E.L.B. Rural Fire/Rescue Department

History of the E.L.B. Rural Fire/Rescue Department

In the early 1980s the rural fire truck of the Trenton Fire Dept. broke down in route to a fire. They announced they would no longer furnish fire protection to the rural areas. Faced with no fire protection, residents of Edinburg, Leisure Lake, and Brimson, Missouri got together to come up with an answer to the problem. Although tinrough several Meetings, the Grundy County Court was going to form some kind of a county fire protection, the committee of the Edinburg, Leisure, Leisure Lake, and Brimson area through a poll elected to form a Fire Department in their own area, as they felt they were too far from Trenton.

In March 1982 the E.L.B. Rural Fire Department was formed in cooperation and with the aid of the Missouri Conservation Commission. With a 1963 Dodge chassis and a 1941 Ford Fire truck and some other equipment bought with a matching fund grant the E.L.B. Fire Dept. become a viable Rural Fire Department. A board of Directors consisting of 3 members from each area was elected the first President, Alene Herring the first permanent Sec. and Tres. and John Wise was appointed as temporary Fire Chief. In the fall of the same year a 3 bay, Fire Station was completed in the Leisure Lake area from and old salvaged building with a minimum amount of money loaned interest free from a Leisure Lake long time resident. Through a lot of hard work and determination the members of the E.L.B. Fire Department, acquired more trucks and equipment all on a $20 per year membership. After 9 years membership we finally had to be increased to $25 per year. In 1993 the E.L.B. Fire Department built 2 more bays on to the fire station and re-modeled the old part of the station. We now have 6 pics. of Fire Apparatus including 3 pumpers, 1 Tanker, 1 Brush Truck fast response, and a Jeep. We still have 2 of the original Board members and the temporary Fire Chief with the E.L.B. Rural Fire Department. We are proud of our Fire Department and we are here to stay.