St. Louis Fire Department

Last updated

St. Louis Fire Department
St. Louis Fire Department Logo.png
Operational area
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
State Flag of Missouri.svg  Missouri
City Flag of St. Louis, Missouri.svg 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
Commissioner Dennis Jenkerson
Mayor of St. Louis responsible Tishaura Jones
EMS level ALS & BLS
IAFF 73
Motto"Justifiably Proud"
Facilities and equipment [4]
Battalions7
Stations 36
Engines 15
Trucks 20
Squads 2
Ambulances 12
Tenders 0
HAZMAT 3
USAR 1
Fireboats 2
Rescue boats 4
Website
Official website
IAFF website
St. Louis Fire Department fighting a fire, March 2021 St Louis Fire Department.jpg
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]

Contents

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.

Administration

Command StaffTitle and Department
Derrick PhillipsDeputy Fire Commissioner - Bureau of Administrative & Homeland Security
James ThompsonEMS Chief – Bureau of EMS
Charles E. CoyleDeputy Chief – Bureau of Prevention
Michael RichardsonBattalion Chief – Bureau of Communications
Ray DanielsFire Captain – Bureau of Fire Inspections
Adam OwensChief Fire Investigator – Bureau of Fire Investigation
TBABattalion Chief – St. Louis Lambert International Airport (ARFF)

Ranks of the STLFD

Typical rank insignia in the St. Louis Fire Department. Fire Department Rank Insignia.gif
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.

TitleInsigniaBadge colorNotes
Fire Commissioner (rank of Fire Chief)
FIRE BUGLES - 5.1 (GOLD).png
GoldThe 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)
FIRE BUGLES - 4.3 (GOLD).png
GoldThe 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
FIRE BUGLES - 3.1 (GOLD).png
GoldThe assistant chief is the commander of a bureau within the fire department.
Battalion Chief
FIRE BUGLES - 2.4 (GOLD).png
GoldThe battalion chief is the commander of a battalion of fire stations and apparatus within his/her district.
Captain
FIRE BUGLES - 2.4 (SILVER).png
GoldA captain is in charge of a crew of firefighters in the fire station.
Lieutenant
FIRE BUGLES - 1 (SILVER).png
GoldA lieutenant is responsible for the administration and supervision of a fire company for fire suppression operations, hazardous material response, rescue operations, etc.
Engineer/Technician/SergeantNo InsigniaSilverEngineers/technicians/sergeants are responsible for firefighting vehicles, such as fire engines, that transport firefighters, carry equipment, and pump water at fire scenes.
FirefighterNo InsigniaSilverA 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 InsigniaNoneThe 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.

