Clayton Fire Department Turns 115 Years Old

The celebrated its 115th birthday Monday, the City of Clayton announced in a news release. The anniversary comes just over a week before a presentation about the department's history by Chief Mark Thorp.

A copy of the Monday news release follows in italics. Share your memories of Clayton's fire department by posting a comment to this article or uploading a photo.

The City of Clayton Fire Department was founded 115 years ago today.
Prior to 1897, the township of Clayton did not have an organized fire department.  But, when Schweighofer's Bakery was almost destroyed by fire in March of 1897 threatening two other buildings, a committee was formed to research what would be needed to equip and operate a volunteer fire company. 

On July 1, 1897, the committee reported its findings and on July 9, 1897, the Clayton Fire Department was formed. Sheriff Kerth was chosen chief of the department who issued badges for the 37 active officers and members of the Clayton Volunteer Fire Department.

In March 1917, the Board of Aldermen established the Clayton Fire Department as a professional paid fire department. On October 18, 1924, the department moved into its new fire station at 7755 Forsyth which would be its home for the next 80 years.

As a pioneer in the field of Emergency Medical Services, in 1932, the department converted a police wagon purchased from the City of St. Louis, one of the first Fire Service ambulances in the country.

In 1955, Chief Brexler established a strong fire prevention program, a tradition that continues today. Clayton’s Fire Department reports no death from fire in over 30 years.

Today the department is staffed by 35 professional, highly trained employees.  In addition to emergency response, the department offers free, public education programs to residents and businesses in Clayton.  The fire department also works closely with the Clayton School District to offer age-appropriate, injury prevention programs to Clayton school students.

For more information about Clayton’s outstanding Fire Department and its history, visit www.claytonmo.gov/fire.

At 7 p.m. on July 18, Clayton’s Fire Chief Mark Thorp will discuss the department’s illustrious history at . The presentation is part of the Clayton Century Foundation’s History Speaker Series, a series of free presentations on a wide variety of local topics."

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