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Columbia, MO Fire Department

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Columbia, MO
Columbia, MO Fire Department

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The Columbia Fire Department (CFD) is the agency that provides fire suppression, emergency medical care, hazardous material and other catastrophic occurrence mitigation, fire investigation, and fire inspection and code enforcement to Columbia, Missouri. City staff will be courteous and professional in their postings and stay on topic. We will abide by Facebook’s terms regarding the safety, privacy

and the rights of others. Comments and postings in violation of these terms will be reported for review and possible removal by Facebook. Social media posts and comments are open to the public and subject to a variety of uses beyond the City’s control. By commenting or posting, you specifically agree to hold the City of Columbia, its employees and officers harmless from any liability associated with your comment or post. Public opinions expressed on this site do not reflect the opinions and position of the City of Columbia government, its employees or officers.

06/10/2026

After the heavy rain this past weekend, Shift 3's Water Rescue Team took the opportunity to train for swift-water rescues in Hinkson Creek!

These firefighters were able to use the rapidly moving water to train in self-rescuing from swift floodwaters and rescuing victims using rescuers and throw ropes to return to the shore.

Although today has been a small break from the rain, Columbia is expected to receive more in the coming days. Keep the following safety tips in mind to make sure you and your family stay safe:

• Turn around, don't drown! Never drive through standing water. Even a few inches of rain can sweep a vehicle off the road.

• Never move barricades. They are there for a reason and are a clear indicator that the road or path is unsafe.

• Stay informed and know if your area or areas you will be visiting are prone to flooding. Have an emergency plan and keep your devices charged.

• If flooding starts, go to higher ground and follow any evacuation orders. Never attempt to drive or walk through floodwaters, as they are extremely hazardous.

• Once floodwaters recede, listen for updates on road safety and water quality. Avoid standing water, and listen for the official "all-clear" before returning to the affected areas.

As always, call 911 for emergencies or 311 for non-emergencies. Stay safe, Columbia!

06/08/2026

Turn around, don't drown!

The Columbia Fire Department responded to two separate incidents involving a vehicle trapped in floodwaters since approximately 11:50 last night. As a reminder, please remember the following safety tips to keep yourself, your family, and first responders safe during quickly developing flood conditions.

• NEVER drive through flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Finding another route is always the safest option to keep yourself and your vehicle safe.
• Stay away from low-water crossings, creek beds, drainage areas and underpasses until the water has gone down and the roadway is clear.
• NEVER move barricades. They are there for a reason and are a clear indicator that the road is unsafe.
• Keep children and pets away from moving water. What looks like a small amount of water can be stronger, deeper, and faster than it appears.
• Give yourself extra time and slow down. Heavy rain, standing water, and reduced visibility make normal driving conditions more dangerous.
• Check on neighbors, especially older adults or anyone who may need help receiving weather information.
• Follow trusted sources for updates, including the National Weather Service, Boone County emergency management partners, and City of Columbia public safety channels.

As always, call 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies. Please remember that even a few inches of water can sweep a vehicle off the road. For your safety and ours, avoid flooded areas and never drive through standing water.

06/05/2026

This week, our current recruit class had the amazing opportunity to train on the Stephens College campus!

This training focused on RIC (Rapid Intervention Crew), which are teams dedicated to rescuing fellow firefighters in distress during emergency operations. Using a structure such as this provides the experience needed to navigate an unfamiliar layout and locate the firefighter in distress. Simulating low visibility, crews were able to rely on state-of-the-art technology and split-second decision-making to make their way to the patient, assess the situation, triage as needed, and safely remove the firefighter from the "hazardous" area.

A huge thank you to Stephens College for this opportunity! Trainings like this help our crews and future firefighters prepare for anything in real-world scenarios.

06/03/2026

Please join us in congratulating Captain Brian Wattenbarger on his retirement following 23 years of service to the Columbia Fire Department and the citizens of Columbia!

