History of the Fire District
The municipal South Elgin Fire Department was started in 1925 to control and extinguish fires that occurred within the village limits. Jurisdiction for response to areas outside of the village corporate limits was very confusing and these areas had minimum, sporadic protection. In the early 1950's there was increased pressure placed upon the county board to provide for fire protection in the rural unincorporated areas. As a result of this pressure, fire protection districts were created as separate taxing entities and were responsible for providing fire protection to these areas. On July 30, 1953, by order of the Kane County Court the organization of the South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District was established and began providing protection to the surrounding countryside.
Since the department’s original organization in 1925, the scope of services provided to the community has dramatically increased. Along with providing fire suppression the department has expanded services to include Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance services, public education, fire prevention, hazardous material responses, dive rescue, technical rescue, and other services.
The municipal South Elgin Fire Department was started in 1925 to control and extinguish fires that occurred within the village limits. Jurisdiction for response to areas outside of the village corporate limits was very confusing and these areas had minimum, sporadic protection. In the early 1950's there was increased pressure placed upon the county board to provide for fire protection in the rural unincorporated areas. As a result of this pressure, fire protection districts were created as separate taxing entities and were responsible for providing fire protection to these areas. On July 30, 1953, by order of the Kane County Court the organization of the South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District was established and began providing protection to the surrounding countryside.
Since the department’s original organization in 1925, the scope of services provided to the community has dramatically increased. Along with providing fire suppression the department has expanded services to include Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance services, public education, fire prevention, hazardous material responses, dive rescue, technical rescue, and other services.