Centennial Fire District

About the Centennial Fire Districtr

The Centennial Fire District (CFD) serves the communities of Lino Lakes, Circle Pines and Centerville. The district is located just north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. Interstate 35W and 35E run through our district.

We respond to fire or emergency medical incidents. CFD members include men and women, ranging in age from 18 (the minimum entry age) to our experienced firefighters and rescuers in their 50s.

When you call 911, the Anoka County Central Communications office dispatches police, fire, and ambulance units by radio and pager. Centennial firefighters leave their homes for their fire stations and then drive fire or rescue trucks to the scene. For medical emergencies, Centennial firefighters provide first response care and then assist paramedics, who then transport patients to the hospital by ambulance, if necessary.

On average, the CFD responds to 1,000 alarms each year. These include first aid or rescue, reports of fire, gas leaks, carbon monoxide alarms, and various other emergencies.

People

The CFD has an administrative staff that consists of a career Fire Chief, Fire Inspector and Administration person to coordinate the daily activities within the district. Our fire officers are selected through an interview process and receive a monthly salary for their additional duties. All firefighters are paid an hourly wage for each call to which they respond.

No one is billed for calling on the fire department for help. A paid-on-call volunteer department costs our community very little compared to staffing our stations with full-time, career firefighters. The Centennial Fire District's funding comes from property taxes paid in Circle Pines, Lino Lakes, and Centerville. A state rebate for fire insurance premiums helps pay for firefighter pensions; a charitable gaming booth contributes funding for a portion of the department's equipment.

History

The Centennial Fire District was formed in 1985 with a joint powers agreement between the cities of Centerville, Circle Pines and Lino Lakes. The existing fire departments from Circle Pines and Centerville were combined into the fire district as a starting point.

Prior to 1985, the area was covered by three fire departments: the Centerville Fire Department, which covered Centerville and the eastern portion of Lino Lakes; the Circle Pines Fire Department, which covered Circle Pines; and the Lexington Fire Department, which covered the western portion of Lino Lakes.

The existing stations in Centerville and Circle Pines were used as Centennial stations, and in 1987, a Lino Lakes station was opened in an existing structure.

In 1990, the cities started upgrading equipment and facilities. A new Lino Lakes fire station was built in 1991, a Centerville fire station/city hall was built in 1992 and a new Circle Pines fire station was built in 1999.

The equipment was also upgraded and took place as follows:

1990	Two new rescue units replace three existing units.
1992	Two new tankers replaced 1956, 1962 and 1969 units. (The chassis for these tankers were purchased with donations.)
1993	Two new light rescues were received. (One of the light rescues was purchased with donations.)
1994	Three new grass units replaced 1953, 1954 and 1974 units.
1996	A new pumper replaced a 1975 unit.
1997	A new light rescue unit replaced a 1990 heavier unit.
2000	A new pumper with a ladder replaced a 1976 pumper. A new six wheel ATV replaced a 1965 tracked unit.
2001	A pumper replaced a 1983 pumper.

In addition to the vehicles list above, the Fire District has purchased 12 Defibrillators with donated funds and 4 Thermal Imaging cameras, also with donated funds.

Agreements

The communities of Circle Pines, Centerville, and Lino Lakes have established agreements that allow fire and rescue services to be performed across these communities by the Centennial Fire District. These agreements have been in force since January 1, 1985.

Mutual Aid Agreements

Large fires occur in the region, and the Centennial Fire District has "mutual aid" agreements with most of the area fire departments. These agreements allow firefighting equipment and personnel to respond, when requested, outside normal coverage areas. Communities under mutual aid agreements do not charge each other for responding to mutual aid calls.

During the large brush and forest fire in the Carlos Avery Wildlife Sanctuary in 2001, Centennial Fire District firefighters fought the blaze alongside personnel from Minneapolis, Blaine, and many other area departments.