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Here at Little Dixie Fire Protection District our Mission is to protect lives, the environment, and property by providing prompt, skillful, and cost-effective fire protection and life safety services. If you would like to give back to your community you can now do so via Paypal. Thanks from everyone here at Little Dixie, and we will proudly continue to serve Audrain County for many more years to come. |
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Established in 1974
The Little Dixie Fire Protection District was formed in 1974 by a vote of the taxpayers. Fire protection was previously provided by what was called Mexico Rural Fire Association since 1945. Concerned citizens of Audrain County felt better fire protection was needed and spearheaded the campaign to form a Fire Protection District under the RSMo's of Missouri.
At its inception, Little Dixie Fire Protection District had eight volunteer firefighters, a 1962 International Pumper, Conservation Department Jeep. Soon homemade 1000 gallon tanker truck was put into service. This equipment was housed in a rental building at the end of North Jefferson street in Mexico, Missouri. Read More
Little Dixie Fire Protection District receives new tankers on Friday May 04, 2012
The trucks arrived at station one, shortly after 2 p.m., and received a warm welcome from fire crews, the ladies auxiliary and other Little Dixie supporters. Each truck, worth $185,000, is made on a Peter-Bilt chassis, with a diesel engine, and beds from the Freedom Fire company based in Marietta, Georgia. Each truck holds 2,000 gallons, compared to the departments current tankers that hold 1,500 gallons. Each of the trucks will be sent to Station One, Three and Four. Replacing current tankers that are at least 30 years old. Station Three Fire Lieutenant Michael Orth said, "the new tankers will make the department more efficient." “Excitement is everywhere,” Orth said. “First off, it's new equipment and dependable. There's less chance of breakdowns, the trucks will run faster, give us more water on the scene and enable us to do our jobs of saving lives and property to the best of our ability, in the best way we can.” Orth said it was a team effort getting the trucks home. A group of firefighters left around 6 a.m. Thursday from Mexico en-route to Georgia, with one overnight pit stop in Memphis, Tennessee. The small convoy arrived back in Mexico Friday afternoon, and fire crews at the station were on hand to switch over the necessary equipment and have all three trucks ready for service within a few hours. |
Little Dixie Volunteer receives the
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Little Dixie Captain Rob Erdel receives "Firemen of the Year Award"“It's an honor to get recognized. I feel like I've put in a lot of hard work, and for someone in this department to realize what I have done and nominate me, means a lot to me,” Erdel said. “And, the fact that most of the firefighters I've worked with over the years have been younger, shows that they respect me and what I have done for them, and what they have done for me also. It's just an honor to have that type of respect come from here.”
Erdel has been with Little Dixie Fire Protection District 20 years, and been the recipient of the “Fireman of the Year” Award before – one by the local Elks Lodge, and another from Little Dixie, which is given at the district's annual banquet. He has risen from a firefighter to the rank of captain and is active with the Missouri Fire Fighters Association, the National Volunteer Fire Council and the National Advisory Board for junior firefighters across the United States. He is currently the junior firefighters adviser for Little Dixie. Being a firefighter, Erdel said, “Gives me the opportunity to get out and serve the public, and help your neighbors all the time. A lot of our own personal reasons why I do it is the hands-on stuff, the adrenaline rush, and helping the general public. But mainly, I just love what I do.” |
"Fire Chief Hoover is nothing but Proud of his group of Volunteers." The Little Dixie Fire Protection group of volunteer firefighters and members of the ladies auxiliary pose with the 13 trophies won at the Missouri Fire Fighters Association convention in Hannibal.
Little Dixie Fire Chief Kenny Hoover has nothing but praise for his firefighters, his ladies auxiliary and supporters for the district's success and accomplishments, and notes they would not be what they are without the efforts of everyone. The district also walked away from the annual convention competitions with a string of team awards, for life-saving skills. "I preach to them, even as being chief and president of the Missouri Fire Fighters Association, I am nothing without them, and they feel they are nothing without me; we work as a team. We win as a team, and we fail as a team," Hoover said. "I would put my department up against any department in the state Missouri for their efforts, both in competition or every day. "They are trained, professional and committed, and they volunteer. They give to this community every day and have since 1974. I am proud of them, the board is proud of them, and the community should be proud. I just ask, when you see them out somewhere, pat them on the back and thank them." The Missouri Fire Fighters Association is the largest volunteer fire service in the state, with 8,000 members statewide. Hoover is currently the president, and Little Dixie has been a member since 1974. An annual convention is held the last week in April or the first week in May, and invites fire teams from throughout the state to compete in state competitions. This year, Little Dixie brought back 13 trophies in both the men and women divisions. Hoover said, "it was a great year" for his people, and referred to them as a "fine oiled machine." |
Little Dixie Fire Protection District
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Fire and Rescue Related Links:
Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
Missouri State Fire Marshal
National Fire Protection Association
University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute
International Association of Fire Chiefs
Missouri Association of Fire Chiefs
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Missouri Department of Transportation (Road Closures)
Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
Missouri State Fire Marshal
National Fire Protection Association
University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute
International Association of Fire Chiefs
Missouri Association of Fire Chiefs
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Missouri Department of Transportation (Road Closures)
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