The Maryland Heights Fire Protection District protects life and property with the highest level of prevention, preparedness and response to those in need. OUR VISION Our Vision of Excellence is achieved through continued dedication to community service, professionalism, and devotion to duty. Through our highly motivated team of innovative members, we are committed to providing the highest quality of emergency services. OUR VALUES Honor, Dedication Service, Respect. WHO WE ARE The Maryland Heights Fire Protection District encompasses eighteen square miles of St. Louis County, Missouri. Formally organized by a vote of the people in April 1949 under Missouri State Statute, the district is a political subdivision of the State of Missouri and pre-dates the City of Maryland Heights by more than thirty-five years. A three-member Board of Directors who are elected by district residents governs the district. The fire district employs forty-two line employees, five chief officers, a fire inspector and one secretary. The line employees are members of Local 2665 of the International Association of Fire Fighters. The fire district is a full-time career agency that operates twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year.
WHAT WE DO The district’s services include fire suppression, emergency medical services, specialized rescue (technical, collapse/trench, extrication, water) and hazardous materials response. In addition, the district also has a very active community education program that includes public fire education, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and first aid.
WHERE WE ARE The Maryland Heights Fire Protection District covers eighteen square miles of St. Louis County. The district boundaries are Page Avenue/Lackland Road on the south, McKelvey and Old St. Charles Rock Roads on the north, Marine Avenue on the west and Lindbergh Boulevard on the east. In addition to our district, we have mutual aid agreements with our neighboring districts and also provide support on various responses throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.
HOW WE DO IT The fire district operates two engine houses and four front-line apparatus. Engine House 1 is located at 2600 Schuetz Road and is home to Engine Company 4414 and Ambulance 4417 and Rescue Squad 4416. Engine House 2 is located at 12828 Dorsett Road and is home to Ladder Company 4425 and Rescue Squad 4427. Support Unit 4499 (foam, trench and shoring materials, hazardous materials response support) is also housed at Engine House 1. In addition the district also maintains Reserve Engine 4490 and Reserve Ambulance 4497 for back-up purposes. Five divisions cover the district’s daily operations: Administration, Operations, Emergency Medical Services, Training, and Life Safety.
FUNDING The district is funded by revenue generated from various tax sources including property, real estate, railroad/utility, and merchant and manufacturers. Under Missouri law, the district’s Board of Directors set the annual budget and tax rate in August for the following year. The current tax rate is divided into five categories: general revenue, ambulance, pension, dispatching, and debt service. Contrary to popular belief, the district receives no revenue from the City of Maryland Heights or from the riverboat casinos located within Maryland Heights (that portion of the city is covered by the Pattonville Fire Protection District). The 2008 tax rates as established by the Board of Directors are: General Revenue – 80 cents, Ambulance – 36 cents, Pension – 13 cents, and Dispatching – 3 cents, for a total of $1.32 per $100 assessed valuation.
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