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JEFFERSON CITY - The Jefferson City Fire Department celebrated a century of service Sunday by hanging flags along High St. in Jefferson City to begin the centennial celebration.

"It's a very proud feeling that we've served the community for 100 years," said Jefferson City Fire Department Captain Tim Young. "It's been a very good 100 years. The fire department has been a part of the city's growth and a very big part of its history."

Firefighters began at the original fire department - on the corner of High and Monroe streets - and continued hanging flags in front of the Capitol building.

Before 1912, volunteer firefighters served the city--and two state capitol buildings burned to the ground. After the state capitol building fire on Feb. 5, 1911, a statewide election was held that confirmed Jefferson City as the permanent seat of state government and issued $3.5 million in bonds to construct the new capitol building. After the election, the state asked the city if it would update its fire protection and the current Jefferson City Fire Department was born.

The firefighters didn't just hang flags to celebrate their own department Sunday, they put up the flags for the community as well.

"We're hoping the flags will just simply remind the community that we're here. We're here to help and we want the community to feel secure knowing that their fire department is on the job," said Young.

Young said the biggest celebration of the department's centennial will be Saturday Oct. 6, just before fire prevention week. The department will celebrate with a parade and a fire engine rally at the state capitol.