The David Crockett Steam Fire Company Number 1, established in 1841, is the Oldest Continuously Active Volunteer Fire Company in the United States. We respond within the incorporated City of Gretna, Louisiana to protect lives and property. We operate five engines, one rescue, one hose tender, one ladder, one reserve ladder, one rescue boat and three ATVs out of four stations. The City of Gretna, which is the seat of Jefferson Parish, is located directly across the Mississippi River from the City of New Orleans. The West Bank of New Orleans borders to the east and unincorporated Jefferson parish borders the city to the west. Within the four square miles of old established residential neighborhoods are a mix of businesses, a historic district, the governmental complex which consists of the Parish Administration building, Parish Courts, State Courts, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, District Attorney’s office, as well as Gretna City Hall and the prison for Jefferson Parish. The city is also transverse with state highways, rail lines, rail storage yards, fuel manufacturing and distribution facilities along the Mississippi River. This mix of business, community and transportation within the City of Gretna requires this volunteer fire company to provide big city response to incidents. In 2015, the department responded to 310 Fire, Rescue, Public Assistance and Mutual Aid re-quests. The department is a combination of 18 paid and 157 volunteer firefighters. Of the 157 Volunteers, 50 are Life Active, 11 are Life Honorary, 33 are Active, 28 are Honorary Active, 5 are Honorary, and 30 are Associate. David Crockett has a Junior Firefighter program for teenagers wanting to learn about firefighting. Presently there are 11 Junior Firefighters with a number of those turning 18 years old and applying for membership into the Department within the next year. Our response area which has a population of 16,518 enjoys a class 2 fire rating which allows our citizens a sizable discount on fire insurance.
