ABOUT BJFPD

In the summer of 1929, flames swept through the home of the George Schladerback family on Mehl Avenue in the village of Black Jack. Local citizens were appalled at the devastation the fire caused so quickly.

As a result of the fire that destroyed the Schladerback family’s home two of the leaders in the community Edward Dieckmann and George Jackobsmeyer, set out to see that such a tragedy never occurred again in Black Jack. The entire community went to work organizing a variety fund raising events in order to purchase fire fighting equipment and apparatus. The first meeting of the Black Jack Community Fire Prevention Organization was held on August 1st, 1929, at which the bylaws of the organization were approved and adopted.

At a cost of $5,356 dollars, the new department purchased a 1929 REO Speed wagon, 500 GPM Pumper from General Fire Apparatus Co. in St. Louis , Missouri . The new engine was housed in a shed at Old Halls Ferry Road and Parker Road , and manned by a force of twenty one volunteer firefighters. As the area grew, the need for the department to grow also became apparent. In 1953, the department was incorporated into a tax supported Fire Protection District. A new fire station was constructed in 1956 near the site of the original volunteer shed. This station served until 2007 when it was replaced by a new state of the art facility. In the 1960’s the department began to employ full time professional firefighters, and in 1966 a second fire station was added at 18955 Old Jamestown Road . This station will be replaced in 2008. Through the 1970’s, 80’s and up into the new millennium, the number of paid full time firefighters has steadily grown to nearly forty full time professional firefighters.

Two new Pumpers and a new Aerial Ladder Truck are now serving the district, along with an impressive variety of rescue equipment. Many Black Jack firefighters have achieved high levels of advanced training and education along with many years of valuable experience. A new third fire station with fire district administrative offices, a firefighter training facility and quarters for the firefighters manning the Aerial Ladder / Rescue truck was opened in 2006. The need for this expansion was recognized and supported by the citizens of the community with the approval of a bond issue. Just as the residents bonded together in 1929 to support a fire department, so today are the hard working residents of the Black Jack Fire Protection District supporting the efforts of their highly trained and dedicated firefighters.