Glen Carbon
Illinois
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Glen Carbon Fire Department
History:
The Glen Carbon Fire Department was organized on July 21, 1901 as the Glen Carbon Chemical Fire Company No 1. The department, housed in the Old Village located atop the hill at the corner of School Street and Summit Avenue, consisted of 22 members and a handcart with 600 feet of 2-1/2 inch hose. The location of the building was ideal as it was located on one of the highest points in Glen Carbon allowing the bell, located on top of the building and used to alert the firemen, to be heard for miles.
In 1921 the department purchased its first mechanized truck, a Ford Model-T pumper with 500 feet of hose. In 1941 the department was able to update this first equipment with a Dodge truck pumper purchased from the Central Fire Truck Company. Now long removed from service, Fire Safety, Inc. Located in Wood River, Illinois, purchased the truck in 1985. The truck is still available today for the fire department to use for special events.
In 1956 the department reorganized as the Glen Carbon Fire Protection District. Bernard Birger, Nick Hamilos and Albert Miller were appointed as the first trustees. That same year land was purchased on Main Street near the site of the "old" village ball diamond. A new firehouse (Station 1) was built and occupied by the Glen Carbon Volunteer Fire Department, now Company No. 2.
With the population and needs of the fire protection district steadily growing, so also were the department's equipment and services. In 1957 a new GMC 750 g.p.m. truck was purchased. In 1967, to aid in fighting brush and grass fires, a Ford 750 g.p.m. front-mount pumper was added to the fleet bringing the number of on-line pumpers to three. Recognizing the need to meet the challenges of the future, the department expanded its rescue service with the addition of a new 1971 Dodge rescue truck. This truck replaced a used ambulance that the department had received from the Weber Funeral Home and used as a rescue vehicle for many years. In 1975 a new Ford 750 g.p.m. pumper was purchased and placed in service in 1976, replacing the retired 1941 Dodge. This was the department's first diesel powered apparatus.
With the growth of Glen Carbon and the development of the Cottonwood area, it became apparent that a second engine house was needed to meet the demands of this growth. In 1981 property owned by Farm Service on Glen Carbon Road near the intersection of Route 159 was purchased and the building was converted to serve as Station 2. The original building has now been removed and a new Station 2 constructed. This new 3-bay station has been designed and built to meet the long-term needs of the department and includes some of the latest in electronic technology.
At the present time, equipment operated by the department includes a 1982 Ford 750 g.p.m. pumper, a 1987 Chevrolet medium-duty rescue truck, a 1993 1000 g.p.m. E-One pumper, a 1991 4-wheel drive Ford fire/rescue truck equipped with a 250 g.p.m. slid-in pump and a 1998 E-One 75 foot aerial truck. All of the pumpers are classified "Class A" pumpers. Each rescue truck carries the latest in rescue equipment including a Hurst Tool (The Jaws of Life).
In January 2001, the department was notified that its ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating had successfully been lowered from 6 to 4 as a result of an earlier inspection of equipment and operation. This marked a significant accomplishment for an all volunteer fire department.
Currently the department consists of 36 members including 4 Paramedics, 1 Intermediate EMT and 13 Basic EMT's. Our rescue service presently operates at an Intermediate Life Support (ILS) level. It is anticipated that this level of service will be upgraded to an Advanced Life Support (ALS) level by midsummer.
The Glen Carbon Fire Department was organized on July 21, 1901 as the Glen Carbon Chemical Fire Company No 1. The department, housed in the Old Village located atop the hill at the corner of School Street and Summit Avenue, consisted of 22 members and a handcart with 600 feet of 2-1/2 inch hose. The location of the building was ideal as it was located on one of the highest points in Glen Carbon allowing the bell, located on top of the building and used to alert the firemen, to be heard for miles.
In 1921 the department purchased its first mechanized truck, a Ford Model-T pumper with 500 feet of hose. In 1941 the department was able to update this first equipment with a Dodge truck pumper purchased from the Central Fire Truck Company. Now long removed from service, Fire Safety, Inc. Located in Wood River, Illinois, purchased the truck in 1985. The truck is still available today for the fire department to use for special events.
In 1956 the department reorganized as the Glen Carbon Fire Protection District. Bernard Birger, Nick Hamilos and Albert Miller were appointed as the first trustees. That same year land was purchased on Main Street near the site of the "old" village ball diamond. A new firehouse (Station 1) was built and occupied by the Glen Carbon Volunteer Fire Department, now Company No. 2.
With the population and needs of the fire protection district steadily growing, so also were the department's equipment and services. In 1957 a new GMC 750 g.p.m. truck was purchased. In 1967, to aid in fighting brush and grass fires, a Ford 750 g.p.m. front-mount pumper was added to the fleet bringing the number of on-line pumpers to three. Recognizing the need to meet the challenges of the future, the department expanded its rescue service with the addition of a new 1971 Dodge rescue truck. This truck replaced a used ambulance that the department had received from the Weber Funeral Home and used as a rescue vehicle for many years. In 1975 a new Ford 750 g.p.m. pumper was purchased and placed in service in 1976, replacing the retired 1941 Dodge. This was the department's first diesel powered apparatus.
With the growth of Glen Carbon and the development of the Cottonwood area, it became apparent that a second engine house was needed to meet the demands of this growth. In 1981 property owned by Farm Service on Glen Carbon Road near the intersection of Route 159 was purchased and the building was converted to serve as Station 2. The original building has now been removed and a new Station 2 constructed. This new 3-bay station has been designed and built to meet the long-term needs of the department and includes some of the latest in electronic technology.
At the present time, equipment operated by the department includes a 1982 Ford 750 g.p.m. pumper, a 1987 Chevrolet medium-duty rescue truck, a 1993 1000 g.p.m. E-One pumper, a 1991 4-wheel drive Ford fire/rescue truck equipped with a 250 g.p.m. slid-in pump and a 1998 E-One 75 foot aerial truck. All of the pumpers are classified "Class A" pumpers. Each rescue truck carries the latest in rescue equipment including a Hurst Tool (The Jaws of Life).
In January 2001, the department was notified that its ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating had successfully been lowered from 6 to 4 as a result of an earlier inspection of equipment and operation. This marked a significant accomplishment for an all volunteer fire department.
Currently the department consists of 36 members including 4 Paramedics, 1 Intermediate EMT and 13 Basic EMT's. Our rescue service presently operates at an Intermediate Life Support (ILS) level. It is anticipated that this level of service will be upgraded to an Advanced Life Support (ALS) level by midsummer.