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1913 - The Village of Cary first organized the Cary Volunteer Fire Department. It consisted of only twelve members and a hose cart and was housed in the village hall. Four years later the department purchased it's first fire truck and, by 1920, added their first piece of medical equipment. The purchase of a 'lung motor', used to perform artificial respiration, marked the department's first involvement in emergency medicine.
1927- The 'paid on call' system was first introduced, allowing personnel to receive a small sum of money for each call they respond to. Cary added a LaFrance Pumper in 1928 which is still maintained and used for parades and special events.
1934 - Cary's first and only recorded bomb explosion when a black powder bomb exploded in a tavern on Spring Street.
1945 - After experiencing difficulty collecting funds from residents in unincorporated areas during the late 1930's and early 1940's, the district separated from the village of Cary and formed the Cary Fire Protection District. As a separate entity from the village, the district could now derive funds for services rendered outside the village boundaries.
1953 - On March 26, the district had it's only line of duty death, when firefighter Milt Neeley, while riding on the side of a truck, was crushed between it and a wall while responding to a fire. Later that year the district embarked on a major expansion. The department had outgrown it's quarters, and construction of their first station at 22 Spring Street began. In November of 1954 the department moved it's new home.
1962 - The CFPD became the first department in McHenry County to use the Plectron Radio Receiver to notify it's members of calls, replacing the previous siren method.
1964 - Involvement in Emergency Medical Services began when a van was donated for use as the department's first ambulance.
1974 - Cary joined other departments in the 'mutual aid box alarm system' (MABAS). This system, constructed to efficiently notify neighboring towns when additional help was needed in the event of a major fire or disaster. Other improvements occurred in the seventies as well, including the acquisition of a Hurst tool. Also known as the 'Jaws of Life', this hydraulic power tool allows rescuers to free those trapped in the wreckage of an accident.
1976 - CFPD's second home, located in Oakwood Hills, was completed.
1985 - A new station to replace the one on Spring Street was built. This station, located at 400 Cary-Algonquin Rd, is now used as the CFPD's headquarters.
1990 - In an effort to better educate children about the dangers of fire, a fire safety house was build within the basement of headquarters. Complete with kitchen, living room, and bedroom it is used to help teach important points of fire prevention and allows children the opportunity to practice escape from a house fire. Since it's induction approximately 3,000 children a year attend this program.
1995 - On July 1st, as road construction began and threatened to lengthen the response of personnel to the scene of a call, a new program was introduced. Dubbed the "Sleeper Program", it required personnel to sleep at the station between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., thus reducing response times at night.
1996 - As the year began plans for a new substation were made. After considering population growth and land use projections, land was purchased along Crystal Lake Road for the new station. Ground breaking ceremonies were held on November 6, with an estimated completion date of one year. Also in November, CFPD began providing station coverage on the weekends between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
1997 - On April 1st, CFPD began providing 24 hour station coverage by assigning personnel between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. every night, this was the only hours left without station coverage. When an incident occurred during the evening hours, members would have to drive from their homes to the station and then respond to the incident. On November 17, new Station #2, located at 2015 Crystal Lake Road, opened. The living quarters includes a kitchen, living room/dining room, locker rooms, and a sleeping area. The office space and radio room make it a fully functional fire station that serves the north end of the district. Several pieces of apparatus are housed at Station #2 including an ambulance, an engine, a tanker, a grass fire truck, and boats.
1998 - Staffing of Station #2 began on January 1st. CFPD now provides 24 hour station coverage out of two stations. CFPD was the first department in McHenry County to obtain a Thermal Imaging Camera. The camera uses infrared technology and allows firefighters to see objects clearly through smoke and darkness.
1999 - During the year a training site was constructed at the rear of Station #2. This site contains specialized equipment and props for firefighters to train with. Some of props include a roof simulator to practice ventilation, a manhole area to practice confined space rescues, two burn pits for extinguisher training, and two burn containers to practice extinguishing room fires. A new public education program aimed at teaching residents about CFPD was started. The Citizens Fire Academy began in June and ran for 8 weeks. In November, CFPD took delivery of its first aerial truck. The new truck has a 100 foot ladder with platform, can pump 1500 gallons of water per minute, and has ample cabinet space for tools and equipment.
2008 - History in the making!
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400 Cary-Algonquin Rd. Cary, Illinois 60013 Phone: 847.639.2121