The Fire Department, established in 1867, operates two stations in the City: Fire Station #1, the main facility, is located immediately west of City Hall at 221 West Ash Street. Fire Station #2 is located at 615 Curtis Street toward the north end of town. Station #1 is a new facility, dedicated in November of 1998, and rededicated and renamed to the James M. Pelton Fire Station #1 in July of 2002, after the tragic death of our Fire Chief Jim Pelton in on August 10, 2001. Station #1 has a total of 12,403 square feet on three floors, including 6,400 square feet of apparatus bay area.

The department is staffed by one full time chief, along with a volunteer staff consisting of one assistant chief, one captain, and two lieutenants comprising a total of 30 firefighters. The service area includes all of the city plus Vevay Township and Aurelius Township. The department also has mutual aid agreements in place with virtually all departments in Ingham County, including the City of Lansing Fire Department.

The department maintains a fleet of 8 main units, including the new ladder/ platform truck, Tower 808 with a reach of over 100 feet. A regional resource, as well as various pumper units and a fire safety trailer. The department handled 152 runs in 2001; it has ranged between 124 and 172 runs over the past six years.