Massillon Fire Department

== History ==
The department was established sometime before 1853, however no records exist except for the reference to a hand drawn pumper called "Cataract" the name likely references the manufacturer. In 1853 the "Vigilant" hand pumper was purchased and it remained in service at Station 1 until 1872. In 1872 a Clapp And Jones Steamer was purchased followed by the first motorized engine in 1911. Horses were needed to pull the steamer and the first full-time firemen were employed. At the time there were four "Satellite Stations" in the city that were staffed by "Minutemen" and each had a hose cart until the new central station was built in 1895. The new central station was in service from 1895 to 1970. In 1906 two new stations were constructed, numbers 2 & 3. Station 2 was at 920 Tremont Avenue Southwest and remained in service until 1980 while Station 3 was located at 715 State Avenue Northeast and served until 1951. In 1951 a new number 3 station was completed at 955 Wales Road Northeast. At this point each fire station was staffed by full time firemen and the satellite stations were closed, but the minutemen were still used until the 1950s. In 1893 a Gamewell Fire Alarm system was put in service and pull boxes that activated bells at the fire stations were added. The bells alerted on duty fireman or minutemen and in case of a call being received by phone or in person the central station could activate the bells. By 1915 all apparatus were motorized and several Seagrave apparatus were purchased in 1941. In 1945 another new Seagrave pumper was purchased as at the time they were located in Columbus. All of these were replaced in the 1960s. In 1950 the American Red Cross purchased a panel truck that was leased to the city at one dollar a year. It could tow boats and was equipped for any kind of rescue. It was used as a "Disaster Unit" for Western Stark County as a whole until 1962 when the city purchased its own unit. Service to the county was discontinued, except for mutual aid requests, at this time as many areas had their own volunteer fire departments. In 1970 the present Station 1 was built serving Downtown. The current Station 2 was completed in 1980 and Station 4 was completed in 1988. In 1986 the dispatch center moved from the central station to the Regional Emergency Dispatch center. Station 3 was closed in 2012 due to budget cuts then reopened and remodeled in 2018.
{| class="fandom-table"
=== Fire Stations ===
Station 	Address 	In Service 	Notes
Satellite Station 1	 	18?? - 1906 	Each of these stations was staffed by "Minutemen" until the new central station was built and first Stations 2 and 3 were built.
Satellite Station 2	 	18?? - 1906 	
Satellite Station 3	 	18?? - 1906 	
Satellite Station 4	 	18?? - 1906 	
Central 	City Hall Street And Factory Street	1895 - 1970 	Factory Street had its name changed, and the building was likely torn down.
2 	920 Tremont Avenue SW 	1906 - 1980 	Still standing. Used as a house.
3 	715 State Avenue Northeast 	1906 - 1951 	Still standing. Used as a house.
3 	955 Wales Road Northeast 	1951 - May 2012, 2018-present	Closed due to budget cuts then reopened.
== Apparatus Roster ==
=== Fire Station 1 - 233 Erie Street South ===
Opened 1970
*Ladder 1 - 2022 Sutphen (1500/500/75' mid-mount)
*Tanker 1 - Freightliner (Ex-Tanker 217)
*Medic 1 (19-1) - 2019 Ford F-450 4x4 / Medix MSV-II (SN#M1101)
*Engine 212 - 20?? Freightliner M2 / E-One (Ex-Engine 2)
*Reserve Medic 4 - 2015 Ford E-350 / Medix Express Type III (SN#6210)
*Aerial Tower 216 - 199? Sutphen (Ex-Ladder 1)
*Utility 1 - Ford
*Utility 2 - 202? Chevrolet Silverado 4x4
*Truck 204 - Ford F-150 4x4
*UTV - John Deere Gator
*Chief 1 - 202? Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
*Chief 2 - Chevrolet Tahoe
*Chief 3 - Chevrolet Tahoe
*Bureau 1 - Chevrolet Tahoe
*Bureau 2 - Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
*Bureau 3 - 202? Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
*Bureau 4 - Ford Explorer
*"Vigilant" hand pumper (Antique) - 1853 hand pumper
=== Fire Station 2 - 17 17th Street Northwest ===
Built 1980
* Engine 2 - 201? Freightliner M2 / E-One
* Reserve Engine 5 - Freightliner (Ex-Engine 4)
* Medic 2 (19-2)- 2019 Ford F-450 4x4 / Medix MSV-II (SN#M1104)
* Truck 206 - 20?? Ford F-350 4x4
* Trailer
=== Fire Station 3 - 955 Wales Road Northeast ===
Built 1951
*Engine 1 - 2018 Pierce Saber (1500/500) (SN#32271)
*Medic 3 - 2017 Ford F-450 4x4 / Medix MSV-II (SN#M1052)
=== Fire Station 4 - 2518 Erie Street South ===
Built 1988
*Engine 4 - 2022 Pierce Saber (1500/500) (Ex-Engine 3)
*Medic 4 - 2022 Ford F-450 4x4
==Retired Apparatus==
* 199? E-One ladder (Ex-Ladder 1)
* 196? ambulance (Ex-Medic 4)
* 196? ambulance (Ex-Medic 3)
* 196? ambulance (Ex-Medic 2)
* 196? ambulance (Ex-Medic 1)
* 1962 rescue (Ex-Rescue 1)
* 196? Seagrave aerial (Ex-Aerial Tower 1)
* 196? Seagrave pumper (Ex-Engine 3)
* 196? Seagrave pumper (Ex-Engine 2)
* 196? Seagrave pumper (Ex-Engine 1)
* 195? Panel truck (Owned by the Red Cross, ex-Disaster Unit)
* 1945 Seagrave pumper (Ex-Engine 3)
* 1941 Seagrave aerial (Ex-Aerial Tower 1)
* 1941 Seagrave pumper (Ex-Engine 2)
* 1941 Seagrave pumper (Ex-Engine 1)
* 191? motorized engine (Ex-Engine 3)
* 191? motorized engine (Ex-Engine 2)
* 1911 motorized engine (Ex-Engine 1)
* 1872 Clapp And Jones steamer
* 18?? hand pumper (4)
* 18?? hand pumper (3)
* 18?? hand pumper (2)
* 18?? hand pumper "Cataract"
==External Links==
*Massillon Fire Department
*Massillon Fire Fighters Local 251 Facebook page
Category:Stark County, Ohio
Category:Ohio departments operating E-One apparatus
Category:Ohio departments operating Pierce apparatus
Category:Ohio departments operating Sutphen apparatus
Category:Former operators of Seagrave apparatus