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100 Years –
1901-2001
On November 13th, 2001, the Tinley
Park Volunteer Fire Department
celebrated its 100th year
anniversary. On November 13, 1901,
20 members of a small farming
community called Tinley Park decided
that a volunteer fire department was
needed. That was the beginning. In
1902 they purchased a reeled hose
cart, which was pulled to fires by
hand. This was the Department’s
first piece of rolling equipment. It
originally carried 500 ft. of hose,
2 nozzles, 1 axe, a pry bar and 2
buckets. Fire Station 1 was built on
the same site as the current Fire
Station in 1919. And in 1926, the
first motorized piece of equipment
was purchased – an REO Speedwagon
pumper.
As time went on, the Tinley Park
Volunteer Fire Department grew at a
rapid pace. Members became qualified
as “Certified Firefighters” by the
state, they were able to utilize
modern equipment, including the
first 911 communication center in
northern Illinois, and fire engines
designed by our Department became
known as the “Tinley Park
specification” and have established
new standards for the industry.
Other programs that allow the
Department to maintain a Class 3
Rating were a looped municipal water
system, commercial sprinkling
requirements, fire training
programs, and a state-of-the-art
training facility.
Over 450 volunteer firefighters have
contributed to the last 100 years,
and the support of the businesses
and residents of Tinley Park, during
our annual Fund Drive have helped us
build one of the best trained, best
equipped fire departments in the
state. With 7 fire engines, 4 fire
trucks, and 9 support vehicles, the
current membership had grown to 100+
members in 2001.
At the time of its founding, the
Tinley Park Volunteer Fire
Department established and still has
the motto:
“We Serve
Others, Not Ourselves”
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