Mission

The mission of the High Ridge Fire Protection District is to provide a safe and secure community through the deliverance of public education programs in areas of safety, provide continuous advanced training for all fire service personnel, and maintain a level of readiness for services requested while working within the budgetary perimeters as set by the residents and customers served.

History

For the first 29 years of it's existence, the fire department was supported by volunteers and donations from the community. The High Ridge Fire Department became tax supported in 1970 and in 1971, hired it's first salaried firefighter with the balance being devoted to area volunteers. In 1973, with a single engine house to cover a fire district of 94 square miles, 6 additional firefighters were hired.

In 1978 two additional engine houses were constructed to better serve the fire district in the areas of House Springs and Murphy. These two new engine houses were manned strictly by dedicated volunteers. By 1986, the population of the district had grown, our calls had multiplied to a degree that additional manpower was needed. Through a tax increase, the district was able to hire manpower to operate the two new engine houses. In 1990 the district was forced to lay-off 5 firefighters and close Station #3 in House Springs due to a large amount of inflation. Station #3 was re-opened in early 1996, in addition to hiring several firefighters to handle the increase in call volume. In 2002 Station #4 was constructed on Four Ridge Road. The districts operations are carried out by 36 paid personel, a dedicated group of volunteer firefighters and the lady sirens auxillary.