The Marshall Fire Department can trace its beginnings back to the formation of the Salamander Volunteer Fire Company chartered on December 1, 1871 with 57 volunteer members. By 1876, there were three more volunteer fire companies: Stonewall, Red Star, and Texas and Pacific Fire Company.
On June 1, 1876, all four volunteer fire departments signed a pact to join together to protect the citizens of the City of Marshall. Around 1910, the City of Marshall formed a paid fire department and appointed Sid Coleman as its first fire chief. Paid drivers would bring firefighting equipment to the fire scenes and would be met by the fire chief and volunteers.
