On March 29, 1888 the town board made the decision to organize a “fire department” within the boundary lines of Rensselaer, IN.  The first piece of fire equipment purchased was a Lindgren fire extinguisher and the first recorded alarm occurred on April 27, 1888 which was a barn fire located about seven blocks away.  On May 31, 1888 the engine house was built, and it doubled as the town hall.

In 1896 the Rensselaer Volunteer Fire Department was officially formed, which makes us one of the oldest continually operating volunteer fire departments in the state of Indiana.  E. M. Parcels was the first fire chief, and fire alarms were sounded by the whistle at the electric generating plant.  Each fire plug was numbered and the whistle would use a series of short blasts to indicate the closest plug to the vicinity of the fire.  The first motorized piece apparatus used by the department is an American LaFrance pumper purchased in 1920.  This truck was completely restored and is still owned by the department members; it is used in parades as a piece of history for Rensselaer.

As the original fire department was organized by the city of Rensselaer, apparatus was not allowed to be used outside the city limits.  In 1946 after the old Marion Township School burned, the Marion Township Trustee and advisory board purchased a piece of fire apparatus for use in the township rural area.  In 1947 an agreement was reached with the city to house the apparatus at the city fire station and the members of the city fire department were to man it. 

In the 1950's, the Rensselaer Fire Department officially combined services with the Marion Township Fire Department to provide more efficient coverage for all residents. In 1976 a new station was built and all city of Rensselaer and Marion Township fire fighting equipment is housed in the fire station located at the corner of Harrison and Cullen Streets, across from the courthouse square.

In 2003, The City of Rensselaer Fire Department joined with the other fire departments in Jasper County, to form the Jasper County Firefighters Association. This association was formed so that all of the departments could work more closely together to provide better coverage to all of Jasper County.

In 2005 this association, with the generous financial support of businesses and individuals, purchased a "state of the art" fire and severe weather safety trailer. This trailer contains all of the necessary functionality to simulate a fire, as well as severe weather conditions, in a controlled atmosphere.  Used as various functions throughout Jasper County, this trailer provides a valuable means for training both children and adults alike.