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JEFFERSON CITY -- The Jefferson City Fire Department is celebrating 100-years this year and they kicked off their year long birthday celebration Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters hung flags on light poles downtown to not only mark their centennial anniversary but also the 101st anniversary of the fire which burnt down the capitol building.

At that time, the city only had volunteer firefighters.

As a result, a little more than a year later, on October 7, 1912 firefighting became a paid profession in the Capital City.  

Jefferson City Fire Department Captain Tim Young said the flags are a way of showing the department’s dedication to the city.

"They’re simply to let the community know as they drive by daily that our fire department has been here for 100 years serving the city,” Young said.  “That's what they flags will represent, as the public drives by daily, they'll remind them that the fire department has been here on the job for 100 years and are going to continue to be here."

Since the Jefferson City Fire Department is a city entity and couldn't use its own funds, local businesses and organizations raised money for the flags downtown. Jefferson City businessman, Sam Bushman was in charge of the effort.

Jefferson City businessman, Sam Bushman was in charge of the effort.

"We’re trying to kind of honor the fire department on their 100th anniversary,” Bushman said.  “We’ve come a long way since 1911 and it really is our history."

On Monday, a Jefferson City firefighter will deliver one of the flags to their sister station in St. Charles to honor a firefighter who died Wednesday in his bed at their fire station.