History
The Republic Fire Department was first organized on May 17, 1941. In the more than 65 years of service to the Republic community, the Fire Department has seen many changes. Over the years the staffing has changed from volunteers only to a combination department of full-time and reserve/part-time employees. Fire apparatus has gone from one 1922 model fire truck to three engines, one 75-foot quint, three tankers, a brush truck, a heavy rescue, a resource trailer, and three administrative vehicles. The Republic Fire Department provides the entire City of Republic with an ISO rating of Class 3, one of only 51 in the State of Missouri.
The original Fire Station for the department was located on Main Street. During that period the city fire department was combined with the Republic Rural Fire Department. In 1991, the department moved into what is now Fire Station I at the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and Harrison Street.
On October 1st, 1983, Bill Farr was hired as the first full-time, paid employee as Fire Chief. He left the department on June 1st, 1986. On September 15th, 1986 Don Murray was hired to fill the position of Fire Chief and held the position until his resignation in August of 2003. Duane Compton was hired to replace Murray on August 11th of 2003 and still holds the Fire Chief position.
The Fire Department has 21 full-time personnel that include: Fire Chief, two Deputy Chiefs, four Captains, three Engineers, eleven line Firefighters, ten Reserve Firefighters, and Oreo the Fire Department Mascot.
The Fire Department has several different divisions within the department, including: Fire Inspection, Fire/Medical Training, Vehicle Maintenance, and Public Education/Relations. Each full-time employee is required to complete two hours of training each shift and is encouraged to complete at least an hour of physical training as well. The department has two regular training meetings a month as well as specialized classes throughout the year. In 2007, the department staff completed 2,611 hours of training.
The Fire Department had a busy year in 2007, answering a total of 1,482 incidents. Of those incidents 1,324 were emergency calls for service, up 5% from the 2006 calendar year. Also, during Fire Prevention Week and other public education activities throughout the year, the department educated over 4,000 children of the Republic Area. This education included the Fire Safety House that trained on smoke detectors and how to crawl low under smoke to escape a fire.
In 2003, the Fire Department received the Fire Act Grant in the amount of $110,967 for firefighting clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus. In 2004, the department received the State of Missouri, Homeland Security Grant in the amount of $44,160 for a resource trailer with various hazardous materials items and a thermal imaging camera. In 2005, the department again received the Fire Act Grant in the amount of $63,867, which purchased 5-inch supply hose for all apparatus, and various other firefighting equipment. The department also received a $75,000 grant from the USDA which helped pay for the construction of the new fire station in the former Village of Brookline. In early 2007, the department was awarded the SAFER Grant, which assisted in hiring of nine new employees. In 2008, the department was again awarded the Fire Act Grant that was used to purchase a Drager thermal imaging camera, placing a camera on each one of the engines.
In October of 2007, the Fire Department was presented with a Life Safety Achievement Award for the 2006 calendar year by the Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI). A total of only 678 fire departments in the United States received the award in 2006. The department qualified for this award because of zero fire deaths in structure fires during the 2006 calendar year. This was the third year in a row that the department received this award.
On November 19, 2007 the Fire Department marked another milestone by opening up Fire Station II. This facility is located at 3425 East Sawyer Road in the former Village of Brookline. It and Fire Station I are staffed 24 hours a day with three firefighters. The 12,775 square foot facility features three apparatus bays, a community meeting room, male and female sleeping quarters, and a substation used by the Republic Police Department. Fire Station II is also the official polling place for the Brookline area. Station I also received a much needed remodeling and addition. A 3,000 square foot addition was added which includes a community meeting room, female sleeping quarters, an updated kitchen, new high efficiency heating and air conditioning, and added insulation in the apparatus bay.
The original Fire Station for the department was located on Main Street. During that period the city fire department was combined with the Republic Rural Fire Department. In 1991, the department moved into what is now Fire Station I at the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and Harrison Street.
On October 1st, 1983, Bill Farr was hired as the first full-time, paid employee as Fire Chief. He left the department on June 1st, 1986. On September 15th, 1986 Don Murray was hired to fill the position of Fire Chief and held the position until his resignation in August of 2003. Duane Compton was hired to replace Murray on August 11th of 2003 and still holds the Fire Chief position.
The Fire Department has 21 full-time personnel that include: Fire Chief, two Deputy Chiefs, four Captains, three Engineers, eleven line Firefighters, ten Reserve Firefighters, and Oreo the Fire Department Mascot.
The Fire Department has several different divisions within the department, including: Fire Inspection, Fire/Medical Training, Vehicle Maintenance, and Public Education/Relations. Each full-time employee is required to complete two hours of training each shift and is encouraged to complete at least an hour of physical training as well. The department has two regular training meetings a month as well as specialized classes throughout the year. In 2007, the department staff completed 2,611 hours of training.
The Fire Department had a busy year in 2007, answering a total of 1,482 incidents. Of those incidents 1,324 were emergency calls for service, up 5% from the 2006 calendar year. Also, during Fire Prevention Week and other public education activities throughout the year, the department educated over 4,000 children of the Republic Area. This education included the Fire Safety House that trained on smoke detectors and how to crawl low under smoke to escape a fire.
In 2003, the Fire Department received the Fire Act Grant in the amount of $110,967 for firefighting clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus. In 2004, the department received the State of Missouri, Homeland Security Grant in the amount of $44,160 for a resource trailer with various hazardous materials items and a thermal imaging camera. In 2005, the department again received the Fire Act Grant in the amount of $63,867, which purchased 5-inch supply hose for all apparatus, and various other firefighting equipment. The department also received a $75,000 grant from the USDA which helped pay for the construction of the new fire station in the former Village of Brookline. In early 2007, the department was awarded the SAFER Grant, which assisted in hiring of nine new employees. In 2008, the department was again awarded the Fire Act Grant that was used to purchase a Drager thermal imaging camera, placing a camera on each one of the engines.
In October of 2007, the Fire Department was presented with a Life Safety Achievement Award for the 2006 calendar year by the Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI). A total of only 678 fire departments in the United States received the award in 2006. The department qualified for this award because of zero fire deaths in structure fires during the 2006 calendar year. This was the third year in a row that the department received this award.
On November 19, 2007 the Fire Department marked another milestone by opening up Fire Station II. This facility is located at 3425 East Sawyer Road in the former Village of Brookline. It and Fire Station I are staffed 24 hours a day with three firefighters. The 12,775 square foot facility features three apparatus bays, a community meeting room, male and female sleeping quarters, and a substation used by the Republic Police Department. Fire Station II is also the official polling place for the Brookline area. Station I also received a much needed remodeling and addition. A 3,000 square foot addition was added which includes a community meeting room, female sleeping quarters, an updated kitchen, new high efficiency heating and air conditioning, and added insulation in the apparatus bay.