History of St. Marys Fire Department

The beginning of the St. Marys Fire Department was turbulent. The Triumph Engine Fire Company was established after a hand pump engine was purchased in late 1857 and Council decided that a dedicated team was needed to run it.

In 1861, the Company disbanded for approximately one year. The men who volunteered believed they should be exempt from certain taxes due to their service, however the assessor disagreed. The entire company quit over the dispute and a new one was not formed until a fire in February of 1862 demonstrated the necessity for a new company.

Early controversies continued when, in August 1862, Triumph Engine Fire Company rushed to the scene of a fire but did not have the hooks and ladders needed to properly extinguish the blaze. The company was chastised for forgetting the equipment but countered that, as their name stated; they were in charge of the fire engine and not the hooks and ladders. The company argued that it was the job of a hook and ladder company to bring this equipment to a scene. This disagreement led to the organization of the Hook and Ladder Company to accompany the Triumph Engine Fire Company. The two companies became the St. Marys Fire Brigade in 1864.

In 1868, the Fire Brigade once again disbanded. Unfortunately, it is unknown why. The key to the engine house was left at one of the local hotels so that the engine could be used if needed, but a new Fire Brigade was not established until 1871.

A steam powered fire engine was purchased in 1880. Since the new steam engine was prone to breaking down, the old hand pump continued to be used and three companies were created within the Fire Brigade: the Triumph Fire Company, the Steamer Fire Company and the Hook and Ladder Company. In 1890, a fire broke out downtown and the building was completely destroyed after both engines failed to work and the Hook and Ladder Company failed to arrive. It was later determined that the Hook and Ladder Company had dissolved without telling anyone. This unfortunate circumstance led to the firing of long time Fire Chief William Moyes. However, Moyes would return in 1906 and the turbulent times of the Fire Brigade seem to have ended. Moyes would hold the Fire Chief position for 30 years before leaving in 1936.

The Town of St. Marys purchased its first motorized fire truck from Bickle Fire Engines Ltd. in 1933. The truck, a pump truck built on the chassis of a Model B Ford, is affectionately known as Old Betsy and is still owned by the St. Marys Fire Department.

Before St. Marys was an incorporated town, fire equipment was kept in a building known as the lock up school. The building had many purposes, including the Village Hall, jail, school house and emergency equipment storage.

The Water Street building housed the St. Marys Fire Department until 1969 when they moved to the James Street South location. New technology, larger trucks and a growing town made the move necessary for the Fire Department.

As years went on and the Town and St. Marys Fire Department continued to grow, the current James Street building proved to be inadequate to meet the needs of the growing community. On February 18, 2020, Town Council unanimously approved a major renovation to upgrade and modernize the St. Marys Fire Hall. The project got underway in the spring of 2020. On February 13, 2021, the St. Marys Fire Department officially moved into the newly renovated St. Marys Fire Hall. 

For more historic photos featuring the St. Marys Fire Department, visit the St. Marys Museum and Archives online collection.