The Wauconda Torpedo, the local newspaper of the time reported, “At a meeting at the Town Hall November 9, 1889 a few good men gathered.  As a result of their meeting the Wauconda Fire Company was formed.  Mr. W. H. Strayer was elected president.  The department was known then, as the Wauconda-Niagara Fire Company. Fire companies were typically named to distinguish them from other “companies;” Wauconda chose the “Niagara” portion of the name from the make of the hand pumper.

             Not much is known about the department for its first thirty years. In 1931, the Village of Wauconda created, by ordinance, “The Wauconda Fire Department,” recognizing the volunteers and equipment as the Villages Fire Department.  After that time, minutes were kept of all meetings and activities.

             In November of 1931, the Wauconda Fire Department took possession of its first motorized fire apparatus.  Purchased from Peter Pirsch and Sons, Kenosha, WI, the 500-gallon per minute pumper served well and is still owned and maintained by the fire department.  Fund raising events, like the Annual Carnival sponsored by the Lions Club, and raffles produced revenue to buy the new engine.  A month prior to taking delivery of the new engine, the Wauconda Trust and Savings closed its doors and all of the hard earned fund raising dollars were lost.  A deal was struck with Peter Pirsch and Sons and the engine was delivered.

             Many changes occurred within the department during those early years.  The department originally serviced only the Village of Wauconda.  Then by subscription, area subdivisions and farms were serviced.  In 1937, the groundwork was laid for the creation of the Wauconda Fire Protection District, which became a reality on Sept 16, 1937.  On November 8, 1937 the first contract was signed between the Wauconda Fire Department and the Wauconda Fire Protection District.

            The Wauconda Fire Department became a corporation in 1941.  The management of the fire department and the dedication of its members changed little since that time, but quite a few major events were still to occur in the years ahead.  In 1948, Fire Station #1 was built at Route 176 and Maple Ave. Equipment was moved to the new headquarters from the village hall. Station #2 in Island Lake followed in 1960.  Both stations were later expanded to accommodate paid personnel and the addition of required equipment to service the growing community.

             Another major event occurred in 1976 when the Village and Fire Protection District went to referendum to fund Paramedic Ambulance Service.  The fire department entered into advanced emergency medical care out of necessity and the urging of a supportive community.

             As a result of increased call volume and inevitable growth, the Wauconda Fire Department found it necessary to hire full time fire fighter/paramedics.  This occurred in 1978 when the department hired its first full-time Fire Chief and in January 1979, the first three full-time “FireMedics.”  Eventually the full time ranks increased to allow for 24-hour coverage at each station, seven days per week, 365 days per year.

             On May 1, 2007 the Wauconda Fire Department, Inc. and the Wauconda Fire Protection District culminated a nearly two year plan that brought a merging of the two organizations.  The Wauconda Fire Protection District is the employer of the personnel and owner of the majority of the equipment and facilities that were once owned by the corporation. This merger does not change the service or quality of care provided to the residents and visitors to the district of the village of Wauconda but enhances it and the fiscal management and accountability to the people. 

             Today the fire department provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to approximately 45,000 people in the Wauconda Fire Protection District and the Village of Wauconda.  The fire protection district is made up of the unincorporated areas around Wauconda, and includes all or part of the Villages of Island Lake, Tower Lakes, Port Barrington, Volo, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, Hawthorn Woods and Lakemoor.

             In late June 2007 personnel were moved to a new site located at 30704 N. Gilmer Rd., Volo, IL to begin work on the third fire station. This property is earmarked for a training and response facility. Personnel have converted the original single family, one story ranch house into a working fire station.  On July 1^st personnel began staffing the station 24 hours per day to provided decreased response time to better serve the north side of Wauconda and the south sides of Volo and Lakemoor.

             The Wauconda Fire Protection District has 84 personnel.  Of that number 43 are fulltime and 41 are part-time. Fulltime response personnel work 24 hours on duty and then have 48 hours off duty. All full time response personnel are fire fighter paramedics (Firemedics).  Part-time personnel work shifts in the fire stations typically in 12-hour increments.  All personnel are on call and respond to the stations when needed when off duty.  All personnel have training requirements and must maintain their proficiency. 

             Wauconda Fire Protection District Personnel provide their services utilizing state of the art equipment that includes: 5 Engines, 1 Truck, 5 Mobile Intensive Care Units, 1 Squads and a number of specialty units for water and technical rescue emergencies. 

            The fire department responds to approximately 3500 calls per year.  These calls obviously take priority during the day-to-day operations of the department; but there are many other activities that occur behind the scenes.

             The Fire Prevention Bureau inspects approximately 800 occupancies per year and provides on going public education activities in schools and in the station.  Educational visits to business, community and other civic organizations are priorities given to the daily tasks.

             Shift personnel spend their days assisting the fire prevention bureau with tours, maintaining the stations and all of the equipment, training; and of course, responding to the needs of the community.

             The Wauconda Fire Department is devoted to serving all the people in the service area.  The Mission of the Wauconda Fire Department sums it best…

…Our mission is to faithfully serve our community through:  “emergency response, education, prevention and social interaction.”