1922
The beginning of over 100 years of service.
Early records show that the original fire department was an independent department of firefighters, backed up and supported by 125 stockholders living within a radius of about 8 miles. This independent company’s first President was Mr. George Dickson and the first Fire Chief was Mr. Dick Houck. The first piece of equipment was a model “T” Ford truck with chemical equipment on it. Many fire calls were answered by this fire department, but the records are sketchy and incomplete. They evidently started in 1922 as the first call on record was on January 27th of that year at the A.P. Hill Store. One tank of chemicals was used. Some years later they purchased a Reo Speedwagon truck with a chemical unit. This truck also answered a good many rural calls. Sometime later, a front-mount pump was added to this truck to pump water.
1930s
On March 17, 1936, this rural area – excluding the City of Yorkville – became the Bristol Kendall Fire Protection District. This Fire Protection District is tax supported and consists of Bristol and Kendall townships and some additional territory. It is one of the oldest fire protection districts in the State of Illinois and all property owners within its boundaries pay taxes to support it.
The first trustees for the Fire Protection District were Mr. August F. Corneils, President, Mr. Grant Nesbitt and Mr. Tom Penman. Since then Mr. John Ament, Mr. Earl Hasemeyer, Mr. Simon Dickson, Mr. John E. Stewart, Dr. Dean Schlapp, Mr. Vernon Ament, Mr. Robert Johnston, Mr. Robert Schwartz, Mr. Louis Thurow, Mr. Robert Fisher and Mr. Kory Elleby have held positions as trustees. The present board is Mr. Richard Dickson, President, Mr. David Stewart, Secretary, Dr. Gary Schlapp, Treasurer, Ms. Phyllis (Johnston) Yabsley and Mr. James McCarty.
Early records of the district are also sketchy, but in 1939 the district purchased an International truck with a 500 gallon per minute, mid-ship pump and a 350 gallon tank. All of these years the department operated out of the garage at Mr. Bert Almay’s residence on West Main and King Streets.
1940s
In 1946 the department moved to East Hydraulic Avenue. That same year, a new 1946 International truck was purchased. It had a 500 gallon per minute pump and a 1,000 gallon water tank.
In May of 1946, the City of Yorkville voted to join the Bristol Kendall Fire Protection District. At this time, the members of the old Yorkville Fire Department joined the Bristol Kendall Fire Protection District. With the addition of the City of Yorkville, the Fire Protection District now protects approximately 81 square miles in the center of Kendall County. Also in 1946, Chief Houck resigned as Fire Chief after serving as Chief for 24 years. Other members to serve as Chief are Mr. Win Pricket, Mr. Ralph Blake, Mr. Russel Devick, and Mr. Larry Bretthauer. The current Fire Chief is James M. Bateman. In 1948 the Kendall County Fireman’s Association was formed to provide mutual aid with surrounding departments, mainly Kendall County departments, but had working agreements with Sugar Grove, Sheridan, Morris, Serena and Plainfield.
1950s
In 1950, the first two-way radio was installed in the 1946 International and was on the Sheriff’s radio frequency. Mr. Wm. Hayden was the sheriff at that time and handled the fire department telephone calls and radio traffic. This was one of the first departments in this part of the country to use two-way radios. A base station was soon purchased and was assigned a frequency to be used as a fire band. A short time later, tone alerting receivers were purchased for each fireman to summon him when a fire was reported. These receivers, in most cases, were kept at the firemen’s homes.
n 1952, the Fire Protection District moved from its location on East Hydraulic Avenue to a building built to be a fire station at the corner of Bridge Street (Rt. 47) and Fox Street. In 1955, an American LaFrance pumper was purchased with a 750 gallon per minute pump and a 750 gallon water tank. This pumper was the first custom pumper purchased in the area. Also in 1955, the Senior Girl Scout Troup #56 came to the firemen requesting them to sponsor a Fourth of July celebration in Yorkville. The firemen agreed to do so if the Girl Scouts would collect money to buy fireworks. Over the years, other organizations have helped to make a safe and happy celebration. This celebration continues to be a unique feature for Yorkville.
1960s
1970s
1980s
In 1981, the Fire District asked the residents of the Fire Protection District to pass a referendum to support a fire district based EMS service. For many years it functioned very closely with the fire department but as a separate organization. In June of 2000 the two organizations combined into one organization. In 1981 when the EMS service was formed the District purchased the building at 1203 North Bridge Street. This building was home for the EMS service and also served as a second station for the fire department.
1990s
2000s
Into the 21st Century
In 2005, the station at 1203 Bridge Street was sold and a new station was built at 2101 McHugh Street. This station houses both fire and EMS equipment and is known as Station 2. That same year part-time firefighters were added to staff a fire engine to cover shifts from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. This helped provide protection while other members worked their regular jobs. Six additional full time personnel were hired on the contract to staff a second medic unit. The district also purchased it’s first aerial truck, a Pierce 105’ tower ladder.
In 2006 the Fire Chief’s position became a full time position as the district continued to see growth.
In 2007 the fire district found itself in the center of the fastest growing county in the nation and a new station was built at 4400 Rosenwinkle Street. This station houses both fire and EMS equipment and is known as Station 3. Additional personnel were hired bringing the staffed vehicles up to two engines and three medic units.
In 2008 a training facility was built at station 1 out of shipping containers. The facility was jointly funded by the Fire District, Bristol Kendall Firefighter’s Association, and a generous donation from a resident of the fire district.
2010s
2020s