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 Feltz 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.

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.

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.

In 2005, Chief Raymond Haddock retired and James Silvernail was appointed the Fire Chief. Chief Silvernail previously retired from Metro West Fire Protection District and served as a firefighter and Chief for over 42 years before coming to MFPD.

The first engine house built in 1957 by Mehlville Fire Protection District and located at 7409 South Lindbergh was closed in 2005. Prior to the opening of the new Station 1 at 3241 Lemay Ferry Road, the District was forced to relocate the engine house due to the widening of the intersection at Lindbergh and Lemay Ferry Road. The new station was opened in January, 2006. Station 1 houses a pumper and an advanced life support ambulance that are staffed by five personnel.

The District saw significant change in both policy and procedure in the years 2005 and 2006. One major component of that change was the implementation of the Fire/Medic Program that was started in the fall of 2005. Prior to that time, the District operated two separate divisions, fire and EMS. Those two divisions were merged into one operation and advanced life support equipment was then placed on every pumper within the District. The District achieved its goal, in 2009, to have at least one Firefighter/Paramedic on each pumper at all times. The District currently employs 69 Fire/Medics.

Upon notification of Chief Silvernail's impending retirement in April, 2010, Timothy J. White was appointed Administrative Chief Fire Officer on April 15, 2009. Chief White was with the District for 24 years prior to his appointment.

Due to Station 2 being constructed in 1957 and because it was no longer large enough to house bigger apparatus, multiple units and additional personnel to staff those units, property was purchased for construction of a new Station 2 in early 2007. .Mehlville Fire Protection District proudly completed construction of the new Fire Station 2 located at 5434 Telegraph Road in May, 2009. This house was built with no tax increase and it came in under budget.

Because Station 4 was approximately 44 years old and considered less adequate in terms of size and operations than that of Station 3, property was purchased on Tesson Ferry in late 2009. The District anticipates construction of a new Station 4 in the near future and is currently in discussions with an architect regarding building design.

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. The District consists of 133 personnel. The District responded to a total of 12,240 calls in 2008. The Fire Prevention Bureau currently performs approximately 4,200 inspections annually and works under the regulations of the 2003 editions of the International Building Code and International Fire Code. The District currently holds an Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating of Protection Class Three.

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 serve the 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.

Updated 11/2009