City of Bellefontaine, Ohio
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  • Home
  • Government
    • Mayor's Office >
      • Parking
    • Safety Service Director
    • City Council >
      • Council Members >
        • Zeb Wagner, ​President
        • Kyle Springs
        • Mick Lile
        • Richard Kurtz
        • Deb Baker
        • Peter DeSomma
        • Jordan Reser
        • Jenna James
        • Clerk of Council
      • Council Agenda
      • Council Minutes
    • Auditors Office >
      • Audit Reports
    • Treasurer
    • Law DIrector
    • Municipal Court >
      • Municipal Court Judge
      • Municipal Prosecutors
      • Probation Department
      • Civil/Small Claims >
        • Fee Schedule
      • Traffic/Criminal >
        • Fees & Bond Schedule
    • Boards & Commissions >
      • Planning Commission
      • Shade Tree Commission >
        • Blue Jacket Park Tree Walk
        • Tree Planting Tips
        • Tree City USA
        • Tree Steward Program
        • Tree Inventory
        • Recommended Street Trees
      • Logan County Metropolitan Housing Authority
      • Board of Zoning Appeals
      • Civil Service Commission
      • Board of Tax Review
      • Enterprise Zone Board
      • Records Commission
      • Board of Building Code Appeals
    • City Ordinances
  • Departments
    • Airport >
      • Midwest Corporate Air
    • Police >
      • Announcements
      • Employment
      • Mission Statement
      • Programs >
        • Citizens Police Academy
        • Team Effort
        • Vacation House Check
      • Contact Us / Report a Crime
      • Police Links
    • Fire & EMS >
      • Staff
      • Equipment
      • Open Burning
      • Arson
      • Safety Town
      • History
      • Fire & EMS Links
    • Engineering >
      • Applications & Permits
      • Maps
    • Taxation >
      • FAQs
      • Tax Regulations
    • Public Works >
      • Street Department
      • Water Department
      • Wastewater Department
      • Cemetery
    • Utilities >
      • Account Information
      • Rates
      • Refuse & Recycling
      • Sourcewater
    • Code Enforcement >
      • Make a Complaint
      • Volunteer
      • Resources
      • Vacant Building Enforcement Program
      • Mobile Food Vending
    • Parks & Rec >
      • Bellefontaine Parks & Recreation Foundation
  • Announcements
  • Visitor Info
    • Public Parking
    • Attractions >
      • Hoffman Pool
      • Holland Theatre
      • Indian Lake State Park
      • Logan County History Center
      • Mad River Mountain
      • Marie's Candies
      • Marmon Valley Farms
      • Myeerah Nature Preserve
      • Ohio Caverns
      • Piatt Castles
      • Simon Kenton Pathfinders
    • Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce
    • Logan County Visitors Bureau
    • History of Bellefontaine >
      • Historic Timeline
      • History of Bellefontaine
  • DORA
  • Bid Express
  • Contact
    • Calendar
    • City of Bellefontaine on Facebook
    • Applications & Permits
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History of the Bellefontaine​ Fire Department

Bellefontaine Fire Department History
The Department’s Proud New Addition - An Ahrens-Fox Ladder Truck.
Prior to 1857, fires in the city of Bellefontaine were fought by residents and available helping hands armed with buckets of water from a spring and private wells. Bellefontaine suffered a devastating fire on a November 1st, 1856 which destroyed a large portion of the downtown business district, thirty one businesses were destroyed. This fire set a course for change concerning fire protection in the city. Soon after the fire a movement was made toward establishing a Fire Department. City council managed an amount of $30.00 for the purchase of ladders and fire hooks with chains. Later a carpenter was ordered to build a shed behind the courthouse at the cost of $24.24 for the storage of these items.

In March of 1858, a hand operated pumper was purchased for $1,500.00 and a volunteer firefighting organization known as the Fountain Fire Company was formed. In October of that same year another $345.00 was spent for six town cisterns.

​In 1859 a suitable house was built to house the firefighting equipment and was located on East Columbus Ave. A second firefighting company was formed under the name of the Rescue Fire Company which served to aid the Fountain Fire Company.     

In 1876 a Silsby steamer fire engine was brought to the Northern Ohio Volunteer Fireman's tournament for exhibition. As it would happen a fire broke out in the Goe building and the steamer was pressed into service. The fire was quickly brought under control and the following morning the merchants of the town met with council and "strongly advocated" the purchase of the Silsby steam engine. The cost of this engine was $4,300.00. Shortly thereafter a team of horses was obtained to pull the engine. "Bill and Sandy" quickly became pets of the city. The old hand pumper was sold to the village of Zanesfield.

The year of 1878 witnessed the establishment of a paid fire department. The nine men staffed the firehouse both day and night. They served from the E. Columbus location until July 1898 when fire destroyed the firehouse, the firefighters and horses barely escaping with their lives. The departments equipment was then temporarily stored in a large barn behind Dr. Hamer's office until a new station was built at the corner of E. Columbus Ave. and N. Madriver St. (Pictured Above; The cornerstone of this building is on display in the current department.) This beautiful building served the department well seeing changes from horse drawn equipment to more modern motor driven apparatus. 

​Finally, due to changing times and increasing needs for space the department was moved to its current location at 201 W. Sandusky Ave.
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Mayor's Office
135 N. Detroit St. 
Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
(937) 592-4376
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