The Roberts Park Fire Protection District informally got its start in 1938 by a group of neighborhood citizens. They eventually raised enough money through various events to purchase the department’s first fire engine. Known as the “Prairie Wagon”, the 1930’s vintage Ford truck was equipped, fueled, and maintained solely through donations. Since there was no fire station, the truck was stored under a makeshift lean-to on a firefighter’s home.
In 1946 the Roberts Park Fire Department was granted a charter by the State of Illinois. This marked the official start of the Roberts Park Fire Protection District. At that time the fire district encompassed a large portion of what was to be the City of Hickory Hills, the Village of Justice, and the Village of Bridgeview. Citizens of the area donated land and construction materials and the firefighters constructed a centrally located fire station at 8616 S. 79th Court. This served the department until the present station was built in 1973.
When tax revenues became available to Roberts Park, the district purchased a new 1949 Mack pumper. This vehicle remained in service until 1991 when it was sold to a collector. In 1956 radio communications were installed in all department vehicles and the areas first ambulance was purchased. Further communication enhancements were made to allow the all volunteer staff to be notified of calls by home alert receivers and rooftop siren. The rooftop siren has since be relegated to emergency weather notification use in conjunction with the City of Hickory Hills and Village of Justice warning sirens.
In 1974 the Village of Bridgeview deannexed from the Roberts Park Fire Protection District. The department lost one third of its tax base and revenue as a result. In response to a growing need for revenue, the formation of an ambulance district was proposed and approved by voters. Unlike municipal fire departments that receive revenue from sales tax, a fire protection district’s main source of income is property tax.
In 1970 Robert Rasch was appointed as the first full-time fire chief. In May of 1971 the Board of Trustees appointed the first Board of Fire Commissioners to conduct the hiring of full-time personnel. Shortly thereafter, full-time firefighter/paramedics were added to supplement the volunteer staff. The full-time staff slowly increased to four members per shift and volunteer members became paid-on-call due to the increasing call volume. In 1990, after the retirement of Chief Rasch, Joseph Fijalkowski became the second full time fire chief. Under Fijalkowski, full-time staffing rose to five members per shift and part-time members were introduced. Also during Chief Fijalkowski’s tenure, an addition was constructed on the firehouse to help alleviate the cramped conditions of a growing department. Not only were calls increasing, the department increased its training, involvement in public education, and became part of the area’s Hazardous Materials Team. The addition to the firehouse provided classrooms, offices, vehicle bays, and badly needed storage areas. In 2001, after 35 years of service, Chief Fijalkowski retired and William Doherty was promoted to Chief. Chief Doherty, like his predecessors, is faced with meeting the increasing needs of the community. The department is now comprised of full-time and part-time personnel. To better utilize the personnel, full-time and part-time personnel combine to staff the station on a 24-hour basis.
When the Fire District first began, the City of Hickory Hills had and Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating of 9, with 1 being the best. Over the years with improvements made by the Fire District in personnel, training, apparatus, in conjunction with the City of Hickory Hills and the Village of Justice improving municipal water systems, the ISO rating improved to a 3 in both municipalities that lie within the Roberts Park Fire Protection District boundaries.
Roberts Park is involved in response agreements with neighboring fire departments to enhance response capabilities on a daily basis. This mutual aid system, called MABAS, stretches from southern Wisconsin to St. Louis suburbs and includes fire, rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, water rescue, and fire investigation. The agreement provides response resources in a timely manner anywhere in this region. In 2001, Roberts Park responded to 2,062 alarms.
Officially, the Roberts Park Fire Protection District is 56 years old. In that time the District has grown from the prairie wagon with an all volunteer staff, to a 47 member combination full-time/part-time staff with a fleet of 13 vehicles. The growth and success of the District is a product of the dedication of past and present members and continued community and taxpayer support.
