This year marks a significant milestone for De Pere Fire Rescue – celebrating 150 years of existence.
What started in 1872 as the De Pere Fire Co., when it officially transitioned from a private organization to a city department, is now De Pere Fire Rescue – growing from two teams of 10 to nearly 50 full-time and part-time employees.
The department has two fire stations, one on each side of the Fox River, protecting a population of more than 25,000 in an area covering roughly 12 square miles (With a combined coverage area of more than 25 square miles when you add in areas of the towns of Ledgeview and Lawrence and a portion of Ashwaubenon).
In 1890, De Pere and West De Pere consolidated into one city and the fire departments were combined into one unified force.
The area and the department continued to grow – installing new fire hydrants, rebuilding old firefighting equipment and ordering more hoses to serve its residents.