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Established 1866
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The Cape Girardeau Fire department has a long history of making fire prevention a priority. The original Act to incorporate the City of Cape Girardeau dated 2-25-1823 made provisions to organize and establish fire companies for the City. As far back as July 3, 1849 the city established fire limits and building codes and fire prevention measures within those limits.
An attempt to organize a fire department by the city in 1860 under Mayor Albert failed as it did not receive the necessary number of votes. The first formal fire department in Cape was organized on July 25, 1866 under Mayor G.H. Cramer. This is based on Cape Girardeau ordinance No. 141. An Ordinance Establishing a Hook and Ladder Fire Company dated July 25th, 1866. In all there were 15 sections to this ordinance prescribing the department’s organization and operation.
On November 20th, 1866 the City of Cape Girardeau Council passed ordinance No. 148 organizing the fire company under the name and style of “the Good Intent Fire Company” There was established a Hook and Ladder Fire Company consisting of 25 members who shall be appointed by the Mayor. The members elected their officers at the first meeting consisting of a Captain, and Five Lieutenants who oversaw five detachments designated by the numbers 1 thru 5.
Currently the first known Captain was Charles Schulz but this dates back to only 1876. C.H. Allens followed on June 12, 1882 then Henry A. Astholz on June 11, 1883 and D. Ulrich on June 19, 1886. L.J. Albert Jr. was the first known Fire Chief and was appointed on February 12, 1895.
Information provided Courtesy of the Southeast Missourian
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Department Timeline
Department History
Old Fire Station No. 1
Fire Horses & Wagon
1916 Conflagration
Horses Die Responding to Fire
First Motorized Apparatus
Third Apparatus Added
Big Ben
Past Fires
Past Fire Chiefs
WANTED: Old Photos & Stories
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