Captain Wattenbarger began his career as a Firefighter with CFD in June of 2003. Serving his hometown and community as a member of the Hazardous Materials Team and the Mid-Missouri Bomb Squad, he completed his career as a Captain assigned to Engine 11 on Shift 2.

We thank you for your service to the community and congratulate you on your retirement, Captain Wattenbarger!

06/01/2026

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Central Boone County until approximately noon today.

The Columbia Fire Department has already responded to two separate water rescues this morning and would like to remind the community on how to keep yourself, your family and first responders safe during quickly developing flood conditions.

• Never drive through flooded roads. Turn around, don't drown. Find another route. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
• Stay away from low-water crossings, creek beds, drainage areas and underpasses until the water has gone down and the roadway is clear.
• Do not move barricades. They are there because the road is unsafe.
• Keep children and pets away from moving water. What looks like a small amount of water can be stronger, deeper and faster than it appears.
• Give yourself extra time and slow down. Heavy rain, standing water and reduced visibility make normal driving conditions more dangerous.
• Check on neighbors, especially older adults or anyone who may need help receiving weather information.
• Follow trusted sources for updates, including the National Weather Service, Boone County emergency management partners and City of Columbia public safety channels.
• As always, call 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.

Our firefighters are always ready to respond, but the safest rescue is the one we never have to make. Please avoid flooded areas and help keep our community and first responders safe.

05/29/2026

As of this week, our current recruit class has officially passed the Red Line!

With about eight weeks left until graduation, our new firefighters have completed their Firefighter 1 and 2 courses. Now, they will move on to more hands-on training with real-life scenarios that will prepare them for their careers as firefighters.

We are proud of the hard work and dedication these recruits continue to put in each day, and look forward to seeing what they accomplish during the rest of their time at the Training Academy!

05/27/2026

At 7:13 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, Columbia Fire Department (CFD) companies were dispatched to a commercial structure fire in the 1600 block of Amelia Street.

CFD companies arrived within three minutes of initial dispatch to find smoke showing from the second story of a two-story apartment complex.

While residents of the complex were evacuating, firefighters entered the structure to simultaneously search for potential residents and begin the fire attack. The flames were contained to the room of origin and firefighters had the fire safely under control within approximately 12 minutes of arrival.

There were no occupants inside the unit at the time of the incident and there were no reported injuries.

A total of five fire companies, two chief officers, one safety captain and one fire marshal with 20 personnel responded to the scene.

The Columbia Fire Marshals Battalion has conducted an investigation into the origin and cause of the fire and determined the fire to be caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

05/26/2026

Yesterday, the Columbia Fire Department was honored to attend the wreath-laying ceremony at the Boone County Courthouse and Columbia's Memorial Day Parade downtown, paying tribute to fallen service members and the families they left behind.

We remember, honor, and thank the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

05/22/2026

Big news, Columbia - Quint 10 is officially in service!

This morning at 10:22 a.m., Quint 10 responded to its first-ever call, located in East Columbia. Housed at interim Station 10 on South El Chaparral Avenue, this addition to our fleet and station location will expand our ability to meet the community's needs and reduce response times as Columbia continues to grow.

We're so excited to see Quint 10's crews in action!

05/20/2026

This week, four members of the Columbia Fire Department are attending a four-day Swift Water Technician course in St. Louis. The class provides advanced training in moving-water rescue operations, including victim rescue techniques, rope systems and nighttime emergency scenarios.

One of the highlights of the course is a full-scale night drill, designed to prepare rescuers for the challenges of operating in low-visibility, high-stress environments during real-world flooding and water-rescue incidents.

As weather events continue to create increased flooding risks across the region, investing in specialized training ensures CFD personnel remain ready to respond safely and effectively when our community needs us most.

We appreciate these members' commitment to expanding their skills and bringing valuable knowledge back to the department. Stay safe and good luck this week in St. Louis!

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Columbia, MO
65203

Telephone

+15738747393

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