Fire Department History

In 1947, the city of Frontenac was formed and was under the fire protection of the Creve Coeur Fire Association. It was not until 12 years later in 1959 the city of Frontenac received their first fire apparatus and began responding to fire calls. The fire apparatus was housed in the neighboring city of Town and Country while their firehouse was being built. The following year the newly formed Fire Department moved into their current building. This building initially housed the fire and police departments as well as the city hall.

In 1973, the city of Frontenac created the position of Assistant Chief making the fire department a total of eight employees manning a fire apparatus and a basic life support ambulance covering only three square miles.

In 1974, realizing the management incompatibilities between the police and fire departments due to size and manning, the Assistant Chief was promoted to Chief. This completely separated the Police and Fire Departments, which had previously fallen under the same management umbrella. Another Firefighter was added and a second Captain's position was created bringing the Fire Department structure to Chief, 2 Captains, and 6 Privates. Within a year however, the department grew to 12 shift personnel and 3 crews.

By 1978 the staffing grew to it's current structure consisting of Chief, 3 Captains, and 9 Privates, including 1 Medical Officer. The Fire Department continued to respond with a basic life support ambulance until 1984 when it was decided to improve the patient care capabilities of the staff sending the existing Emergency Medical Technicians to Paramedic school and funding an Advanced Life Support Vehicle. The city currently hires only paramedic firefighters.

By 1986, the governing parties decided it was more economical to contract a private transport ambulance service while maintaining the Advanced Life Support status of the Fire Personnel. The Fire Apparatus 2910/2914 currently respond to all medical calls with paramedics as first responders. This assures rapid medical intervention for the residents of Frontenac while allowing the Fire Apparatus personnel to stay in service during the patient's transport by a private ambulance service to the hospital of the patient's choice.

In 1987, the City of Frontenac added it's own dispatch center through the Police Department. The dispatch center now dispatches all Police, Fire, and Medical calls through 9-1-1 systems with the Fire Department contributing to approximately 800 of those calls each year.