A group of concerned residents of the area held meetings in the courtroom
of the Jefferson County Court House in early 1949 to discuss how to form a fire
department. The participants at those meetings formed in March 1949 what was known
as the Hillsboro Community Volunteer Fire Association. This organization was
a subscription or fire tag department providing service to subscribers.
As the Hillsboro area continued to grow the needs for fire service became more
pressing. The Tag Association, with its limited income, could not keep up with
the growing demands for service or the equipment needed to meet that demand.
In December 1973 an election was held to form a tax-supported fire district,
and on January 2, 1974, the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Missouri, decreed
the formation of the Hillsboro Fire Protection District of Jefferson County,
Missouri.
The Hillsboro Fire Protection District services 42 square miles in the east
central section of Jefferson County with a career staff of nine and a volunteer
staff of 19 firefighters operating six pieces of equipment.
