History

In the Year of Our Lord 1950, the Baxter family and their neighbors watched their home on gravel paved Tudor Avenue burn to the ground. Rural but growing "Little Farms" had virtually no fire protection. The Little Farms Civic Association grew concerned. Kenner and Harahan Fire Departments had no obligation to respond and they were too distant. A committee report by George Schmitt Jr. persuaded the Civic Association to form an organized volunteer fire company. The Third Precinct Volunteer Fire Company was officially chartered by the State of Louisiana on July 18, 1951. The fledgling fire company had 25 volunteers, no equipment (except three garden hoses), no fire station nor a fire engine. They began training with the Kenner Fire Company. Fire company leaders and parish officials working together created the Third Fire Protection District of Jefferson Parish in 1953. The fire company then changed its name to the Third District Volunteer Fire Department. The first fire station was an old telephone exchange building on Pear Street behind what is now "Central," Station 31. When an emergency call came in, the original fire fighters would call one another by telephone and respond as quickly as possible. The department raised funds through bingos, house to house donations, firefighter's jamborees and fairs.

Today T. D. V. F. D. boasts four stations, a maintenance facility, state of the art fire fighting apparatus, equipment and communications. We employ 14 full time carreer fire fighters, several part time career firefighters and administrative staff. Nearly 100 volunteer and Women's Association members manage the department and risk their lives in service to their community. In 1951 we protected about 1,000 people and responded to 16 calls. Today the Third Fire District has grown to nearly 50,000 souls who require over 700 responses a year. T. D. V. F. D. currently has a Class 3 PIAL/ISO rating (1-10, 1 being best) and is always striving to improve. T. D. V. F. D. has come a long way. These accomplishments could only have been achieved through the dedication, sacrifice and hard work of the volunteers, paid staff, community leaders, and Parish Government. Working together we have and will continue to provide exceptional, highly cost effective fire protection service to the citizens of the Third Fire District.