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Sturgis Fire Department - On March 17, 1887, a meeting was held of the residents of the town Sturgis, Lawrence County, Dakota territory, to form a Fire Board. Once the board was created, they agreed to meet at 7:00pm on the first Friday of each month. During this meeting the board also directed the president to obtain information concerning the purchase of a used or new hook & ladder truck from a manufacturer in New York state.

On May 20, 1887, the Board agreed to purchase a hook & ladder truck for the sum of $450.00, thus forming the Key City Hook & Ladder Company #1.The Board agreed to purchase a hose cart shortly there after thus creating Key City Hose Company #1.

On January 22, 1889, the department ordered a new hose cart giving the Key City Hose Company two carts.

On February 22, 1889, President Grover Cleveland formally creates the State of South Dakota.

By November of 1889, the Sturgis Fire Board had a hook & ladder company, a hose company and an engine company.

In May of 1892, the Sturgis Fire Board officially adopted a constitution and bylaws creating the Fire Department of the City of Sturgis.

September 8, 1894, the Sturgis Fire Department Board agreed to purchase a new hose cart from W.H. Sollsbury of Chicago.

May 27, 1895, the Sturgis Fire Department joined the Black Hills Fire Association.

July 19, 1896, during a regular meeting, the Fire Department Board of Directors commissioned to have a hose tower constructed at the City�s expense.

September 28, 1901, the Department commissioned to have the hose tower torn down because it did not meet the needs of the department during cold weather.

On October 16, 1901, the Department agreed to utilize the lumber from the old tower to construct a new tower, which would work during all weather conditions.

On March 20, 1911, the Sturgis Fire Department was called to a special meeting by the Mayor, who directed the department to provide fire protection to Fort Meade, lying just east of the city, until the troops returned from the Mexican boarder (Spanish-American War).

The history of the Sturgis Fire Department is sketchy at best from this date until the 1950�s due to the loss of records because of a fire.

Today the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department covers a 606 square mile area serving a population of approximately 12,500 people.

The Department provides services of fire protection, vehicle extrication and haz-mat responses within its protection area. Although the Department provides space for ambulances we do not provide medical services, this due to the fact that Meade County currently operates the ambulance service. The Department has an average of 130 calls annually. During an average year more than 60% of the department's responses are wildland fires in the Black Hills National Forest and on the Prairie east and north of Sturgis.

The Department also provides mutual aid to many departments in the northern Black Hills Area including the Fort Meade VA Medical Center and as well, receives mutual from many of the departments in times of need.

Fort Meade is home to more than 100 structures covering over a million square feet, all of which are on the National Historical Register. Fort Meade was the last civilized stopping point in the Dakota Territory for George Armstrong Custer before moving onto the battle of the Little Big Horn where he and his men perished.

Although Sturgis is home to many historical events in history, the City of Sturgis is also home to the largest motorcycle event in the civilized world. The small town of Sturgis with a population of 7,000 people turns into the largest city in the state during the first week in August of each year.

Each year this event tends to bring uniqueness to the town of Sturgis, but it is also challenging to provide emergency services to 700,000 motorcycle enthusiasts with a volunteer department. But every year some how the men and women of the department make it work.

From the Sturgis Volunteer FD History