HISTORY

Tri-State Fire Protection District began in 1941 as a small group of volunteers working to help others. The first firefighters to serve this district volunteered their time and energy, and helped to support the operations of the department by holding several fund raising events each year. The firefighters realized fun raising was not the answer and on September 27, 1946, through a voters referendum, the Tri-State Fire Protection District was established and levied a fire tax for the first time.

The first fire station was located in the residential community known as the Tri-State Village. Our fire station #1 is located within two blocks of where the original station once stood. Over the years, the District was supported by volunteers, and then made the transition to a staff of paid-on-call firefighters. Members would receive a small amount of pay for each call that they responded to. It was not unusual for some calls to last for hours. In 1971 the District, hired their first full time firefighters. These individuals worked Monday through Friday, during the day time hours, when paid-on-call firefighters were typically committed to their full time jobs, and not readily available for emergencies.

In 1975, our second fire station, also known as our Headquarters Station, was built at 419 Plainfield Road in the City of Darien.The Tri-State Fire Protection District has provided, since inception, both fire suppression services and basic first aid and Basic Life Support (B.L.S.). The ambulance was staffed with firefighters trained to perform basic treatment and transport to an area hospital. In June of 1992 a referendum was passed which allowed the District to hire full time paramedics, providing Advanced Life Support (A.L.S.) Services. Two paramedics were placed on duty, round the clock, Since that time, our services have grown to the extent that we now staff two A.L.S. Ambulances and two A.L.S. Fire Engines with the minimum of 8 Paramedics on duty each day.

In 1990, the District's third fire station was Built in Burr-Ridge on Madison St. This fire station was built with state of art equipment to maintain our vehicles and equipment. In addition, the lower level of the fire station is equipped with offices and a Training Classroom (for personnel to keep up on the latest innovations). The station is located at 8800 South Madison Street, Burr Ridge.

In November 1995, the residents of Clarendon Height Fire Protection District, held a referendum, to determine if their district should be annexed into the Tri-State Fire Protection District. The referendum passed and the results were certified within a week. Now known as Tri-State Station 4. With the annexation of Clarendon Heights complete, all district residents now receive A.L.S. Services and fire personnel from 4 stations. At this time, the Tri-State Fire District operates four stations, with firefighters and paramedics, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. These stations are equipped with the following apparatus: (Fire Vehicles).

Four Fire Engines
Three A.L.S. Ambulances
Two Aerial Ladders
One Tanker / Squad
One Command Vehicle