Cedar Park Fire Department celebrates 50th anniversary

The Cedar Park Fire Department is celebrating its 50th anniversary May 5.

In May 1952, a small group of volunteer firefighters established the Cedar Park Fire Department, starting off with only one fire truck. During this time, the city of Cedar Park had a population of roughly 700 people and no dispatch system, just a siren on top of a store, a press release said.

“I just want to thank the original members and all of the members who make us who we are today,” Chief James Mallinger said in the press release. “Their excellence and their professionalism started this organization, and that’s something that I strive to continue every single day.”

Today, with 88 sworn firefighters, the Cedar Park Fire Department is an internationally accredited and an ISO-1 rated—also referenced as a Public Protection Classification or fire score—career department. The five fire stations in Cedar Park are staffed all year, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

“We’ve been named one of the safest cities to live in, and I agree with that, 100%,” Assistant Chief Adam Story said in the press release. “We have, I think, not only one of the best fire departments in the country; we have a fantastic Police Department and just city services as a whole.”

Cedar Park City Council honored the fire department’s 50th anniversary at its meeting April 28.

“I just wanted to offer my heartfelt thanks to the fire department and all those that lay the groundwork for the wonderful department that we have today, and all those that put on the uniform today that make us so proud,” Council Member Eric Boyce said in the April 28 meeting.