The New Melle Fire Protection District has served the community for 75
years, beginning as an all-volunteer fire department. Today, the
district protects approximately 121 square miles across western St.
Charles County and a portion of eastern Warren County, including the
Lake Sherwood community. It is the largest fire protection district
geographically in St. Charles County.

The district operates from three fire stations:

Station 1: 45 Foristell Road, Wentzville, Missouri
Station 2: 3719 Highway D, Defiance, Missouri
Station 3: 295 Borgmann Road, Lake Sherwood, Missouri

New Melle FPD currently employs 21 full-time firefighter/paramedics,
one battalion chief, one assistant fire chief, and one fire chief.
These career personnel are supported by 12 active volunteer members.
Voters approved a tax increase on April 8, 2003, allowing the district
to establish 24-hour staffing at Station 1 beginning January 5, 2004.
In February 2026, the district expanded its career staffing model to
provide continuous 24-hour coverage from both Stations 1 and 2.
Station 3 continues to be supported primarily by volunteer personnel
serving the Lake Sherwood area.

The district has provided advanced life support first-response service
since September 2021. Personnel are trained and equipped to respond to
structure and wildland fires, emergency medical incidents, motor
vehicle crashes, hazardous-materials emergencies, technical rescues,
and water-rescue incidents. Because much of the district does not have
access to a municipal water system, the department maintains
specialized equipment and capabilities for rural water-supply
operations.

The district’s emergency-response fleet includes two frontline rescue
pumpers, a 107-foot aerial ladder truck, two reserve rescue pumpers,
two tankers, three brush trucks, two rescue boats, one utility terrain
vehicle, and three staff vehicles. New Melle FPD responded to 877
calls for service in 2025 and now handles approximately 900 emergencies
incidents annually.