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History
1897 to 1950: The Early Bartlett Fire Years
On Wednesday, December 22, 1897, a group of Bartlett citizens gathered together for the purpose of forming a volunteer fire department. Twenty-six men, all over sixteen years of age, signed the by-laws and the constitution of the new fire department which was drawn up by George Struckman. Mr. A.C. Schick was elected the first fire chief of the department at the first meeting held on January 10, 1898. From that time on, the department functioned well according to records, even though the chief was known to report at meetings, "that the engine was in working order, but leaks worse than ever."
Disbanded
The department continued its operations until the middle of 1901, when it apparently disbanded. It was reorganized on July 11, 1910 with many of the same men as members. This organization appeared to have continued until sometime in 1915, although there are no records documenting this after November 7, 1911. A third and final reorganization of the department came on November 16, 1925. At this time twenty-nine men became members of the department.
A New Department
H.C. Thurnau was elected fire chief of the new department. This group not only functioned as a fire fighting unit, but soon became the center of social activity in the community. Dances and picnics, along with grand and glorious 4th of July celebrations were held. The 4th of July celebration in 1926 had a parade that contained thirty-one floats; there were fireworks, dancing, and games of chance. It was so successful that they quickly planned another picnic in August. This was the forerunner of the former firemen's picnic.
Sometime in 1930, the firemen became movie stars. The Atlas Educational Film Company wanted some shots of the volunteer department in action, so the men gave a demonstration of how it should be done. Unfortunately this film is no longer available. Throughout its existence, the department has always had cordial relations with the village board, realizing that cooperation and understanding were essential to a smooth operating partnership. The department held a special meeting on December 6, 1936. The minutes of this meeting read as follows:
"Meeting called to order by President H.E. Schnadt. Roll call showed twelve members present, none absent, and all members of the village board present. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss with the board members the activities of the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department. The chief addressed the members present and also the board about the duties, requirements, and services necessary to maintain an efficient operation of the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department. The president of the village board gave a short talk expressing the board's appreciation for the manner in which the fire department has maintained an efficient operation and service, and assured the board's cooperation was welcomed at any time. After adjournment, a social evening was had at the Village Hall, refreshments were served, and a good time was had by all."
Building a Community
As a fire department, this group did their usual fine work during this period, and they also played a large part in building the community. The department, along with other civic groups in town, was largely responsible for the formation of present town parks and field house. On April 12, 1948, a special meeting for the fire department was called by Chief Bull. The order of business for this meeting was to discuss purchasing six lots from Mr. H.W. Schnadt to complete the park. Motion was made to buy this land and turn the property over to the village. Mayor Thurnau, who was village president at the time, thanked the fire department for their action and said he was sure the village board and the rest of the people in town would be very thankful for what the department had done.
Much time, work, and money went into building the present field house. At their meeting on July 13, 1948, the department voted to donate their share of the annual firemen's picnic for the purpose of building the field house. At this time, the Rural League also donated their share of the picnic to this worthy cause.
1950 to Today
Positive changes and development took place rapidly over the next 60 years. The following items are short summaries of many of these important milestones:
Date | Event |
---|---|
October 1950 | The first fire department trustees were Art Holtz, Bill Rees, and Tony Whitmer. |
August 1952 | The new fire station was dedicated at 218 South Main Street. |
August 1956 | The department and the village formally joined the Hanover-Wayne Fire Protection District, and a new siren was installed in order to improve the alerting system. |
October 1960 | A complete mobile radio system was installed. |
April 1965 | A rural fire numbering system was established. |
July 1968 | Elmer Hecht was appointed the first full-time employee and fire chief of the Hanover-Wayne Fire Protection District. |
January 1969 | The Village of Streamwood de-annexed from the Fire District to become a municipal fire department. |
January 1971 | The name of the Fire District was officially changed to "Bartlett and Countryside Fire Protection District." |
October 1973 | Moved into the completed Fire Station Number 1 at 234 North Oak Avenue. |
July 1974 | Cadet program for firefighters was established. |
March 1976 | An agreement was drawn up to participate in multi-agency dispatching provided by DuPage County Communications. |
November 1977 | A fire station site on Struckman Boulevard was acquired as a donation from Roy Gottleib. |
April 1980 | An Ambulance Tax Referendum was held and passed by 447 votes. |
May 1980 | An agreement was signed to participate in the Greater Elgin Area Mobile Intensive Care Program and Advanced Life Support Ambulance Service. |
November 1980 | The first contract with Paramedic Services of Illinois was signed to provide the paramedics to staff the advanced life support ambulance. |
