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William Vallow - Fire Chief
EAST HAZEL CREST FIRE DEPARTMENT
17223 S. Throop St.
East Hazel Crest, IL 60429
phone (708) 798-3902
EMERGENCY 9-1-1
The East Hazel Crest Volunteer Fire Department was chartered in
December, 1928. The department consisted of a Fire Chief, an Assistant
Chief, a Captain, a Lieutenant, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and 15 firemen.
The fire department was always accepting applications for new volunteers.
Each year an election was held for the position of fire chief, assistant
chief, captain, secretary, and treasurer. It was a tradition that each
member of the fire department be elected chief, at least once, while they
were on the volunteer fire department.
The fire department would hold a monthly meeting on the first
Monday of the month to discuss many issues. Some of the issues that were
discussed were: buying of new rain coats (fire coats), availability of
funds, report of committees (fundraising, election, etc.), election (if it
was that time of the year), report of any fires, paying of the bills, and
buying of new equipment. Every couple of months the department bought new
rain coats (usually three at a time) for a cost of $5.40 each.
These coats were kept at the station. Whoever would arrive at the station
first, at the time of a call, would get a jacket. Besides the jacket each
member was issued a hat and a station key.
The members of the fire department would be alerted of a fire call
by the sounding of an outside siren (located on the front of the fire
station). The siren would be set off by anyone that knew there was a
call. The firefighters would then drive in their cars to the station
to find out the location of the call. In the beginning years, the fire
department did not have a fire truck. When a call came in the members
would pick up a jacket and a soda acid fire extinguisher at the station
and respond to the scene in their cars. If there was a medical call the
firemen would load the patient into their personal vehicle and run them to the
hospital (there was no formal ambulance service). It wasn't until the
early 1940's that the fire department purchased a fire truck. This truck
was purchased mainly by money obtained through various fundraisers. The
Village Board gave the fire department the rest of the money needed, but
did not believe they had to buy or put any money towards the buying of
the truck.
In the late 1970's new equipment and challenges faced the fire
department. Pagers were introduced to the department, and were
given to the firemen who could not hear that well or lived too far from
the station to hear the siren. In time ambulance services started
becoming popular. If a medical call came in, the fire department responded
as first responders, but they would not call an ambulance until they found
out what they had. The ambulance could take 5 to 60 minutes, you just
never knew when they were going to arrive. New improved fire gear was
starting to come out, and each member started receiving new
gear.
East Hazel Crest Volunteer Fire Department
Today
The East Hazel Crest Volunteer Fire Department has changed only
slightly from the beginning of the fire department in 1928. The fire
department body is structured similarly. The rank of Captain and a
cadet program are some of the changes since 1928. An election for Chief is
held bi-annually, instead of annually. The department roster has a full
capacity of 45 members. All members of the department are completely
volunteer.
The members of the fire department are required to attend a
monthly meeting and weekly drills. Drills consist of classes and practical
evolutions which begin every Thursday evening (excluding holidays) at 7:30
p.m. Each member is issued a key for the station, a pager, a protective
helmet, a nomex hood, gloves, a bunker coat and pants, a flashlight and
3/4 length boots.
The East Hazel Crest Volunteer Fire Department protects and serves
a population of 1,570 people in an area which covers 1.5 square miles.
Structures include homes and businesses. Additionally this department
assists the Illinois Tollway Department by responding to all emergencies
(approximately 3 miles) on Interstate I-80 and 294. Whenever the pager is
sounded, either for a medical or fire emergency, firefighters head to
the station to respond with an emergency vehicle. CoMed Ambulance
Service is automatically dispatched with the fire department for all
medical calls. Firefighters respond in a medical squad as first
responders. The department has three fire engines to respond to any type
of emergency. Besides responding to our own calls, we are part of the 3rd
District Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). The fire department
responds to other towns such as Harvey, Hazel Crest, Thornton, Glenwood
and Dolton, just to name a few, on major structure fires or EMS box
alarms. The towns of Homewood, Hazel Crest, Glenwood and East Hazel Crest all
have automatic alarm agreements with each other.
Each member of the fire department is required to actively
participate in fundraisers, Halloween parties, and any other volunteer
functions. The cadet program starts at age 16 and finishes at 18. It is a
great way to learn aspects of the fire department, and to help other
people out that are in need of help.
Ryan R. Crabtree
East Hazel Crest Volunteer Fire
Department
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