Committed to Serving the Hardin Community
The Hardin Fire Protection District has a long history of dedicated service, beginning with a volunteer fire department formed in 1925. The first firefighting equipment was a simple tank mounted on a cart, pulled by a Model T Ford and filled with a foam solution. Over time, the department upgraded its equipment, first with an International Pumper fire truck and later with a more modern 1950 Chevrolet fire truck, which remains in service today.
To better serve the surrounding rural areas, the Rural Fire Association was established on December 3, 1952. A Chevrolet fire truck with a 500-gallon tank was purchased, equipped with an auxiliary pump to draw water from ponds, rivers, or wells. Both the city and rural fire services shared equipment and garage facilities at the corner of Front and Second streets, working together to ensure fire protection for all. Firefighters met twice a month for training and coordination, and a system of siren blasts signaled where fires were located.
Formation of the Fire Protection District
For decades, the Hardin City Fire Department was funded through the city’s general fund, while the Rural Fire Association relied on annual membership dues from landowners in the rural district. In the 1960s, an agreement was made for the rural association to contract with the city for fire response, which allowed all volunteer firefighters to be covered under the city’s workers’ compensation policy. This arrangement worked well until the 1990s when rising costs and fewer rural members made funding the department increasingly difficult. Volunteer firefighters had to hold fundraisers just to afford basic protective gear.
Recognizing the need for a stable, tax-supported solution, the community voted on November 3, 1998, to create the Hardin Fire Protection District. The measure passed by a 2-to-1 majority. However, a ballot language issue meant funding wasn’t initially secured, so a follow-up vote on April 6, 1999, was held to approve a tax levy. Once again, the community showed overwhelming support, and the district received its first tax funds in February 2000. These funds have allowed for critical upgrades, including new fire trucks, insurance for volunteer firefighters, and ongoing equipment improvements.
How We Operate Today
With the creation of the Hardin Fire Protection District, the former Rural Fire Association disbanded, and all firefighting equipment was transferred to the new district. Today, an elected Board of Directors oversees operations, ensuring the safety and efficiency of our fire protection services.
Our volunteer firefighters are dispatched via radio, text message, and the Active911, coordinated through the Ray County 911 Dispatch Center and continue to meet monthly for business, training, and drills:
- First Thursday: Hardin Volunteer Firemen meeting
- Second Thursday: Hardin Fire Protection District Regular Board Meeting
The Hardin Fire Protection District remains committed to providing professional, reliable emergency response services to the Hardin community and surrounding rural areas.