In the fall of 1939 when only a few families were settled in Palos Hills, the buildings were constantly threatened by prairie fires.  The residents formed a group, the North Palos Firemen's Club, to work on this menace.  The problem was to provide an alarm system within reach of everyone.  In 1940 it was suggested that large brake drums be hung on posts on every other corner.  107th Street had 4, 106th Street had 5, 105th Street had 4 and 100th Street had 4.  When an alarm was sounded, every man available would respond with wet burlap bag flaps or whatever else that could be used.  If it was a house fire, someone would go to the nearest phone to call a fire department, which would get to the scene after the house had burned to the ground. 

A few years later, when the community built up, the North Palos Township Improvement Organization was formed.  And in 1946 they voted to form the North Palos Volunteer Fire Department.  On January 26, 1947, the Firemen's Club held their first meeting to set up the By-Laws with 17 volunteers each agreeing to purchase their own fireman hat and badge.  Charles Morgan was voted as the first Fire Chief.

Fireman George Boerema offered up the use of a vacant lot located across the street from the present firehouse on Roberts Rd. and provided the building materials for the first fire station. Members of the fire department furnished all the construction labor. The first fire station was completed in 60 days. It housed the first piece of fire equipment. The Firemen's Club hosted dances and other benefit affairs and made it possible to purchase a new piece of firefighting equipment.

 In 1947, Truck #1 a 1947 Chevrolet 500 GPM Class A Pumper was purchased for $7,097.39 and was placed into immediate service.

By the end of the 1940's, a second story was added to accomidate the needs of the fire department as the community grew. In 1950 the fire department responded to 31 calls and Fred Lange succeeded Charles Morgan as Fire Chief.

                                                     (Pictured L to R; Firemen Art Johnson, Ted Messlein, Bob Stanton, Captain Hal Carlson, Fireman Bill Sichta, Fire Chief Fred Lange)

The District Grows

On January 9th, 1952, due to the growth of the community, a referendum was passed by a large margin to form the North Palos Fire Protection District. A bond issue for $60, 000 for a new fire station and fire truck was approved. But due to a boundry dispute the bond was held until 1954.

                                                                                          (Ground Breaking Ceromony for the new fire house, 1954. Chief Lange breaks ground.)

On April 3rd, 1955, The North Palos Fire Protection District opened the doors to the new fire house with a new FWD High Pressure Fire Pumper (Fire Truck #2) with an 750 gallon tank capacity. The North Palos Volunteer Fire Department had presented the North Palos Fire Protection District with Fire Truck #1. This gave the new fire district 2 fire apparatus with a total water capacity of 1250 gallons. Future plans included the addition of a 1500 gallon tanker to carry a water reserve to the scene when needed.

                                                                                                                                                     (Open House 1955)

                                                                                                                                                           (1954 FWD Pumper)

(Pictured are L to R; Firemen Bob Hoff, Bill Perry. The middle building pictured was the first fire house)

Soon after the opening of the new fire station, Fred Lange resigned as the fire chief. Assistant Chief Hal Carlson who was very active with the fire department became the new Fire Chief. Chief Carlson would remain Fire Chief until 1969.

The 1960's brought about a progerssive fire district with 3 pieces of apparatus and 33 volunteers. A Bell Alarm System was installed in all the volunteer's homes for notifacation when a call came in. The very first Seal Drive, a mailing requesting donations, went out in November of 1963. The lot adjacent to the fire house was purchased in 1966. In 1967,  the firemen began recieving $1.00 per call making the North Palos Fire Protection District a paid on call department. Walls were removed to add 3 new bays to the fire house. The first ambulance was purchased in 1968 And in September 1969, John Roe, Sr. became Fire Chief. 

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