Before 1940 the township had contracted fire services from the village of Newtown (which the township now completely surrounds), and the City of Cincinnati. Newtown was charging $75 per run for mostly grass fires. The group decided to form a volunteer fire department. The group built a fire truck from a donated hearse and moved into a garage on Salem Pike near Beechmont Ave. (main thoroughfare) that became the first fire station, remaining in service until 1995.
A tax levy in 1941 provided for fire protection, but no life squad services. The need to support this was seen by the volunteers, and by law they could not use taxes. They began to raise funds by raffles, dances, auctions, and festivals. The fireman’s Association has continued to support the efforts of the fire department to this day.
A second station was added on Beechmont Ave in 1961. This station housed the fire administration until the Salem Road station was replaced in 1995 with a new station a few miles down the road to better cover that portion of the township. A third station was added in the northern part of the township in 1974 and was staffed for many years by only one firefighter. Our fourth station was added near the center of the township in 1997 on Hunley Road. This station houses the Quint, technical rescue unit, and a Paramedic Ambulance. The remaining three stations house an ALS Engine and Paramedic Ambulance each.
Staffing at all stations have now been increased to four firefighters per station.
