The Salem Fire Protection District is observing its 130th anniversary of its beginning as a fire service agency on Wednesday.
It began with one man, a Mr. Jones whose duty was to patrol the city at night to watch for fires. Shortly thereafter, George B. Simcox was appointed the first Fire Chief for the City of Salem Fire Department. Sometime before 1900, the City purchased a hand drawn pumper which became No. 1. Then a horse drawn fire wagon was purchased from the City of Webster Groves, MO and it was numbered, No. 2.
The first motorized apparatus was purchased in 1917, a Ford Model T one ton truck. Since that time the City of Salem Fire Department which is now the Salem Fire Protection District has had a total of 37 pieces of apparatus.
In the early 1950’s, the City was having issues properly funding the City Fire Department and the need for fire protection in the surrounding rural area was also recognized. The City Fire Chief H. Paul Sweney Jr. conceived the idea of forming a fire protection district to replace the City of Salem Fire Department. After a vote of the residents was taken and the issue passed by an overwhelming 85% Yes vote the Salem Fire Protection District was formed on December 3, 1955, with Chief Sweney becoming the first Fire Chief of the Salem Fire Protection District.
The Salem Fire Protection District now serves an area of approximately 124 square miles with 12 pieces of fire apparatus and 40 active firefighters.
