Fire
Fire Chief's Welcome
Hello. As the Village’s Fire Chief, it is an honor and privilege to serve our wonderful community and it’s residents. I have been blessed to help lead a Department of great and dedicated individuals since 2001, and lucky to be part of a great Village management team. Our Fire Department is steeped in history and rich with pride, and over the last 125 years has evolved into a full-service fire department. We provide responses to a wide variety of emergencies, including medical, fire, rescue, hazardous materials and others. We also provide various forms of public education programs such as fire safety presentations for both children and adults, and CPR/AED training. We sincerely hope you never need us in an emergency, but if you do, know that we will be there for you, with a focus on Excellence, Compassion, Courage, Integrity, and Purpose.
Organization
Our Fire Department operates out of two fire stations, staffed by full-time contract paramedic/firefighters and part-time/paid-on-call firefighters. We take great pride in our membership, and the level of service all of our personnel provide, especially the dedication provided by our POC firefighters serving our community at all hours of the day and night. We also have a robust automatic-aid and mutual-aid system, where we work with neighboring fire departments in both receiving and giving help regularly when needed.
Our Mission Statement
The Village of La Grange Park Fire Department is a combination fire department, staffed predominantly by dedicated paid-on-call personnel, along with contracted full-time personnel. Our primary responsibility is to protect the public from the effects of illness, injury, fire and disaster. This is accomplished through educating the public on fire prevention, injury prevention, and health risks, conducting effective code enforcement and by providing excellent and efficient emergency response. Personnel are committed to being well trained and prepared for all emergencies, while maintaining the spirit of volunteerism. We are ever focused on the needs of those we serve, while conducting ourselves at the highest level of moral and ethical standards.
La Grange Park Fire Department History
The Village formally established the Fire Department on February 8, 1900 with Alphonso Kemman named as the first Fire Chief. Prior to 1900, farmhands of Alphonso Kemman provided fire protection to the area, as the La Grange Park Fire Company #1 and operated out of the farm’s barn. A total of nine Fire Chiefs have served the department through throughout the history of our department.
The first Fire Hall was built in 1901 to house the hose cart and fire bell that alerted the volunteers when rung. This was located at 447 N. Catherine Ave., which is the same location as the two proceeding stations and the current fire station #1 built in 1976. Station #2, located at 1010 E. 31st St. was built in 1959 to protect the east of the IHB Railroad.
The first Motorized Fire Apparatus, an REO Speedwagon, was delivered in 1924. A total of 14 different motorized Fire Apparatus have served the Village so far throughout the years including 8 Engines, 3 Ladder Trucks, and 3 Rescue Squads.
The History of the La Grange Park Fire Department has been well preserved through logbooks documents, and photographs. We welcome you to follow our History Facebook Page.
Want to Join Our Team?
The Fire Department is looking for dedicated men and women in and near La Grange Park to join our team! To learn more about becoming a part-time, paid-on-call Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician, fill out the form below or send an email to fdrecruitment@lagrangepark.org.
Fire Department Recruitment Interest Form