 The
Department was established in 1954 in response to the needs
of a growing community. The country was becoming more mobile
and the famous Route 66 runs right through the middle of town.
This brought motels, restaurants, entertainment spots, shopping
centers and industry. The population grew rapidly and the City's
services had to grow to meet the needs of its new residents.
The Department was small at first with only two men who were
helped by volunteers. The department purchased their first pumper
a, 1954 Central (see photo-above right and below).
 At
first, they used a bay at a local service station to house the
pumper. Soon a new engine house was built on Sappington Road.
(see photo top left). The Department recorded a total of 19
alarms in the last half of 1954. They had a class 10 fire insurance
rating and mutual aid agreement with one other department.
As the City grew, more firefighters and modern equipment were
added and the old station became too small to house them. The
men were sleeping on bunks stacked three high and the engines
were much too close together for safety. The City built a new
Government Center in 1972 that included a new engine house.
This modern three-door drive through station has enough room
for 30 firefighters and a large Engine Room.
In 1974, the Department assumed the role of EMS provider for
the City. We started this working from the pumpers with EMT's
but rapidly added a new Rescue vehicle. In 1976, the Department
became an Advanced Life Support provider with 6 paramedics and
telemetry equipment linking them to the hospital
In 1978, the City upgraded from a class six to a class four
fire insurance rating. We now have mutual aid agreements with
all St. Louis County and State Fire Agencies. At one time, the
Department did its own dispatching which gave them one less
man available to respond on emergencies. We have been part of
South County Fire Alarm since 1968. SCFA provides Computer Aided
Dispatching services on a 24 hour/7 day basis.
We now have 24 line personnel including 11 paramedics, a Chief,
Assistant Chief.Fire Marshal and Executive Secretary for a total
of 27 Department employees. Serving the City in a wide range
of services and programs. In 1985, we changed our name from
The Crestwood Fire Department to The Crestwood Department of
Fire Services. We feel that this better reflects the range of
services we provide. |