Fire department marks 100 years

The city officially established a department in 1909, but records indicate there were volunteer firefighters dating back to 1866

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department has reached its 100-year milestone.

In 1909 the city formally authorized a fire department and equipped it with all the latest in firefighting gear, including a team of horses to pull the fire wagon.

Before that, firefighters were loosely organized volunteers.

One such volunteer force in the early years of Cape Girardeau's history was called the Good Intent Fire Department.

Records indicate there was some sort of firefighting effort in the city as far back as 1866.

This and many other tidbits of the fire department's history have been collected over the past two years by Sam Welker and Mike Ramsey, both firefighters.

We are indebted to them for the many facts, stories and photographs of the department's history.

The fire department officially observed its centennial during a recent party at the Cape River Heritage Museum. This year the museum is honoring several anniversaries important to Cape Girardeau's history.

One of the best things about the party was the opportunity for retired firefighters to get together and reminisce about some of the amazing stories of danger and bravery.

Underlying all of those stories was this theme: The purpose was -- and is -- always to save lives. Much of this is through the department's fire-prevention advice and guidance offered to businesses and homeowners. And some of it involves going into burning buildings and carrying out individuals who otherwise would have succumbed to the heat and smoke.

Hats off to our firefighters, one and all. And happy anniversary.