Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District History
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The Darien-Woodridge Fire District is the result of a merger of the Downers Grove Estates Fire District and the Belmont Fire District in 1988.
The Downers Grove Estates Fire District was organized in the late 1940's by a group of residents near Main St. and 63rd St. in unincorporated Downers Grove. The homeowners established the department and built a station at 1133 Adelia. In the early 1960's, it became obvious that there needed to be a more centrally located station. Therefore, a fire station at 2425 75th Street was built and put into service. The Adelia station was used until 1986, when it was sold. |
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By the early 1970's the department hired its first full-time members. For a number of years three men were on duty during the day. Paid-on-call personnel manned the station at night and on the weekends. By 1983, the full-time staff had gone to a 24 on 48 off schedule, supplemented at night and weekends by paid-on-call personnel.
In 1987, the department went through two name changes. The first lasted less than two months. In order to differentiate this department from Downers Grove, the Downers Grove name was dropped, and the Estates Fire Protection District was born. However, it became clear that a new name reflecting the area of coverage would be better. Therefore, the name was changed to the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District.
The Belmont Fire Protection District tends to parallel that of Downers Grove Estates. The people who lived in the unincorporated areas west of Dunham Road north of 63rd Street were being provided fire protection by the Downers Grove Fire Department on a pay as needed basis, until 1969 when Downers Grove said they would not provide protection to that area. The residents then started the Belmont Fire District, with a station located at 59th and Belmont.
In 1987, the Trustees of both Darien-Woodridge and Belmont Fire Districts entered into discussions about merging the two departments into one, and the question was taken to the voters in 1988. The voters agreed and effective November 1988 the two departments became one organization, under the name of the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District.
In 1990, station #3 was opened at 87th and Lemont Rd. This station was placed to cover the south end of the district area to improve the response times to the southeast corner of the District.
In the 1990’s it became clear that the station at 75th Street needed to be replaced. A new headquarters station at 7550 Lyman was completed and opened in late summer of 1998, and the old station on 75th Street was sold and torn down for a shopping center.
In 1987, the department went through two name changes. The first lasted less than two months. In order to differentiate this department from Downers Grove, the Downers Grove name was dropped, and the Estates Fire Protection District was born. However, it became clear that a new name reflecting the area of coverage would be better. Therefore, the name was changed to the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District.
The Belmont Fire Protection District tends to parallel that of Downers Grove Estates. The people who lived in the unincorporated areas west of Dunham Road north of 63rd Street were being provided fire protection by the Downers Grove Fire Department on a pay as needed basis, until 1969 when Downers Grove said they would not provide protection to that area. The residents then started the Belmont Fire District, with a station located at 59th and Belmont.
In 1987, the Trustees of both Darien-Woodridge and Belmont Fire Districts entered into discussions about merging the two departments into one, and the question was taken to the voters in 1988. The voters agreed and effective November 1988 the two departments became one organization, under the name of the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District.
In 1990, station #3 was opened at 87th and Lemont Rd. This station was placed to cover the south end of the district area to improve the response times to the southeast corner of the District.
In the 1990’s it became clear that the station at 75th Street needed to be replaced. A new headquarters station at 7550 Lyman was completed and opened in late summer of 1998, and the old station on 75th Street was sold and torn down for a shopping center.