On May 10th 1952 representatives of the Village of Maybee, London and Raisinville Townships signed an agreement formally establishing the London Maybee Raisinville Volunteer Fire Department. The newly established department replaced the Maybee Volunteer Fire Company No.1, which was established on January 17th 1901, and has been from that day forward forever known as LMR.

The history of fire protection in the Maybee area actually goes back to January 17, 1901 when the Maybee Volunteer Fire Company No.1 was organized. The early history is sketchy at best and not much was documented prior to 1952. No attempt is made here to cover the period prior to 1952. What follows only details the history of the London Maybee Raisinville Volunteer Fire Department.

The townships of London, Raisinville and Exeter along with the Village of Maybee entered into talks covering fire protection at a special meeting held on July 5, 1951. The meeting stemmed from a decision by the Village of Maybee to restrict it's firefighting equipment to the village limits only. Maybee formally serviced all three townships and the withdrawal of it's equipment from those areas prompted the meeting and discussions. Maybee's decision to restrict it's equipment was based on the age and condition of the equipment and the fact that they did not have sufficient funds to purchase new equipment.

At that time Raisinville Township contracted with Frenchtown Township, Monroe Township, Ida Township and the Village of Maybee for it's fire protection. Exeter and London Townships contracted with the Village of Maybee.

Talks continued between the four agencies through February 1952 but they were unsuccessful in drawing up an agreement. After a fire at the residence of Henry Stein on Bluebush Rd., in which the Villages truck broke down and departments from Ida and Frenchtown had to be called, citizens demanded action be taken to update the areas fire protection.

Exeter Township felt their voting stake in the proposed four-community fire department was too high. They agreed to provide 50% of the cost but wanted two votes rather than one, in all fire department matters. This difference resulted in a ballot proposal being placed before the Exeter Township voters asking them whether they wanted to sign the proposed agreement or if they wanted to form their own fire department.

At a special election in Exeter Township held on April 14, 1952 voters, on a 277 yes to 77 no vote, authorized the township board to form it's own volunteer fire department. It authorized them to purchase fire equipment and erect a building to house it in Scofield. As a result of this election- representatives of London, Maybee and Raisinville entered into an agreement formally establishing the London Maybee Raisinville Volunteer Fire Department. This agreement was signed on May 10, 1952.

Per the original agreement Raisinville Township would be responsible for 60% of the budget and London Township the remaining 40%. The Village of Maybee's responsibility was to house the equipment and to be responsible for all cost associated with it's housing. This arrangement continued until 2003 when a new station was erected and a new financial agreement drawn up.

A committee headed by Donald Helser was established and directed to contact surrounding fire departments to see what type of equipment was needed for the department. The department was located below the village hall on Raisin St. in the Village of Maybee and inherited a 1938 International pumper from the Maybee Volunteer Fire Company No.1 to start the department.

On May 15 1952 a meeting was held for all interested citizens who wished to join the department. About 60 men attended the meeting and heard form Chief John Rogers and Ed Straub of the Frenchtown Township Fire Department about the operation of a department. Eventually 24 men joined the fire department.

At the May 24th fire board meeting an agreement was signed with the American Marsh Fire Equipment company to supply a tank and pump that would be mounted on a soon-to-be purchased truck chassis. The unit cost $6,220.00. On June 2nd the board agreed to purchase a 1952 Ford F8 Chassis from Whitman Ford in Temperance for $3,489.00 to have the tank and pump mounted on. Total cost for the new truck- $9,709.00. The department took delivery of the new fire truck on October 25th 1952 and held an open house and dedication ceremony on November 1, 1952. Chief Goodnough was also directed to "see that a regulation Ford heater and defroster be installed on the new fire truck".

At the June 2nd meeting the fire board appointed Mr. Harold Goodnough as the departments first fire chief, a position he would go on to hold for 25 years. It also agreed to have the department join the Monroe County Firemen's Association at a cost of $10.00 per year.