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 Prot
ection District had eight volunteer firefighters, a 1962 Fire Truck, 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, MO. The District built its first fire station in 1978 and this facility still serves as the district's headquarters's. A second station was constructed in 1993 in the northwestern section of the county to better serve the outlying areas; Station 3. Construction was completed in 2001 on a third station in the southwestern corner of the county, again to better service the district patrons; Station 4. Plans are for at least two more stations; one in the northeast side of the county and one in the southeast area of the county. The district currently employs one career and fifty four volunteer firefighters; four cadets. Little Dixie Fire Protection District is nationally recognized as a progressive fire district, because of its involvement in cutting edge training technology, certified instructors on staff, certified investigators, and aggressive training schedule
of weekly training for ALL personnel. The district's emergency fleet consist of three fire engines, three water tankers, three brush trucks, one heavy rescue squad, one reserve pumper, and a Chief's staff vehicle. Little Dixie Fire Protection District responds annually to over 400 alarms for assistance involving fire, emergency medical, vehicle-extrication, industrial rescue, water and ice rescue, search and rescue, hazardous materials responses, and other requests for assistance requested by other Districts or Agencies. Little Dixie Fire Protection employees are actively involved in and belonging to the following National or State or Local Organizations: Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Audrain County Emergency Planning Committee, Missouri Association of Fire Chief's, Missouri Association of Fire District's, Firefighter's Association of Missouri, Associate Instructors for the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute, Missouri Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Fire Chief's, International Association of Fire Service Instructor's, National Fire Protection Association, and International Association of Arson Investigator's.
