EMERGENCY (FIRE, RESCUE OR PARAMEDIC AMBULANCE SERVICE) 911
Non-Emergency		847-501-6029
Fire Chief		Alan Berkowsky
Public Education Officer		Lieutenant Erik Thornton
Fire Station and Administrative Offices		428 Green Bay Road

The Winnetka Fire Department consists of 24 career fire personnel which includes 1 Fire Chief, 1 Deputy Fire Chief, 3 Captain Paramedics, 3 Lieutenant Paramedics, 1 Administrative Lieutenant, and 16 Firefighter/paramedics, 1 Secretary, and 2 part-time Fire Inspectors. The department provides a variety of services to Winnetka residents. These include fire suppression, advanced life support ambulance and rescue service, certified underwater dive rescue and recovery, technical rescue (high rise, trench, etc.), fire origin and cause investigations, fire scene photography, fire prevention, and public education programs.

The department is a member of the Regional Emergency Dispatch (RED Center) making it part of a centralized emergency dispatch center with other area fire departments. The system is capable of providing efficient fire and emergency medical dispatch. Emergency medical dispatch provides pre-arrival instructions such as CPR, prior to the arrival of paramedics.

The Public Education Division provides Winnetka citizens of all ages with preventative life safety information. The department conducts home safety surveys for residents on request and will also arrange, where possible, to have a fire engine visit your next block party. Educational tours of the fire station are conducted on Mondays and Fridays for all organizations including scout organizations, pre-school groups, and special interest groups. For Public Education Information please contact Lieutenant Erik Thornton.

Blood pressure screening is available at the Fire Department between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily. Additional information and / or special requests are available by calling 847-501-6029.

 

Summary / Apparatus / Staffing

Staff

24 Hour Shift Personnel
3 Shifts (A or Gold, B or Black, and C or Red)
7 Personnel Per Shift: 1 Captain Paramedic, 1 Lieutenant Paramedic, 5 Firefighter/Paramedic

 

Day Staff

Fire Chief
Deputy Fire Chief
Administrative Lieutenant
Secretary
Part-time Fire Inspector

 

Apparatus

Chief Vehicle	2007 Ford Expedition	2800
Deputy Chief’s Vehicle	2009 Ford Escape	2801
Incident Command Vehicle	2001 Chevy Express Van	Battalion 28
Rescue Pumper 1500 GPM	2000 Pierce Saber	Engine 28
Ambulance	2007 Freightliner/Medtec	Ambulance 28
Fire Prevention Vehicle	2006 Ford 500 2002 GMC Yukon	2810 2811
Rescue Pumper 1500 GPM	1996 Pierce Saber	Reserve Engine 28
Utility Vehicle	2007 Ford F250 Pick-up	Utility 28
Ambulance	2000 Freightliner/road Rescue	Reserve Ambulance 28
Aerial Ladder 1250 GPM	1990 Pierce Arrow	Truck 28

 

Other Services Provided by the Fire Department

Home Safety: The fire department will conduct a home safety survey of your home (by appointment) and make recommendations on fire safety issues for your home and family.

Tours: Educational tours of the fire station are conducted on Monday’s and Friday’s for scout organizations, school groups, special interest groups and birthday parties.

Block Parties: The department will also arrange, where possible, to have a fire engine visit your next block party.

CPR Training: CPR Basic Rescuer or Re-recognition classes are held when requests are sufficient to fill a class and also for groups (doctors' offices, scout troups, etc. on a fee basis. Residential home safety inspections are available by request.

Blood Pressure: Blood pressure screening is available at the Fire Department between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Special Requests: Additional information and/or special requests are available by calling the department at 847-501-6029.

 

Brief History of the Winnetka Fire Department:

The Winnetka Fire Department initially began its existence as the Lakeside Hose Company in 1893. On March 25, 1902, the Winnetka Village Council created a legally constituted volunteer fire department for the Village of Winnetka by passing Village Ordinance 887. The ordinance provided that the village be divided into six fire districts and authorized a “Fire Marshall” and two or more fire companies. The Fire Marshall was to receive a Salary of $50 per year and each member $2 per fire call. The Winnetka Fire Department became a combination paid/volunteer department in the 1930’s.  In 1993 the Department became a fully paid department.

The Village of Winnetka’s first ambulance was a 1914 Ford Truck with a canvas enclosure (driven by policemen and volunteers). In 1952 the Winnetka Fire Department initiated an emergency type ambulance, and in 1976 paramedic service began. Since all of the firefighters are required to be paramedics, in 2000 the two pumping engines were equipped with advanced life support equipment so the department could handle two simultaneous emergency medical calls.