August 1986 | The new station at 501 Struckman Boulevard was completed. |
April 1990 | Trustees adopt an ordinance to establish a fire commission. |
September 1990 | Notice published in the newspaper that the Fire District would be accepting applications for a full-time firefighter position and 246 people applied. |
December 1991 | First firefighter eligibility list was established for full-time personnel. |
January 1992 | Seven firefighter candidates start full-time employment. |
January 1994 | Fire Chief Elmer Hecht retires as chief officer of the Fire District. His retirement culminated 42 years of service to the community. |
1994 | Fire Chief Steve Figved replaces Chief Hecht and leads the department until March of 2002. |
January 1995 | The Fire District Trustees vote to increase the size of the board of trustees to five. |
July 1996 | The name of the department changed to "Bartlett Fire Protection District". |
February 1998 | One lieutenant was promoted to captain, and three firefighters were promoted to lieutenant. |
May 2001 | The department launches its first website. |
September 2001 | The September 11 attacks were a series of four coordinated attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States. Close to 3,000 people lost their life this day, including 343 firefighters, |
December 2001 | Kevin Heine was sworn in as assistant fire chief. |
November 2002 | William O'Boyle was appointed fire chief of the District and serves until 2005. |
November 2003 | Lt. William Anderson was promoted to the rank of assistant chief of administration and a firefighter was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. |
2004 | Twelve Bartlett residents complete a very successful Citizens Fire Academy. |
February 2006 | Kevin Heine was appointed the Chief of the Bartlett Fire Protection District. |
April 2006 | Lieutenant David Misner is promoted to assistant chief of operations and a firefighter is promoted to lieutenant. |
November 2006 | A referendum was passed which will provide funding for a 3rd fire station and personnel. |
February 2007 | The Fire District received a communications grant in the amount of $219,000. |
April 2007 | The first six additional firefighters are hired as a result of the successful 2006 referendum. |
May 2007 | Lieutenants Mike Clarke, Ralph DeFreece and David Misner are promoted to the rank of battalion chief and two firefighters are promoted to lieutenant. |
July 2007 | An Intergovernmental Agreement between the District and the Village of Bartlett was signed for the construction of a new fire station. |
September 2007 | Michael Falese is appointed to the position of assistant chief of operations. |
December 2007 | Three firefighters were promoted to lieutenants. |
February 2008 | Two additional firefighters are hired. |
June 2008 | The Bartlett Fire Protection District is awarded a $948,825 SAFER grant for the hiring of nine additional firefighters. |
October 2008 | Fire Station 3, located at 1575 West Bartlett Road, is dedicated and opened for service. Three additional firefighters are hired and three firefighters are promoted to the rank of lieutenant bringing the total number of lieutenants to nine. |
September 2009 | The Fire District hosts the "Pink Heals Tour" and with combined efforts of area residents and local community schools, helped raise $11,000 that is donated to the Alexian Brothers Foundation, to offset costs to local cancer patients. |
March 2010 | Fire Chief Kevin Heine retires after 30 years of service to the Bartlett Fire Protection District. |
June 2010 | Assistant Chief Michael Falese is appointed to the position of fire chief. |
November 2010 | Michael Figolah is appointed to the position of assistant fire chief. |
November 2011 | The District receives the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the year ending December 31, 2010. |
October 2011 | The Fire District receives an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant in the amount of $200,000. |
January 2012 | The District honored the first five full-time 20 year employees; Assistant Chief William Anderson, BC Michael Clarke, BC Ralph DeFreece, BC David Misner, LT Brian Corn |
February 2012 | Assistant Chief William Anderson, one of the District's original full-time firefighters, retires after 20 years of service to the District. |
April 2012 | Michael Kelly was appointed to the position of assistant fire chief. |
July 2012 | Paid-on-Call member Richard Probst retires after 36 years of service to the District. |
August 2012 | The District hosts the Pink Heals Tour and raises nearly $1,000 for women's cancer. |
October 2012 | Fire Chief Michael Falese is elected as President of the Illinois Fire Chief's Association. |
November 2012 | The District receives the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the year that ended December 31, 2011. |
May 2013 | The District receives an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant in the amount of $200,000. |
May 2013 | Construction begins on the fire station 2 remodel. |
June 2013 | Fire Chief Michael Falese is elected President of the Bartlett Rotary Club. |
August 2013 | The District hosts the Pink Heals Tour and raises $5,851 for women's cancer. |
October 2013 | The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance awards Assistant Chief Michael Figolah a "Special Recognition Award" for his 15 years of service on the Fire Safety Alliance Board of Directors. |
November 2013 | Remodel of Fire Station 2 is complete and operations begin again in the fire station. |
December 2013 | The Illinois Fire Chief's Association presents Office Manager Janice Gumprecht the 2013 Administrative Professional of the Year Award. |
February 2014 | The District receives the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the year ended 2012. |
May 2014 | Sherman Hospital recognizes Lieutenant Dana Costa Rica for 35 years of service for Bartlett Fire District as a Paramedic. |
May 2014 | The Illinois Fire Chief's Association presents Fire Chief Michael Falese the 2014 Illinois Fire Chief of the Year Award. |
