About St. Thomas Fire Department

What we do

We respond to all types of emergencies, including:

• fires and explosions
• rescues
• medical emergencies
• hazardous materials incidents
• motor vehicle and transportation incidents
• utility emergencies
• alarm calls

We also provide public safety education, fire inspections and code enforcement. Our programs include home education visits, station tours, school visits, fire drills and safety booths at community events. We follow the Office of the Fire Marshal's Three Lines of Defence: education, enforcement and emergency response.

Our mission

Our mission is to minimize the loss of life and property from fire, medical emergencies and other disasters.

We accomplish our mission through prevention, education, fire suppression, medical services and other emergency and non-emergency activities. We participate in our community, act as role models, and use our resources effectively to provide a service our citizens can rely on.

History of the St. Thomas Fire Department

The St. Thomas Fire Department has grown from a small volunteer brigade into a modern emergency service. Explore our history below.

• 1850: The Beaver Fire Company, a volunteer brigade, was formed
• 1853: The Town of St. Thomas purchased a hand-drawn, hand-operated Perry fire pump for $256.10
• 1870: The St. Thomas Fire Brigade lost its first firefighter, William Reeks, in a building collapse. Reeks was 29 years old, a town councillor and a volunteer firefighter
• 1871: The Fire Brigade had 11 volunteer members, who elected their own officers. A second company formed in the east end of the city on Railway Street, now Princess Avenue, with a main fire hall at Stanley and Talbot
• 1873: New volunteer groups formed, including the Torrent Hook and Ladder Company and the Fire Flies, a group for boys
• 1879: The annual fire budget was $700, with a clothing allowance of $2.50 per firefighter
• 1880: The Fire Brigade responded to 28 calls
• 1882: The Central Fire Hall was built on Southwick Street for $8,300
• 1883: The city purchased 2 horses and 2 carts, and hired 2 firefighters to staff the fire hall 24 hours a day
• 1887: Herman Ponsford died fighting a fire caused by a train collision. The collision ruptured oil cars and spread fire across an area the size of a city block
• 1914: The department purchased its first motor-operated vehicle
• 1924: The department switched to a REO Truck chassis for its fire engine. Motor-powered and horse-drawn apparatus often raced to the same alarm, and the motor vehicle did not always win. The Fire Department also provided ambulance service, first by horse-drawn and later by motor-driven ambulance, until 1930
• 1973: The department built its current fire station at 305 Wellington Street. Fire trucks were painted chrome yellow to improve visibility at night
• 1997: The department had 32 full-time firefighters, 4 dispatchers, 2 fire prevention staff, a chief and a deputy chief
• 2001: Captain Dennis Redman was killed in the line of duty while fighting an apartment fire at 200 Chestnut Street on the night of January 5, during a snowstorm. The department also took delivery of a new 75-foot E-One ladder truck. This truck was red, returning the tradition of red fire trucks to the department
• 2002: The department customized a new red Ford F550 into a rescue unit, which now runs alongside emergency medical services on medical calls
• 2004: Following recommendations from a coroner's inquest, the department grew to 58 personnel. This included 48 full-time firefighters (12 officers and 36 firefighters), 4 dispatchers, 2 fire prevention staff, a training officer, a chief and a deputy chief. The department also purchased a new E-One custom pumper with a raised cab as a front-line truck, replacing one of the remaining chrome yellow trucks
• 2005: Construction began on a new substation in the north end of the city, on Burwell Road past South Edgeware
• 2006: Captain Dennis A. Redman Station #2 began serving residents in the north end of the city in July. The station officially opened on September 19, with local dignitaries in attendance

Fallen firefighters

We honour the members of the St. Thomas Fire Department who died in the line of duty.

• William Reeks, 1870
• Herman Ponsford, 1887
• Captain Dennis Redman, 2001
• Chief Robert Broadbent, 2017

They will not be forgotten.