Our History

The First Fifty Years… How it All Started

February 20, 1930

First fatal fire recorded in Winfield

February 20, 1930

March 3, 1930

First job posting for Firefighter

March 3, 1930

March 6, 1934

McCormick Barn Fire, Mutual Aid received from Chicago Engine 77, Dairy barn was saved, incurred $50,000 in damages

March 6, 1934

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

March 11, 1935

January 31, 1938

 Fire at Winfield Sanitarium

January 31, 1938

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

January 27, 1941

June 20, 1941

$25/year for Trustees

June 20, 1941

December, 1949

Blue lights approved to be used when responding to calls in Chaplain’s and Firefighters’ cars.

December, 1949

March 7, 1955

District boundaries change

March 7, 1955

January 9, 1956

Salaries approved: Fire Chief $25/yr., Secretary/Treasurer $50/yr., Janitor $130/yr.

January 9, 1956

February, 1963

Rental of County garage for South Side Fire Station, housing 3 vehicles

February, 1963

1963

Pay raise for Fire Chief approved, $100/year

1963

November 1, 1967

Company won 1st place in Naperville round up (Waterfights)

November 1, 1967

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

May 4, 1970

February, 1973

New Station 1 to be built for $255,377.00, next to the existing Station

February, 1973

March 7, 1974

1st meeting in new Station 1

March 7, 1974

May 1, 1974

1st full-time Employee hired, William Enders, Building Superintendent, Training Officer, and Public Relations/Communications

May 1, 1974

January, 1977

Entered DuComm Emergency Communication Agency, receiving all “911” calls for the District

January, 1977

March 1, 1978

Village and WFPD passed Fire Prevention Ordinance

March 1, 1978

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

January, 1980

May 27, 1980

John N. Karwoski appointed Fire Chief of Winfield Fire Protection District from the Winfield Volunteer Fire Company

May 27, 1980

May 27, 1980

WFPD approves to pay Firefighters $5/call and EMT’s & Paramedics receive an extra $25/yr. for maintaining their certifications

May 27, 1980

September, 1983

Station 2 constructed and opened

September, 1983

May, 1984

FF Tom Hanlock and FF Peter Daly hired as full time Firefighters

May, 1984

November, 1985

Referendum appeared on the ballot to provide Paramedics

November, 1985

September, 1987

Francis Karwoski introduced as Trustee

September, 1987

October 1, 1987

Fire Chief John N. Karwoski retires

October 1, 1987

October 1, 1987

 David (Skip) Higgins appointed Fire Chief

October 1, 1987

March, 1988

FF Pete Daly, FF Tom Hanlock and FF Vic Youngberg promoted to Lieutenant

March, 1988

November, 1988

FF Joe Jedlovec promoted to Lieutenant
Captain Bill Enders promoted to Deputy Chief

November, 1988

September, 1989

First full time Paramedics contracted through Paramedic Services of Illinois

September, 1989

January, 1990

Pumper/Tanker 636 purchased and placed into service

January, 1990

September, 1990

Winfield Volunteer Fire Company donates $500.00 to Plainfield FD for the tornado disaster

September, 1990

June, 1991

Richard R. Swanson hired as the first full-time Fire Chief

June, 1991

December 17, 1991

FF Dan Keck promoted to Lieutenant

December 17, 1991

June, 1992

Hire-back Firefighters were established to work duty shifts

June, 1992

1992

Engine 631 purchased and placed into service

1992

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

September, 1993

October, 1993

WFPD earns new ISO rating Class 4

October, 1993

April, 1995

MABAS 12 Disaster Drill hosted by WFPD, Central DuPage Hospital and METRA

April, 1995

July, 1995

FF Steve Evans and FF Jeff Swanson promoted to Lieutenant

July, 1995

October 2, 1995

FF John McDonnel promoted to Lieutenant

October 2, 1995

October 2, 1995

FF Cliff Mortenson promoted to Lieutenant

October 2, 1995

October 23, 1995

FF Kevin King promoted to Lieutenant

October 23, 1995

June 22, 1998

Deputy Fire Chief William Enders retires

June 22, 1998

February 16, 1999

FF Dave Dinelli promoted to Lieutenant

February 16, 1999

February 16, 1999

FF Hugh Stott promoted to Lieutenant

February 16, 1999

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, 1999

June 6, 1999

Bryan Lewis, Dave Formento and Ed Troutman hired as full-time Firefighters

June 6, 1999

September, 1999

Fire Chief Richard Swanson retires

September, 1999

October, 1999

Phillip DiMenza appointed to the position of Fire Chief

October, 1999

June, 2001

638 purchased and placed into service

June, 2001

December 16, 2003

FF Bryan Lewis appointed to the position of Deputy Fire Chief

December 16, 2003

October 26, 2004

Tim Roman hired as full time Firefighter

October 26, 2004