Station History

The Southern Platte Fire Protection District station #3 was constructed in February of 1990. This was the first station built by the Fire District, but the third firehouse to serve within the district. It replaced the temporary quarters which were in a prefab building on the northside of NW MO 45 Highway & Lake Crest Dr. At the conclusion of construction, this station was staffed by all volunteer firefighters and housed the District’s Communications Dispatch Center and District Headquarters. The dispatch center was operated by paid emergency communication personnel. Station #3 also served as the District Headquarters until 2001. From the start, Engine 3 was the primary fire apparatus to handle emergency responses for the district. With its centralized position in the district, apparatus and responders can quickly answer the needs of all areas of the district.

In June of 1996, the Southern Platte Fire Protection District hired the first paid crews to staff Station #3. With this hiring, the district classification shifted to a combination department, with emergency calls being handled by both volunteer and career firefighters. In 1998, Station #3 was expanded to house additional paid personnel with sleeping quarters and a full kitchen. After a cost comparison study in 1998, the full-time SPFPD dispatch center was shut down and dispatching services were transferred over to Platte County Sheriff Communications Center. With that dispatching change, all district apparatus assignment numbers moved to the #20 series. Engine 3 became Pumper 23 and continued to be the main apparatus to handle calls within the district. In September of 2004, the district created and staffed for the position of Battalion Chief. The Battalion Chief is the shift commander and runs out of this station.

In 2010, Truck 23 was placed into service as the first dedicated truck company for the district. Prior to that time, personnel had to cross staff the aerial apparatus based on the nature of the incident. In 2012, the district partnered with Kansas City Fire Department Communications Center for dispatching and changed the assigned apparatus numbers of the district to the #60 series. While this is a single truck company station, the station houses the reserve aerial, a district water tanker, and is the home of the Battalion Chief. Truck 63 & Car 65 personnel proudly serve this rapidly growing district and provide automatic aid to neighboring areas of Kansas City, Missouri.