History of the Union Fire Protection District

1/22/2018 (Permalink)

Union Fire Protection District

The Union Fire Protection District has been a staple of the community for over 100 years. The fire department was created on July 19, 1890, when an ordinance was passed to “Establishment of Fire Department.” It was then that the first Fire Captain, First Assistant, Second Assistant and Secretary were elected. The ordinance remains in the fire department’s by-laws along with additions and some deletions.
The engine house was located northeast of the old jail building, behind Busch’s Hardware Store. In 1906, a fire bell tower was built and completed in 1906. The first fire siren was bought in 1921 and was placed on the roof of Citizens Bank.
The department’s first fire truck was obtained in 1924, when the city contracted with General Fire Mfg. Co.  It was a $4,000 Republic Motor Truck, and 11 volunteer fire fighters who expressed willingness to learn to operate the truck and equipment.
In April 1933, the Franklin-Gasconade Fire Fighters Association was formed in Union. The organization still exists today. On August 14, 1945, after the Japanese surrendered and effectively ended World War II, the Department went out and gathered a band for a street dance.
The Department moved into a new fire house in 1949 on the corner of Church and East Locust. In 1961, the Department joined the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri, and are still members today.
The city of Union passed a bond issue in 1964 for an addition to the fire house, said issue was dedicated in 1965. In 1969 the Department received a 1953 Jeep from the Conservation Department to be used for fighting brush fires.
In September of 1971, the people of Union voted to form the Union Volunteer Fire Protection District.
In January of 1977, the District leased a warehouse from Jim Straatmann in North Union. The warehouse eventually became the North Station.
The Union Volunteer Firefighters helped sandbag, tie down propane tanks, and pump out basements in what was called the “500-year flood” of the Bourbeuse River in December 1982.
The new station 3 was open May 12, 2002.  Today, the Union Fire Protection District consists of 15 full time career firefighters and 30 active volunteer firefighters.
The Union fire department continues its rich history to this day as it selflessly protects and serves our area.