August 2014 | The Fire District dedicates the Memorial Walkway at Station 1 in honor of members who have served the District including the founding members from the 1800's. The research was a two-year effort led by AC Mike Figolah and Executive Administrative Assistant Colleen Kolber. |
October 2014 | The District receives the GFOA award for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. |
April 2015 | More than 100 people attend a ceremony to honor John Whitmer for his many years of service to the District, as a firefighter, deputy fire chief, commissioner and trustee. |
April 2015 | New York Trade Center steel is dedicated at Fire Station 1 with many residents, past and current fire district members attending. Lt. Richard Wilson drove to New York to pick up one of the more than 1,200 pieces of steel left behind after the World Trade Center buildings collapsed. With the help of AutoTruck of Bartlett, LG Hausys, Gerali Design and The Amish Furniture and Trim Company, the steel is displayed with honor, dignity, and respect. We Will Never Forget. |
June 2015 | The Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts (IAFPD) presents Former Trustee John Whitmer the Trustees' Outstanding Services Award at the 72nd Annual Conference in Peoria. |
July 2015 | The District conducts a 4th of July fireworks safety press conference. |
July 2015 | The District hosts the Pink Heals Tour and raises over $18,000 for local women in need. |
October 2015 | The Fire District receives the GFOA award for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. |
April 2016 | Lt. David Bosse retires from the District after 20 years of service. |
June 2016 | The District hires its first part-time Fire Marshal, Mike Heimbecker. |
October 2016 | The District holds its fourth annual Pink Heals Fest and fourth annual Pink Heals Charity basketball game. The District raises over $27,000 between the two events and net proceeds are distributed to multiple residents within the District. |
October 2016 | The Fire District receives the GFOA award for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015. |
December 2016 | Paid-on-call member Rick Nelson retires after 20 years of service to the District. |
April 2017 | Assistant Chief Mike Figolah retires after 41 years in the fire service. |
April 2017 | William Gabrenya is appointed to the position of Assistant Chief. William started his fire service career in June 1992 as a paid-on-call firefighter with the Bartlett Fire District before being hired full-time by the Village of Palatine in August 1995. |
June 2017 | Paid-on-call member Steve Kapfhammer retires after 23 years of service to the District. |
July 2017 | Lt. Dana Costa Rica retires after 40 years of service with the Bartlett Fire District. |
August 2017 | Bartlett firefighters built upon the success of Pink Heals to create their own 501(c)3 charity, "Ignite The Courage." Over $16,000 is raised during the Bartlett Summer Festival for people in need throughout the Bartlett community. |
September 2017 | Paid-on-call member Bill White retires after 27 years of service to the District. |
October 2017 | The District receives the GFOA award for the 2016 fiscal year end. |
March 2018 | The Fire District passes a referendum. |
April 2018 | Office Manager, Janice Gumprecht, is sworn-in as President of the Illinois Fire Service Administrative Professionals. |
2018 | The District receives over $90,000 in grants and obtains a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) compressor, a LUCAS device: a CPR assisting device, and a power-load stretcher for the ambulance. |
August 2018 | Ignite The Courage raises over $26,000 from its Summer Festival. |
November 2018 | The Fire District receives the GFOA for the 2017 fiscal year end. |
February 2019 | Lt. Brian Corn, hired in the District's first group of full-time firefighters, retires after 27 years of service to the District. |
March 2019 | BC Ralph DeFreece, hired in the District's first group of full-time firefighters, retires after 27 years of service to the District. |
April 2019 | BC Michael Clarke, hired in the District's first group of full-time firefighters, retires after 27 years of service to the District. |
June 2019 | Fire Chief Michael Falese retires from the District after serving 38 years in the fire service. |
June 2019 | Assistant Chief William Gabrenya is promoted to Fire Chief and Lt. Brian Becker is promoted to Deputy Chief. Lt. Becker started his career with the District in June of 2008. |
August 2019 | The District receives a $1,000 grant from TC Energy Corp to be used towards forcible entry training equipment. |
August 2019 | Led by Firefighter Wayne Maulding, the District's Grant Committee receives an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $292,122.72 to be used towards the purchase of SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus). |
September 2019 | The District learns it was nominated and chosen to receive the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance's Life Safety Award. The District is receiving this award for its commitment to public education through aggressive social media promotion, elementary school poster contests, active participation at senior centers, schools, churches and daycares, and participation in the Be Alarmed! smoke alarm program. |
Previous Fire District Trustees
- Auble, Glenn
- Brandes, John
- Buckner, Donald
- Faber, Gerald
- Holtz, Art
- Jackson, William
- Langfelder, Jay
- Lichthardt, Theodore
- McGuire, John
- Meyers, Lawrence
- Montgomery, Broc
- Pierscionek, Art
- Rees, Bill
- Salter, Hal
- Sheeny, William
- Smith, Kenneth
- Straub, William
- Taylor, William
- Tiknis, William
- Weaver, Norman
- Wehle, Peter
- Wetherton, Norm
- Whitmer, John
- Whitmer, Tony
- Wiley, Kevin
- Wrobel, Richard
Previous Fire District Commissioners
- Busto, Lisa
- Faber, Gerald
- Genslak, Thomas
- Giovannelli, Frank
- Heneghan, Martin
- Mategrano, Albert
- McCarthy, James
- Regal, Arthur
- Tiknis, William
- Weaver, Norman
- Whitmer, John
Previous Trustees and Commissioners information is still being researched and updated at this time.