MCG_2017

Fire protection
district
Mokena Fire Department was organized in 1917
with approximately 30 members. When the fire alarm
sounded, the Volunteer Firefighters answered the call with the
following equipment: 300 feet of 3/4 inch hose mounted on a
wooden hose cart which was pulled by the Firefighters, 6 rubber
buckets, 2 red flags, 2 red lights, and 4 white lights. This hose
cart is still in existence today and proudly displayed at Mokena
Fire Protection District Station #1
In the fall of 1932, representatives of the W. S. Darley Company,
manufacturers of firefighting equipment, held a demonstration
of the fire apparatus mounted on a Ford chassis. The fire truck
was connected to the fire plug in front of the Mokena Hardware
Company and went through a series of hose demonstrations.
The water was pumped directly from the water main and the
various types of hoses were able to throw quite
powerful streams of water. At the time, the Village
Board was not in a position to purchase this type
of firefighting equipment, so it became necessary
to plan on acquiring this firefighting equipment by
public subscription, as had been done in so many
neighboring Villages. At the time, Mokena was in
dire need of an organized Fire Department and
some type of modern firefighting equipment.
In November 1932, the matter of reorganizing the
Mokena Volunteer Fire Department was taken up at the regular
meeting of the Mokena Village Council. When the Department
was founded, it had eight members. It was decided to reorganize
a Fire Department with 25 Firefighters and all the Village Board
members agreed to enroll as members.
In December 1932, a list of 25 names, who were willing to serve
in the newly reorganized Mokena Volunteer Fire Department
was approved by the Village Board. On December 15, 1932, the
Mokena Volunteer Fire Department was formally organized with
25 active members.
Early in 1933, a used 1929 Model “A” Ford chassis, previously used
as a coal truck, was purchased for $75.00. On July 4, 1933, the
Mokena Volunteer Fire Department sponsored a fire truck benefit
dance at the Mokena Men’s Club pavilion, located on Wolf Road,
to raise funds to outfit the truck with the necessary firefighting
equipment. By July 15, 1933, the Mokena Village fire truck was
complete with chemicals and a pump, the latter being purchased by
the Village at a cost of $373.00. The remaining cost of the truck,
totaling $650.00, was paid for by the Firefighters and the truck
was donated by them to the Village. The members of the Fire
Department also purchased additional parts and assembled the
truck at no expense to the Village. At this time, the truck carried
approximately 1,200 feet of hose, and with the chemicals newly
acquired, small oil fires and attic fires could be quickly extinguished
without using the regular fire hose. This Model “A” Ford truck is still
used to this day in Mokena’s annual 4th of July parade.
Plans were laid for a Fire Protection District supported by
taxation so the Firefighters could better serve the community
and not have to devote so much time raising money to keep the
Fire Department solvent. It should be noted that the Mokena
Community Volunteer Fire Department was the only Fire
District application filed in Northern Illinois that was entirely
debt free. All equipment, building, and supplies were paid for so
the District’s application met no opposition.
On July 19, 1962, an election was held, and the
creation of the District was passed almost
unanimously.
For a long period of time, rescue work and first aid was the subject
of much discussion in the Fire District and in the local press. The
question of Fire District owned and operated ambulances versus
utilizing the services of local and nearby ambulance operators
was under constant pressure to be resolved. In November 1985, a
referendum to create an Ambulance District was defeated; another
referendum was presented in November 1988 and passed.
Today, the Mokena Fire Protection District (MFPD) employs 34
Full-Time Firefighter/Paramedics, 2 Full-Time Administrative
Assistants, and one paid-on-call Firefighter. The Mokena Fire
Protection District serves portions of Frankfort, Homer Glen,
Mokena and Orland Park with a population of approximately
17,500 people over 12 ½ square miles. The MFPD has one ladder
truck, three engines, one heavy rescue squad, four Advanced
Life Support (ALS) ambulances, and one brush truck. The MFPD
responds to approximately 2,600 calls a year and this number
continues to rapidly rise. The MFPD was awarded accredited
agency status by the Center for Public Safety Excellence in August
of 2001. As an internationally accredited agency, the MFPD
believes in continuous quality improvement which is based on our
core values of Professionalism, Responsibility, Integrity, Devotion
and Effectiveness (PRIDE). We are proud to be classified as a Class
One Fire Department by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).
The MFPD will be celebrating its 100 years of service to the
community (1917 - 2017) in 2017. The main event of the 100
years of service celebration will be focused around the 4th of July
Parade. The MFPD is planning a community based celebration
with Fire Trucks on display, 100 year commemorative teeshirts
(for purchase), food vendors, and other activities for
the community to participate in and support. Please visit www.
mokenafire.org for additional information.
The MFPD has enjoyed our first 100 years of service to the
community and we look forward to the next 100 years of service
and progress.
8 Mokena Chamber of Commerce | mokena.com