Our
History
In 1960, a group of 42 civic-minded residents
living in the Orchard Homes area of Missoula
County launched a successful petition drive to create
the Missoula Rural Fire District (MRFD). In March of 1961,
the County's Board of Commissioners approved its formation
and appointed a Board of Trustees to establish a budget and
purchase equipment for the first station, which was an old, rented
garage. In 1963, a new headquarters building (Station #1) was built on the
corner of South Avenue West and Reserve Street. In 1968, to accomodate the
growing needs around North Reserve and the Missoula Airport as well as the Rattlesnake Valley, we opened two more stations. In 1971, Station #4 was added near Bonner to the east and
Station #5 in Lolo to the south. In April 1982,
Station #6 was built to serve Elmar Estates.
Each time a new station opened, more volunteers were added to the district. Many of our career firefighters, including our first fire chief, started as volunteers for the District.
A rented garage was home to the first MRFD Fire Station in 1961.
