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St. Louis Area Fire Department
The St. Louis Area Fire Department finds its beginnings in 1870 when the St. Louis City Council appointed three Fire Wardens to be on the watch for fires. In 1873 an actual fire department replaced the wardens. The Citizens Engine Company, Wah-Wah-Sums, St. Louis Fire Department and Mid-Michigan Community Fire Department are all predecessors of today's modern fire service in the St. Louis Community.
The S.L.A.F.D. is owned and operated by the Mid-Michigan Community Fire Control Board. The Fire Control Board was established in 1981 through collaborative efforts of the City of St. Louis, Bethany Township, Pine River Township (all in Gratiot County), and Jasper Township (Midland County). It is governed by a five member board representing all four municipalities.
The Fire District encompasses roughly 83 square miles and a population of just under 8000 persons. It is primarily a rural, agricultural community but includes a wind turbine farm, oil fields, two state prisons, state and interstate highways, and light manufacturing. The 2016 ISO rating scored 5/5R.
The department is staffed by 25 part-paid, on-call Firefighters, many of whom also serve as Medical First Responders.
The fire station located at 220 S. Main St., was dedicated on April 20th, 2016. The facility cost just under $1.3 million to construct. It was fully paid for at the time of the dedication primarily through generous grants from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, the Rollin M Gerstacker Foundation, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, and the Gratiot County Community Foundation, with the balance paid by the member municipalities. The structure is highly serviceable and very energy efficient with LED lighting and in-floor heating. It was built with anticipation of the structure serving the fire department for the next fifty years.
Emergency responses total nearly 500 alarms each year. Roughly two thirds of the alarms are requests for Medical First Responder services. The remainder include fires, fire alarms, entrapments (JAWS runs), weather spotters, and mutual-aid requests. Response times average about five minutes.
Apparatus and Equipment
2024 Rosenbauer
1500 gpm Hale pump, 1000 gallon tank, Class-A foam system, deck gun, SCBA, TIC, and medical supplies.
2012 Spencer pumper
1250 gpm Hale pump1000 gallon tank, eduction type Class-A foam system, hydraulic generator, remote control deck gun, SCBA, TIC, PPV fan, and medical supplies.
2008 U.S. Tanker tanker/pumper
500 gpm Hale pump, 2000 gallon tank, remote control deck gun, pump and roll capabilities, SCBA, and first aid supplies.
2008 GMC grass truck
160 gallon tank with 60 gpm pump and first aid supplies.
2024 Ford F550 Heavy Rescue
Battery Powered Hurst Extrication tools, high pressure air bags, stabilization equipment, extensive medical supplies, and traffic control devices.
2022 Ford F150 Command/Light Rescue
Battery Powered Hurst Extrication tools, extensive medical supplies, minor fire suppression equipment, SCBA, and traffic control equipment.
2016 Yamaha ATV
Six-passenger, with wildfire skid and a rescue skid under construction.
2022 Rescue Watercraft
Lightweight rapid deploy rescue watercraft with dry suits
Training
Formal departmental training takes place twice a month.
In 2016 we instituted a training program to challenge our staff to continued professional excellence. Utilizing funds from our training budget, a grant from the Gratiot County Community Foundation, a grant from the Luneack Family Foundation, and some county allocation funds from the Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council, we are bringing nationally and internationally recognized fire instructors to Gratiot County. This program continues today and has served 100's of firefighters throughout Michigan.
In 2024 firefighters utilized funds from the Gratiot County Community Foundation to construct a 20 x 40 training facility. This two-story structure provides a location for fire departments from all over mid-Michigan to come and complete search evolutions, ventilation, ladder operations and fire attack.
Community Outreach Program
Saint Louis Area Fire Department has an extensive community outreach program designed to mitigate loss of life and property.
In 2024 firefighters installed nearly 1300 smoke and CO alarms in nearly 300 homes. Firefighters also participated in over 30 Community outreach events from schools, station tours, parades and other events.
Burn Permits
The St. Louis Area Fire Department issues all outdoor burning permits for Bethany Township and Pine River Township.
To request a burn permit for Bethany Township and Pine River Township, send an email request to fdchief61@stlouismi.com.
Within the City of St. Louis limits, only recreational fires in an approved fire pit or stand are allowed. To learn more about getting a recreational fire pit approved, visit the St. Louis Police Department page.