Owensville Rural Fire Protective Association

The Owensville Rural Fire Protective Association (ORFPA) was formed in 1946. The State of Missouri had authorized the formation of rural fire protection associations to furnish fire protection in areas not covered by special tax districts. Before the formation of ORFPA, the Owensville Volunteer Fire Department responded to both city fire calls and calls in unincorporated areas of Gasconade and neighboring counties.

ORFPA initially charged $3.00 annually for rural residents to join the organization. This was intended to help to contribute to the City of Owensville, which furnished the firefighting equipment. As fire calls to rural areas increased, the city purchased equipment for use in the rural areas. ORFPA was asked to contribute significantly more to the budget of the Owensville Volunteer Fire Department.

Today, membership in ORFPA costs $48.00 annually. The fee funds, in part, the mandatory training required of volunteer firefighters. The fee does not cover salaries of firefighters as it is a volunteer organization.

The State of Missouri sets fees for rural fire protection associations responding to fires of nonmembers. The fee is $100.00 plus $500.00 per hour until the equipment is back in the firehouse and available for service. There are similar charges for ORFPA to respond to motor vehicle accidents of nonmembers.

ORFPA also wants to make it clear that property taxes do not pay for rural fire protection.

Darrell Decker, one of the ORFPA members who sat at the association’s booth at the Gasconade County Fair, says that the group is making an appeal for new members. “The more members we have, the more the dues can be kept level or lowered,” Decker said. The annual fee is certainly a better value than fees charged to come to the fire of a nonmember.

The association turns over its dues to the City of Owensville once a year. For the past 10 years or so, the amount has been around $75,000.00. The most recent payment occurred on June 1. An additional $2,500.00 was spent to purchase a new radio system that allows all radios used by firefighters to be on one channel, facilitating communication.

It is not unusual for rural residents to belong to more than one rural fire protection association. ORFPA has members from the neighboring counties of Crawford and Osage.

Information or a membership application form can be obtained by calling Lisa Schlottach at (573) 437-3151, or Jim Gamache at (573) 437-3248. The mailing address of the Owensville Rural Fire Protective Association is PO Box 202, Owensville, Mo. 65066.