The Marshall Fire Department can trace its beginning back to the formation of the Salamander Volunteer Fire Company, chartered on December 1, 1871.
Volunteer Members
It began with 57 chartered volunteer members. By 1876, there were three more volunteer fire companies, the Stonewall, the Red Star, and the 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.
Paid Members
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.