The Bayou Cane Fire Protection District is an independent political subdivision of the State of Louisiana. The purpose of the district is to provide for the fire, emergency medical, and other emergency response needs of the over 37,000 people living within its boundaries. Those boundaries cover over 34 square miles.

The Bayou Cane Fire Department is a career fire department with 46 employees, and a Class 3 fire rating. The department operates 3 Aerials, 1 Ladder, 2 Engines, and 2 service units out of 4 stations.

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The district is supported solely by taxes that the citizens of the district have voted to support. The district receives no general fund support from Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, the City of Houma, or the State of Louisiana. The district is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, who are appointed by the Terrebonne Parish Council. Our Fire Chief, Kenneth P. Himel, Jr., reports to this Board of Commissioners.

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Our citizens reside in numerous well-established, as well as rapidly developing, suburban residential areas. The district is also home to many major commercial, medical, and industrial facilities.

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The Bayou Cane Fire Department began in the spring of 1962, a group of men from the Broadmoor area decided that fire protection was slim and barely protected by the City of Houma Fire Department. They began working Bingo games at the Jolly Inn on Barrow Street. Bingo was considered a huge way of raising money to fund what was going to, someday, be a well-operating fire department.

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After the first year passed, seventeen charter members filed for an Article of Corporation. On February 15, 1963 at 9:27 AM, the “Bayou Cane Volunteer Fire Department” was born. Excited and determined to be a new fire department, the members pressed on to raise money for a fire truck and a place to house it.

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Membership continued to grow, and the department went from 17 charter members to just over 200 members - all from the Broadmoor area. Without a fire truck, they decided they needed a fast track to raise $5,000.00 for a down payment. So, they decided to go out and find new members. Membership dues were $5 per person. Within weeks, over 500 men and women joined Bayou Cane Volunteer Fire Department. With membership dues and Bingo, they finally had a down payment for their first fire truck.

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In the fall of 1964, Bayou Cane owned its very first fire engine. A red 1964 International with a 250-gallon water tank and a 1000 GPM Darley Pump. Fifty-two years later, this department has grown from volunteer, to a combination department, and now is fully staffed by professionally trained firemen.

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Over the span of a few decades, the Bayou Cane Fire Department has grown with the area, due to the continued support of its citizens. In addition to emergency response, the department provides a full array of services including inspections, public education programs, and a variety of community outreach activities. The portion of Terrebonne Parish it serves is one of the most economically vibrant areas of the state as well as a desirable place to live. 

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It is an honor and privilege for the Bayou Cane Fire Department to #ProtectBayouCane.