Fire Department history explored

A BOAT FOR WATER rescues and three modern emergency vehicles; this mid-1900s photo is featured in the Wilmington Area Historical Society display on the history of the Wilmington Fire Protection District at city hall. The building in the background was built in 1879, and housed the city offices, jail and fire station. It is currently the WAHS home and local historical museum. Photo courtesy of the Wilmington Fire Protection District.

By: 
Staff Report

The 151-year history of the Wilmington Fire Protection District is the subject of a display at city hall that was developed by the Wilmington Area Historical Society.
The volunteer fire company was organized in 1868 as the Empire Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company No. 1, Wilmington, Illinois. The first water mains, in case of fire in the city, were laid the year before.
The building that served as the first city hall, jail and firehouse was built from local limestone in 1879, with two main doors that supported the firefighting equipment. Residents may recognize it as the “old city hall,” at 114 N. Main St. The building is now the historical society’s home and local history museum.
According to the Wilmington 125th anniversary booklet, written by Elma O. Barnes and published in 1961, the department became motorized in 1916. The city purchased a modern pumper in 1922 with a second pumper added in 1927. Ralph “Hap” Adams was the fire marshal.
In 1986, at the time of the city’s sesquicentennial, the fire department operated with a part-time volunteer staff of 30 men and women. The fire station had moved to the east side of North Main Street, across from the original limestone station, in a building that was purchased by the city in 1959 for $40,000. Annual expenditures that year were about $83,000, however that included $21,504 for a second ambulance.
The fire department became a fire district that currently includes the city of Wilmington and Wilmington, Florence and Wesley Townships; an area of 104 square miles with a population of about 15,000. The district spent $2.4 million in fiscal year 2019, and staffs its fire station 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The historical society display was developed by Ike Widner, Larry Libersher and Lynn Allott, with assistance from Fire Chief Tim Zlomie and district administrative assistant Miranda Blazekovich. It includes photos of early fire companies and the equipment they deployed in emergencies, department dress blues and an example of a burned and sooty leather “New Yorker” fire helmet that was worn during a working fire — all on loan from fire district personnel.
The display can be viewed during regular business hours at city hall, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. City hall is located at 1165 S. Water St. The display is in the entry foyer.
The display will be in place through the end of the year.