The First Fifty Years… How it All Started
February 20, 1930
First fatal fire recorded in Winfield
March 3, 1930
First job posting for Firefighter
March 6, 1934
McCormick Barn Fire, Mutual Aid received from Chicago Engine 77, Dairy barn was saved, incurred $50,000 in damages
March 11, 1935
First Captain appointed, Jacob Zeier; John T. Karwoski was recommended as Fire Chief and William Zeier was recommended as Assistant Fire Chief to the Village Board for Official Sanction
January 31, 1938
Fire at Winfield Sanitarium
January 27, 1941
First Trustees appointed by the County Board Chairman: Charles Abbott, Al Schmidt, Marvin Hammond and Frederick Borter 1st Ordinance – Tax and license Foreign Fire Insurance Co. 2nd Ordinance – Creation and Establishment of Fire Department
June 20, 1941
$25/year for Trustees
December, 1949
Blue lights approved to be used when responding to calls in Chaplain’s and Firefighters’ cars.
March 7, 1955
District boundaries change
January 9, 1956
Salaries approved: Fire Chief $25/yr., Secretary/Treasurer $50/yr., Janitor $130/yr.
February, 1963
Rental of County garage for South Side Fire Station, housing 3 vehicles
1963
Pay raise for Fire Chief approved, $100/year
November 1, 1967
Company won 1st place in Naperville round up (Waterfights)
May 4, 1970
Station 1 and its land sold for $10.00 by vote of the current membership of 24-4, from the Winfield Volunteer Fire Company to the Winfield Fire Protection District
February, 1973
New Station 1 to be built for $255,377.00, next to the existing Station
March 7, 1974
1st meeting in new Station 1
May 1, 1974
1st full-time Employee hired, William Enders, Building Superintendent, Training Officer, and Public Relations/Communications
January, 1977
Entered DuComm Emergency Communication Agency, receiving all “911” calls for the District
March 1, 1978
Village and WFPD passed Fire Prevention Ordinance
The Last Twenty-Five Years…
During the last twenty-five years, the structure of the Winfield Fire Protection District underwent many changes. Most notably, the Firefighters began receiving pay from the Winfield Fire Protection District as opposed to receiving a bi-annual stipend from the Winfield Volunteer Fire Company. Full time paramedic services were contracted to provide a wider range of services to the community. Winfield Fire Protection District full-time Firefighters began working shifts of 24 hours on and 48 hours off and a Hireback firefighter program was established to man a daily duty crew. The following is a recap of the last twenty-five years:
January, 1980
391 calls for 1979 – 209 E.M.S. related, 182 Fire related
May 27, 1980
John N. Karwoski appointed Fire Chief of Winfield Fire Protection District from the Winfield Volunteer Fire Company
May 27, 1980
WFPD approves to pay Firefighters $5/call and EMT’s & Paramedics receive an extra $25/yr. for maintaining their certifications
September, 1983
Station 2 constructed and opened
May, 1984
FF Tom Hanlock and FF Peter Daly hired as full time Firefighters
November, 1985
Referendum appeared on the ballot to provide Paramedics
September, 1987
Francis Karwoski introduced as Trustee
October 1, 1987
Fire Chief John N. Karwoski retires
October 1, 1987
David (Skip) Higgins appointed Fire Chief
March, 1988
FF Pete Daly, FF Tom Hanlock and FF Vic Youngberg promoted to Lieutenant
November, 1988
FF Joe Jedlovec promoted to Lieutenant
Captain Bill Enders promoted to Deputy Chief
September, 1989
First full time Paramedics contracted through Paramedic Services of Illinois
January, 1990
Pumper/Tanker 636 purchased and placed into service
September, 1990
Winfield Volunteer Fire Company donates $500.00 to Plainfield FD for the tornado disaster
June, 1991
Richard R. Swanson hired as the first full-time Fire Chief
December 17, 1991
FF Dan Keck promoted to Lieutenant
June, 1992
Hire-back Firefighters were established to work duty shifts
1992
Engine 631 purchased and placed into service
September, 1993
Steve Evans and Jeff Swanson hired on as full-time Firefighters, working 24 hours on and 48 hours off, along with Lt. Pete Daly
October, 1993
WFPD earns new ISO rating Class 4
April, 1995
MABAS 12 Disaster Drill hosted by WFPD, Central DuPage Hospital and METRA
July, 1995
FF Steve Evans and FF Jeff Swanson promoted to Lieutenant
October 2, 1995
FF John McDonnel promoted to Lieutenant
October 2, 1995
FF Cliff Mortenson promoted to Lieutenant
October 23, 1995
FF Kevin King promoted to Lieutenant
June 22, 1998
Deputy Fire Chief William Enders retires
February 16, 1999
FF Dave Dinelli promoted to Lieutenant
February 16, 1999
FF Hugh Stott promoted to Lieutenant
June, 1999
District trains with Northern Ill Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board and assists in the production of a home fire sprinkler tape, “Protect What You Value Most,” televised nation wide, Ron Hazelton and Good Morning America
June 6, 1999
Bryan Lewis, Dave Formento and Ed Troutman hired as full-time Firefighters
September, 1999
Fire Chief Richard Swanson retires
October, 1999
Phillip DiMenza appointed to the position of Fire Chief
June, 2001
638 purchased and placed into service
December 16, 2003
FF Bryan Lewis appointed to the position of Deputy Fire Chief
October 26, 2004
Tim Roman hired as full time Firefighter