MEHLVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
The areas of Mehlville, Oakville, Mattese and Sappington
of South St. Louis County had little fire protection before 1930. The area
was predominately a farming community with light commercial business. The
citizens of these communities depended upon the volunteer firefighters
from the Lemay, Dewey Heights and Jefferson Barracks Fire Departments for
their fire protection.
The Mehlville Improvement Association was formed in 1930
with the group’s mission to create fire service. In 1934, Charles Felz
donated a 1925 Ford farm truck that was converted into the Association’s
first fire truck. The truck was stationed at Manley’s Auto Repair Shop,
located at the area’s busiest intersection of Lindbergh and Lemay Ferry
Roads. Fund raising efforts by the Association made it possible to
purchase a 1919 American LaFrance pumper from the St. Louis Fire
Department in 1936. Around the same time, Robert Manley was selected as
the first Fire Chief. After the American LaFrance pumper was destroyed in
an accident, the Association purchased their first new pumper from the
Central Fire Truck Company in 1940. Based on a Ford chassis, the 500 GPM
pumper cost $6,000 and was utilized by the volunteers of the Association
for many years. Fire tags were sold for $2.00 per year and used for
operational expenses along with funds raised by annual dances. During
1946, the annual cost of fire tags was increased to $5.00, allowing two
part-time firefighters to be hired, being paid $20.00 per week.
The volunteer firefighters proposed and organized a fire
district in 1953, thereby having the power to collect taxes to support
department operations. District boundaries were laid out to cover 47
square miles in South St. Louis County. By the end of 1953, the voters of
the area approved the incorporation of the Mehlville Fire Protection
District (MFPD) and elected three directors. Robert Manley continued
heading the District as Chief and also served as one of the directors.
Clifford Zelch was hired as one of the first two full-time firefighters in
1954. Upon the death of Manley in 1955, Zelch was appointed Fire Marshal
and promoted to Fire Chief in 1956. With the area rapidly growing,
population exceeded 20,000. In 1957, a $300,000 bond issue was approved to
construct three fire stations, purchase two new pumpers and increase the
paid firefighter personnel to seventeen. Station 1 was located at 7409
South Lindbergh, Station 2 at 5610 Telegraph Road and Station 3 at 11625
Sappington Barracks.
As the area continued to grow, the assessed valuation of
the District rose to $112,991,157 in 1963. To keep up with the growth,
another bond issue was approved in 1964 for $160,000 to allow for the
construction of a fourth fire station, located at 13106 Tesson Ferry Road.
By 1966, the District employed forty-four persons who operated four
first-line and two reserve pumpers answering nearly 700 calls that year.
In 1968, South County Fire Alarm became the first alarm center in St.
Louis County, operating from Mehlville Station 1 and dispatching for
Mehlville and six other area fire departments.
In 1969, forty-one firefighters joined together and
petitioned the International Association of Fire Firefighters for
membership, becoming IAFF Local 1889. The Local became instrumental in
improving wages, working conditions and service to the public. Today Local
1889 consists of 138 members who are a prominent influence in the District
and the community.
Mehlville’s fifth fire station opened in 1971 at 11020
Mueller Road. It was built to house the administrative offices in addition
to an engine company and Deputy Chief’s quarters. The District instituted
an ambulance service that was made possible by a special ambulance tax
approved by voters in 1972. The District’s first ladder truck, with a
one-hundred foot aerial ladder, was placed in service at Station 5 during
1973.
As building in the District continued to grow, so with it
increased the population and emergency responses that numbered 2,776 in
1976. To keep up with the growth and provide the best protection possible,
a second ambulance and a sixth engine company were placed in service in
1978. Station 6 is located at 6870 Telegraph Road. The assessed valuation
at this time had increased to $353,951,814. In 1981, personnel increased
to 112 and alarms jumped to 4,913. A seventh station was opened in 1982 at
5501 Old Lemay Ferry Road. It was assigned the District’s second aerial
unit, a fifty-foot Tele-Squirt.
Robert Hupfeld, Sr. was appointed the position of Fire
Chief in 1985 upon the retirement of Clifford Zelch. In that same year,
South County Fire Alarm was incorporated as a not for profit corporation
separate of the Mehlville Fire Protection District. By 1986, alarms had
increased to 5,334 and to keep up with the increased demands for EMS
service a third ambulance was placed into service. The District’s assessed
valuation at this time had risen to $913,715,390.
In 1989, the District constructed a new modern
communications/dispatch center and tower on Old Lemay Ferry behind Station
7. South County Fire Alarm moved to the new location and continues to
lease the facility today.
During 1990, the District placed into service their first
heavy rescue squad. The unit is equipped with a wide variety of
specialized equipment ensuring the readiness of the District to respond to
all types of emergencies and unique rescue situations. A renovation was
completed on Station 3 during 1990 that would accommodate the District’s
fourth ambulance to be placed into service.
Joseph Gaterman was appointed the position of Fire Chief
in 1992 upon the retirement of Robert Hupfeld. The following year, the
District purchased property just north of Station 5 along with a house
that became offices for the Fire Prevention Bureau. The District ordered
and received three Marque medium duty chassis life support vehicles in
1997 that incorporated the latest in technologies. These vehicles are
currently used throughout the District.
Upon the retirement of Chief Gaterman in 1998, Raymond
Haddock was appointed to the position of Fire Chief. In anticipation of
future expansion, the District purchased the property just south of
Station 5. Also in 1998, a maintenance facility for fire apparatus repairs
was added onto Station 6. During 2000, the District placed their fifth
ambulance into service.
The District completed its largest expansion project to
Station 5 in late 2001. The project consisted of a new addition and
renovation to the existing station and administrative offices. The
addition included new administrative offices and living quarters for
firefighters and paramedics as well as two additional apparatus bays and
garage facilities for staff vehicles. The remodeling of the existing
building modernized the fire station and converted the old administrative
office into a training facility. Station 5 now houses an engine company,
ambulance, heavy rescue and aerial platform.
Today the Mehlville Fire Protection District provides fire
protection and emergency medical services to a population of 110,000
residents in fifty-two square miles of South St. Louis County. The
District consists of seven stations with seven engine companies (including
two seventy-five foot quints), an all-terrain pumper, a heavy rescue
squad, a one-hundred foot aerial platform and five ALS ambulances.
Personnel consist of eighty-four firefighters, thirty-five paramedics and
an administrative staff of nineteen. The District responds to
approximately 9,000 calls annually. The Fire Prevention Bureau currently
performs over 4,000 inspections annually and works under the regulations
of the 1996 BOCA National Building and Fire Prevention Codes. The District
currently holds an Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating of
Protection Class Three. The assessed valuation of the District currently
stands at $1,841,932.528.
The Mehlville Fire Protection District is one of the
finest fire and emergency medical services in St. Louis County due to the
dedication and devotion of the men and women who have served in the past
and currently serve residents of the District. The Mehlville Fire
Protection District is committed to protecting life and property by
delivering quality fire, safety and emergency medical services.
