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History

The Wheeling Fire Department was founded in 1896, two years after the formal incorporation of the Village of Wheeling.  At the time, most of the buildings and sidewalks in the community were constructed of wood.  Lighting was provided by kerosene lamps and heating was provided by wood or coal burning stoves.

The first fire prevention code of the community dealt with the required method of storing bulk kerosene, as well as the proper method of disposing of coal ash.

The Fire Department began as a volunteer organization under the direction of Fire Chief Christ Uetz, who served until 1898.  In the first few years, the Fire Department provided very basic fire suppression services by forming a bucket brigade.  In 1904, the first piece of fire apparatus was purchased - a hand pulled, manual pumper.  This piece of equipment is currently on display at Fire Station 24 (499 South
Milwaukee Avenue)

From 1896 through 1959, the Fire Department was comprised of all volunteer personnel.  In 1960, the Village began paying each member of the Fire Department one dollar for each call they made and personnel became known as "Paid-on-Call".  In 1969, Bernhardt Koeppen became the first full-time Fire Chief employed by the Village and soon additional full-time personnel were added to meet the growing demands for service.  In 1972, the Fire Department, in conjunction with 5 other area fire departments, joined with Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois to create the nation's first recognized "Paramedic" program.

A new headquarters Fire Station was opened in 1980 at 255 W. Dundee Road.  This station was downsized in 2010 and reopened as Fire Station 42.  A second Fire Station (Fire Station 23) was opened in 1978 to address growth on the west side of the community.  A new headquarters Fire Station 24 opened in August 2010 at 499 S. Milwaukee Avenue to address the distribution of emergency calls within the Community.

Today, the department is comprised of 53 full-time personnel and responds to approximately 4,500 calls for service annually, and protects approximately 10 square miles.