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 Jack Buck St. Louis Fire Department rescue boat, 2012.jpg
Jack Buck patrols the Mississippi during Fair Saint Louis
Stan Musial patrols the Mississippi during Fair Saint Louis Stan-musial-fire-boat.jpg
Stan Musial patrols the Mississippi during Fair Saint Louis
some fireboats of the STLFD
imagenamecommissionedretireddimensionspumping
capacity
notes
Jack Buck St. Louis Fire Department rescue boat, 2012.jpg Jack Buck 200327 feet4000 gpm
Stan-musial-fire-boat.jpg 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 NumberAddressNeighborhoodEngine Company or Rescue (Mini Pumper) UnitHook & Ladder Company, Truck Company or Crash Truck UnitsMedic UnitSpecial UnitChief UnitBattalion
1 2910 S. Jefferson Avenue Benton Park Engine 1Rescue Squad 1
Collapse Rescue unit
Strike Force 2
Battalion Chief 8022
2 314 S. Tucker Blvd Downtown Engine 2Hook & Ladder 2Medic 2Chemical Unit 1
Air Truck
Support Unit 7
2
4 4425 S. Compton Avenue Dutchtown Truck 4Battalion Chief 8044
5 2123 North Market Street St. Louis Place Hook & Ladder 1
Truck 5
Medic 5Battalion Chief 8011
6 5747 Manchester Avenue Cheltenham Engine 6Marine Unit 13
7 2600 LaSalle Street Gate District Truck 7Fire Investigation Unit 821
Unified Command Unit 900
Deputy Chief 8102
8 1501 Salisbury Street Hyde Park Engine 81
9 814 LaBeaume Avenue Near North Riverfront Engine 9Medic 91
10 4161 Kennerly Avenue The Ville Truck 10Medic 101
11 2224 S. 7th Street Kosciusko Truck 11Marine Unit 2, Marine Unit 3, Marine Unit 4, Water Rescue Unit2
12 5214 W. Florissant Avenue Mark Twain Hook and Ladder 66
13 1400 Shawmut Place Hamilton Heights Truck 13Medic 135
14 3523 Magnolia Avenue Tower Grove East Engine 14Medic 144
17 3238 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd Grand Center Truck 171
19 6624 Morgan Ford Road Boulevard Heights Engine 194
20 5600 Prescott Avenue North Riverfront Truck 20Battalion Chief 8066
22 1229 McCausland Avenue Hi-Pointe Truck 223
23 6500 Michigan Avenue Carondelet Engine 23Medic 234
24 5245 Natural Bridge Avenue Mark Twain/I-70 Industrial Engine 246
26 4520 Margaretta Avenue Penrose Engine 26Medic 266
27 5435 Partridge Avenue Walnut Park East Truck 276
28 4810 Enright Avenue Fountain Park Engine 28Hook & Ladder 5HatMat 1, HazMat 2Battalion Chief 8055
29 200 S. Vandeventer Avenue Midtown Engine 29Rescue Squad 2,5
30 541 DeBaliviere Avenue Skinker DeBaliviere Truck 305
31 4408 Donovan Avenue St. Louis Hills Engine 31Medic 313
32 3500 S. Grand Tower Grove East Engine 32Medic 324
33 8300 N. Broadway Baden Engine 33Medic 336
34 8227 S. Broadway Patch Truck 344
35 5450 Arsenal Street Southwest Garden Truck 35Battalion 8033
36 5000 S. Kingshighway Blvd Princeton Heights Hook & Ladder 33
North Fire Station 6171 Aviation Drive St. Louis Lambert International Airport Rescue 42 (Mini-Pumper)Crash Truck 45Haz-Mat. Unit 47, Battalion 808Battalion Chief 8088
West Fire Station 4578 Fee Fee Rd St. Louis Lambert International Airport Rescue 49 (Mini-Pumper)Crash Truck 52 & 53, Hook & Ladder 40Stairwell 53Battalion Chief 8088

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency service</span> Organizations that ensure public safety and health by addressing different emergencies

Emergency services and rescue services are organizations that ensure public safety, security, and health by addressing and resolving different emergencies. Some of these agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies, while others deal with ad hoc emergencies as part of their normal responsibilities. Many of these agencies engage in community awareness and prevention programs to help the public avoid, detect, and report emergencies effectively. Emergency services are often considered first responders, and typically have dedicated emergency vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Fire Department</span> Fire department of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.

The Los Angeles Fire Department provides firefighting services as well as technical rescue services, hazardous materials services and emergency medical services to the citizens of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. The LAFD is responsible for approximately four million people who live in the agency's 471 square miles (1,220 km2) jurisdiction. The Los Angeles Fire Department was founded in 1886 and is the third largest municipal fire department in the United States, after the New York City Fire Department and the Chicago Fire Department. The department is sometimes also referred to as the Los Angeles City Fire Department or "LA City Fire" to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which serves unincorporated areas and, via contracts, other incorporated municipalities within Los Angeles County without their own fire departments. The department is currently under the command of Chief Kristin Crowley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Fire Department</span> Fire department in New York City

The New York City Fire Department, officially the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the full-service fire department of New York City, serving all five boroughs. The FDNY is responsible for fire suppression and fire prevention, and is a major provider of EMS services in New York City. Beyond fire suppression and EMS, the FDNY is responsible for a broad range of services, including technical rescue, CBRN defense, and structural collapse response and analysis. The FDNY is equipped with a wide variety of general-purpose and specialized Vehicles,Tools and Equipment to serve its varied missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honolulu Fire Department</span>

The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) provides fire protection and first responder emergency medical services to the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Honolulu. Founded on December 27, 1850, by Kamehameha III and Alexander Cartwright, the Honolulu Fire Department serves and protects the entire island of O'ahu, covering over 600 square miles (1,600 km2) of territory, home to more than 880,000 residents and over 4 million annual visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Fire Department</span> Fire department of the city of Chicago

The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) provides firefighting services along with emergency medical response services, hazardous materials mitigation services, and technical rescue response services in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department is the second-largest municipal fire department in the United States after the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). It is also one of the oldest major organized fire departments in the nation. It has numerous general purpose and specialized vehicles and equipment to accomplish its missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Fire Services</span> Fire service of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Fire Services (TFS), commonly called Toronto Fire, provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response, and first responder emergency medical assistance in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto Fire Services is currently the largest municipal fire department in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Fire Services Department</span> Fire department

