid firefighters. They were Otha Lee Young, David L. Shepard, Nick Sacco, Oliver E. Ries, and Larry Belford. In 1969, the fire district hired its first paid fire chief, Robert E. Palmer. Chief Palmer served until 1972.
In 1974, the firemen of the district joined the International Association of Fire Fighters, an AFL-CIO Union and the volunteers disbanded within a year. In 1981, the fire district started providing advanced life support service to the residents. In the fall of 1988 the fire district employed a total of forty firefighting and office personnel . In 1990, The fire district opened a third fire station located at St. Charles Rock Road & Earth City Expressway. A new 75 foot LTI aerial truck was also placed in service along with a new 1990 advanced life support ambulance. In 1991, a second advanced life support ambulance was also placed into service.
After the passage of a bond issue in 1993, a new fire house #2 located at 3365 McKelvey Road was completed and started serving the residents in 1995. The citzens of our fire district voted once again for a bond issue in 1999. With that bond issue, the fire district purchased a 1999 93ft American LaFrance Ladder Tower (#4832), a new 2000, advanced life support ambulance, and modernized fire station #1 located at 4008 Fee Fee Road. The 93ft American LaFrance Ladder Tower (#4832) was placed in service on October 31st, 2000 and carried a crew of four including a paramedic and advanced life support equipment.
Now in the 21st century, the Pattonville Fire Protection District and its personnel are ready to meet any new challenges that lie ahead thanks to the continued investment our citizens have made in their fire district. The dedication of our citizens to safety allow the Pattonville Fire Protection District to provide the finest in firefighting equipment, emergency medical services, training, and public safety education.
The Pattonville Fire Protection District Board of Directors, the Fire Chief, officers, firefighters, paramedics and staff are proud to serve the citizens of our district and thank them for their continued support.
Pattonville Fire Protection District
13900 Saint Charles Rock Rd
Bridgeton, MO 63044
Phone: 314-739-3118