In the early 1900s, Kansas City, Kansas fire chief John McNary had a problem. The city’s population was increasing and expanding westward, and his department was struggling to meet the growing demands on his firefighters and equipment.

After the chief presented his request several times in vain to the city council, the annexation of Rosedale in 1923 finally convinced them to finance a new station on the western edge of the city. The new station was built in the Kensington Park neighborhood at 31st and State Avenue — at a cost of $21,891 — along with new equipment and firefighters to man it.

KCK’s current fire chief, Dennis Rubin, has some of the same challenges today as the venerable Fire Station Number 11 celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The chief, along with Mayor Tyrone Garner, members of the Unified Government commission, and firefighters from across the city, gathered in front of the station to celebrate the history and the present-day successes of the KCKFD.

The mayor read a proclamation designating Nov. 23 Fire Station 11 Day, and talked about how well KCKFD paramedics had treated him in a medical emergency, even without recognizing him.

“I can’t say that I’d be one willing to run into a burning building,” said Garner, himself a former policeman, “but we appreciate those individuals that go right into those threats because they’re committed to not only preserving but saving lives.”

Commissioner Andrew Davis talked about the stewardship of civic resources the station represents.

“I think about something like a structure that has been able to stand for a hundred years,” said the District 8 commissioner. “That takes perseverance, that takes expertise, that takes generations of high quality leadership to say we are going to take care of what the taxpayers have entrusted to us.”

After the presentations from the podium, there was plenty of action around the station, including rides on a vintage fire engine, tours of the station, and a kids’ firefighter challenge.

According to department historian Derek Kemp, the station, under captains William George and Archie Clark, answered its first call on Nov. 2, 1924, a three-alarm blaze at 939 Minnesota Ave. The crew contained the fire and prevented damage to surrounding businesses.

Even on the morning of the celebration, the station was in action, responding to a fire that started from a resident starting a grill with gasoline. The firefighters’ response prevented injury and any further damage.

As in 1924, the city continues to grow and expand westward, and getting the resources to cover new territories, while protecting the existing neighborhoods, isn’t easy. The department covers an average of 110 calls per day, over two-thirds of them for medical emergencies.

Like Chief McNary before him, Chief Rubin has laid out his request to the city leaders, but times and the city being more complicated than 1924, the price tag has increased.

$200 million, perhaps through a bond issue, would replace four fire stations, renovate eight others, renew the department’s aging fleet of ambulances and fire equipment, and increasing staffing to meet national standards.