[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF THE LEMAY FIRE DISTRICT

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. RUSS CARNAHAN

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lemay Fire 
District, which will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2012.
  The history of Lemay Fire District can be traced back as early as 
1902. Due to unrestricted building, no fire protection, and bad roads, 
some insurance companies refused to write insurance in the Lemay area. 
So, after several disastrous fires, the Luxemburg Improvement 
Association organized a volunteer fire department in 1902. The Longwood 
Volunteer Fire Department Fire Association was organized two years 
later to provide protection to the south side of Lemay.
  There still remained an area between the two that had no fire 
protection, so a group of citizens organized the Bismark Heights 
Volunteer Fire Department. The department added equipment through the 
years but had experienced difficulty keeping track and caring for the 
equipment. So in July 1911, the Bismark Heights Volunteer Department 
incorporated so it could have recourse to law to protect the equipment. 
This incorporation would eventually lead to the Lemay Fire Protection 
District.
  In 1917 the Bismark Heights Volunteer Department changed its name to 
Dewey Heights Volunteer Fire Department, the change being recorded in 
1922. A fire house was built in the summer of 1919 at the corner of 
Orient and Erskine Avenue.
  On December 6, 1920 the Longwood and Luxemburg Volunteer Fire 
departments were invited to consolidate with Dewey Heights as one 
organization. By 1921, both departments turned their equipment and 
assets over to Dewey Heights.
  In 1933, a tag system was introduced to pay for the protection which 
consisted of 1500 people. Later that year, full time firefighters were 
added, giving 24 hour service.
  In May 1942, the voters in the Lemay area approved a tax-supported 
fire district. The Dewey Heights Fire Department was officially named 
the Lemay Fire Protection District. The district operated out of the 
fire station located at Erskine and Orient Avenue until 1992.
  In 1979, the fire district added another service to help the 
community; it hired paramedics and established an ambulance service. 
The fire district not only responded to fires, but began treating and 
transporting sick and injured people to the hospital.
  In 1991, land was purchased, and a new firehouse was built at 1201 
Telegraph Road in central Lemay. The firehouse opened in 1992 and is 
still being used today.
  The great flood of 1993 impacted the Lemay area and the Lemay Fire 
District responded to help its citizens once again. The north part of 
Lemay has been flooded causing propane tanks to become loose and 
creating an exposing hazard. With the help of many fire agencies, the 
disaster was prevented and lives were saved.
  The Lemay Fire Protection District continues to serve the citizens of 
Lemay with twenty four firefighters. While many things have changed 
over the last 100 years, the one constant that has remained the same 
has been the unwavering commitment to the community.

                          ____________________