September 14, 1857        The City of St. Louis began operating as a paid, career fire department.

February 22, 1858           The Gamewell Fire Alarm System was installed.

February 25, 1858           The first alarm transmitted on the Gamewell Alarm Boxes was from box #116 at 4th and
                                           Franklin.

February 3, 1902             Seven firefighters were killed at the American Tent and Awning Company at 3rd and Chestnut.
                                           This was the greatest number of firefighters to be killed at a single fire.

1905                                  A Locomobile Touring Car was the first automobile purchased for the Fire Chief.

July 27, 1910                    The first piece of motorized apparatus was a 1910 Webb 700gpm Pumper.

May 21, 1921                   The first AfricanAmerican firefighter was appointed to the St. Louis Fire Department.

July 15, 1926                    The St. Louis Fire Department Training Academy was organized.

March 25, 1927                The St. Louis Fire Department became fully motorized.

1934                                  Windshields and windshield wipers were installed on all 1st line apparatus.

March 20, 1943                Fire Chief Joseph Morgan was killed in the line of duty at 713 Howard St.

June 9, 1952                     The first line of duty death of an AfricanAmerican.

January 24, 1958              The St. Louis Fire Department took control of Fire Protection at Lambert St. Louis Airport.

1960                                  The first fire station without brass sliding poles was built.

January 1, 1977                The Gamewell system was discontinued, ending an era, which lasted almost 120 years.

1981                                  The St. Louis Fire Department Honor Guard was organized.

1987                                  The first of 30 new Quints begin to arrive in St. Louis.

August 28, 1987               Female Firefighters joined the ranks of the department.

February 15, 1989            The new Fire Department Headquarters building opened at 1421 N. Jefferson.

August 5, 1990                  The new Training Tower opened on the lot behind headquarters.

August 27, 1994                The St. Louis Fire Department Memorial statue was dedicated.

August 14, 1995                The First Responder medical program started.

February 14, 1996             The St. Louis Fire Department promoted its first female to the rank of Fire Captain.

April 19, 1997                    The City of St. Louis Emergency Medical Services was placed under the direction of the    
                                             St. Louis Fire Department.

October 15, 1997               The AED program was established, placing defibrillators on all 1st line apparatus.

November 29, 1999           Sherman George became the first AfricanAmerican to be promoted to the position
                                             of Chief of the St. Louis Fire Department.

2001                                    The Millennium Yearbook of the St. Louis Fire Department is released.

2003                                    New fire apparatus arrive; including 2 Rescue Squads, a Haz-Mat Unit, a Mobile Air
                                             Supply Truck, and a fire boat that was christened the "Jack Buck"

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