Jefferson, IA Volunteer Fire Department

The Official Jefferson Fire Department Page

This is the official page of the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department. Jefferson is located in west central Iowa, and has a population of 4,292. The department was organized in June, 1896 and consisted of approximately 50 firefighters. Today it consist of 29 firefighters. Of those 29 members the department is constructed as follows: A Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, First Lieutenant (Safety officer), Second Lieutenant ( Haz-Mat officer), Sargent (Training officer), Secretary / Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer. All members are members of the Greene County Fire Association and The Iowa Firemen's Association.

The department is located at the intersection of Chestnut and Washington Streets. We have a satellite station located in the northern part of town. The department has a total of eight (8) vehicles that are used for fire fighting, diving (underwater recovery), rescue, and property protection. The department serves the community as other departments do through public safety efforts. Beside extinguishing fires, we have diving team which is certified through PADI; rescue tools through Lukas HURST (Jaws of Life) for extracting of accident victims of auto and other mechanical equipment; certified HazMat Operational Level Technicians for handling Hazardous Material Spills through out the county. The department has several members that are qualified for rescues from confined spaces, as in underground tunnels (sewers , etc.), and several personnel that are certified Emergency Medical Technicians ( EMT's).

The department had a member on it's force that was the oldest active member in the state of Iowa, possibly even the United States. The member's name was Franklin ( Slim ) Davis. Slim joined the department on August, 1936. His duties include; fills SCBA tanks, helps with the maintenance of the trucks, services and maintains the departments fire extinguishers, helps with all of the training programs (drills), helps with all of the public relations that the department has going on, as in ticket sales for the annual fund raising dance. Slim had taught several firefighters the basics on running pumps and actual fire fighting. Slim was presented an award from Roy Marshall, Iowa State Fire Marshall, in 1996 for 60 years of active service. Slim had held several offices on the department. The only office he hadn't held was Chief. Slim was 90 years old and was active in several other organizations in our community. Slim passed away in August of 2000.

The department has several kinds of equipment to use. It all depends on the circumstance of the emergency. The following vehicles are garaged at the main station, they are: 1980 Ford 1 ton van (Equipment van which transports Jaws of Life, ropes, SCBA's, pals, rigging and harnessing, cribbing, wrenches, 6' ladder, extra new hose, exhaust fans, and etc.); 1978 International cab-over pumper - 750 gpm pump and 750 gallon supply tank ; 1974 GMC tanker/pumper - 500 gpm. pump and 1500 gallon tank with a rear quick dump; 1984 Chevrolet pumper with a front mounted Hale 750 gpm pump and 750 gallon supply tank; 1986 Chevrolet pumper with a 750 gpm front mount Hale pump, 1000 gallon supply tank with rear quick dump; 1993 Chevrolet Kodiak pumper with a 750 gpm front mount Hale pump, 1000 gallon supply tank with rear quick dump; 1985 Chevrolet 1 ton 4 X 4 P/U, (used for fast attack unit) with 300 gpm pump and 320 gallon supply tank. The next units are located at the satellite station on the northern part of town: 1964 Ford with 750 gpm front mount Hale pump and 750 gallon supply tank; 1983 Chevrolet Step van ( Underwater Recovery & Rescue Unit, which transports divers and SCUBA equipment); 16' flat bottom boat w/ trailer. The department also has a 1923 Studebaker pumper that is mainly used for parades and other functions.

The area we cover is approximately twelve (12) miles wide and fifteen (15) miles long or 180 sq. miles. We have mutual aid agreements with all county wide cities and with several other outlying counties

Here are some of our patches.