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department is an emergency service responsible for firefighting and rescue on land and sea. It also provides an emergency ambulance service for the sick and the injured and gives fire protection advice to the public. It is under the Secretary for Security who heads the Security Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Fire Department</span>

The Philadelphia Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) to the city of Philadelphia. The PFD's official mission is to protect public safety by quick and professional response to emergencies and through the promotion of sound emergency prevention measures. This mandate encompasses all traditional firefighting functions, including fire suppression, with 58 Engine companies and 29 Ladder companies as well as specialty and support units deployed throughout the city; specialized firefighting units for Philadelphia International Airport and the Port of Philadelphia; investigations conducted by the Fire Marshal's Office to determine the origins of fires and to develop preventive strategies; prevention programs to educate the public in order to increase overall fire safety; and support services such as: research and planning, management of the Fire Communications Center within the City's 911 system, and operation of the Fire Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire Services Bureau</span>

The Fire Services Bureau is responsible for fire and rescue services in Macau. Volunteer fire brigades in Macau dates back to 1851 and full-time department in 1883. Prior to 1851, the Portuguese military provided fire services in the colony. In 1999, the CB became a fully civilian agency. Today the department is organized under the Macau Security Force. The brigade is responsible for fire and rescue for both land and air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department</span>

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is a combination career and volunteer organization that provides fire suppression services, emergency medical response services, technical rescue services, hazardous materials Response services, water rescue services, life safety education, fire prevention and arson investigation services to Fairfax County, Virginia. Emergency medical services include advanced life support response by ALS capable engines and transport units.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) provides fire and EMS services to the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It operates from 27 fire stations, and 3 administration offices across the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firefighting in the United States</span> Firefighting

Firefighting in the United States dates back to the earliest European colonies in the Americas. Early firefighters were simply community members who would respond to neighborhood fires with buckets. The first dedicated volunteer fire brigade was established in 1736 in Philadelphia. These volunteer companies were often paid by insurance companies in return for protecting their clients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore City Fire Department</span> Fire department in the United States

The Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1797 and established in 1859, the Baltimore City Fire Department covers an area of 81 square miles (210 km2) of land and 11 square miles (28 km2) of water, with a resident population of over 640,000 and a daytime population of over 1,000,000. The BCFD responds to approximately 235,000 emergency calls annually. There are two International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) locals; IAFF 734 for firefighters and IAFF 964 for officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Louis Public Safety Department</span>

The Public Safety Department - City of St. Louis is a municipal government department in the City of St. Louis. The Department of Public Safety is divided into three subordinate departments, six major divisions, two bureaus, a correctional institution and the city jail. The current Director of Public Safety is Charles Coyle. Departments, divisions, and bureaus under the umbrella of the Department of Public Safety are responsible for a wide array of city services, including: building code enforcement; emergency management planning ; fire prevention and suppression; emergency medical services; zoning; permits for residential and commercial construction, business occupancy, and the sale of distribution of alcoholic beverages; law enforcement; correctional facilities; neighborhood safety; and special event planning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Jose Fire Department</span>

The San José Fire Department (SJFD) provides firefighting, rescue and emergency medical services to the city of San Jose, California, United States. The San Jose Fire Department protects the third largest city in California and the tenth largest city in the nation.

Because water transport is an important industry on the rivers of the Mississippi River system, there are a number of fireboats on the Mississippi River system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandria Fire Department</span> Fire department in Alexandria, Virginia, US

The Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Alexandria, Virginia. Established in 1866, the department is responsible for 15 square miles (39 km2) with a population of over 159,000.

Dennis M. Jenkerson was appointed as the 10th Fire Commissioner of the St. Louis Fire Department on November 19, 2007 by Former Mayor Francis Slay. A third generation St. Louis firefighter, he has thirty-nine years of operational and tactical firefighting experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Air Force Fire Protection</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force Fire Protection career specialty is the military's premiere specialty in fire protection. Much like their civilian counterparts, these military firefighters protect people, property, and the environment from fires and disasters. They provide firefighting, specialized rescue, HazMat responses, as well as provide fire prevention and response to weapons of mass destruction. Though every branch has its own fire protection career specialties, they all must graduate from the Air Force's 13.5 week fire academy in San Angelo, Texas before being awarded their Firefighter certification.

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″N90°12′46.5876″W / 38.644211000°N 90.212941000°W / 38.644211000; -90.212941000