Exeter Fire Protection District

10/05/2026

Thank you for having us!

10/05/2026

Today, we had the opportunity to spend some time with local students, talking about fire safety, emergency preparedness and the simple steps we can all take to help keep our homes and families safe.

In the spirit of continuing our fire safety education, we want to encourage everyone to discuss with your family how you can be prepared for an emergency and more importantly, how to help prevent one from happening in the first place.

10/02/2026

We are proud to announce our new Fire Chief, Alex Newman.

Chief Newman has been with the department for nearly 16 years. Over the last 9 years, he has been an officer of the department. He has overseen recruiting and training members, played a role in public relations, and fire prevention for our community. He is an active member with the Barry County Chiefs Association, working alongside other leaders in the county to ensure emergency services for the county to continue to grow and improve!

We are excited to see where his leadership will take the department, and we are honored to serve alongside him.

Congratulations on your promotion, Chief Newman!

09/14/2026

09/12/2026

Today is the day! Come Congratulate Donnie on his retirement and wish him well! Open to the public from 1:00pm to 3:00 pm!

Chief Donnie Chadd is set to retire from the Exeter Fire Protection District on September 11, 2026, after 40 years of dedicated service to the department and the communities it serves. While Donnie has held many responsibilities and titles throughout the years, he was always a leader, mentor, brother, and friend first.

When Donnie first started, the department operated out of a small, two-bay station with a half-dirt floor. The fleet was minimal, outdated, and not always reliable. Gear was sparse and in poor condition. He played a significant role in the forward progress and development of the department, leading it to where it is today.
While we will miss him greatly, we hope he enjoys a well-deserved retirement with his wife, kids, and grandkids. We deeply appreciate the sacrifices his family has made over the years as he dedicated his time to us and the community.

Retirement Celebration Details:
* Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
* Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
* Location: Exeter Fire Station, 401 East Commercial Street, Exeter, MO 65647
This event is open to the public. Please stop by and wish Chief Chadd well, and share some memories!

09/11/2026

Exeter First Responders in 1998
Brad Porter, Donnie Chadd, David Newman, Kevin Packwood, Diane Bowman, Kim Pendergraft, Kenny Newman, Kenny Stringer, Jim Matthew

09/05/2026

Today is the day we collect money for Children's Miracle Network! 100% of the donations go straight to the children! Every penny helps and we appreciate everyone that stops by to help! We are thankful for our members willing to stand out in the heat and to support a great program!

09/03/2026

08/28/2026

The Exeter Fire Protection District has implemented a burn ban for our district until further notice. Conditions have deteriorated to an extreme level due to lack of moisture, so we are asking district patrons to not do any intentional burning! Thank you for your understanding.

08/24/2026

We are looking for people that are dedicated and willing to help their neighbors in times of need! The Exeter Fire Protection District responds to several different types of emergencies including medical emergencies, traffic accidents, weather related incidents, and any type of fire incidents.
We are active in community risk reduction and outreach as well, with a free smoke alarm installation program, and fire prevention programs!

If any of this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, please reach out to us to find out more!