The Cole County Volunteer Fire Department began operation in 1969. Three years later, in 1972, the first volunteer fire station was then built on Route C. As the members grew more wide spread, another volunteer fire station was built along highway 54 near Brazito in 1980. The Route C station had as much as 2,950 gallons of water, and the Brazito station had 2,500 gallons. Today, the district has nearly 20,000 gallons of water on its vehicles throughout the area, ready to fight fires in areas which do not have fire hydrants. In April 1993, the Cole County Volunteer Fire Department asked voters to form a fire protection district. Forming a district would mean better fire service and lower insurance rates due to the increased funding. The voters accepted. On August 8, 2000, St. Thomas Fire Department joined the district. Since 1993, the CCFPD has purchased two new pumpers, two new tankers, and four new brush/grass trucks, built six new stations, purchased several new sets of extrication equipment (Jaws of Life), and upgraded much of its equipment.

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