Tradition, Service and Volunteerism 

  On October 11, 1907, the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Department was chartered. Edgar H. McChesney, village president, appointed Harry J. Blackburn Fire Chief and 22 men were enrolled to serve as volunteer firefighters, during a village hall meeting.

 Today the tradition lives on, the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company is still completely volunteer. From the Chief to the rank of firefighter, the 60 men and women who serve as volunteers today are always ready to help, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some of them may very well live next door or down the street - and one probably does.

 Our firefighters remain some of the most dedicated neighbors you will ever have. They are also some of the most experienced, highly-trained and professional firefighters anywhere. With over 700 years of experience in firefighting and rescue services, the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company is constantly renewing itself with the latest in fire service equipment and training.

 They Volunteer for the same reason the 23 men did nearly a 100 years ago, because they care and they want to keep Glen Ellyn a great and safe place to live!

 In the middle of the night,

during a family dinner,

on special holidays, and

in the midst of extreme weather,

62 volunteer firefighters answer the call.

The next call may be from you.

 Glen Ellyn’s volunteer firefighters are neighbors and friends. They are accountants, pilots, business owners, executives, nurses, lawyers, salespeople and municipal employees.  Their children attend our schools and play on our sports teams.  They are just like us, save one difference: when the alarm sounds, they drop whatever they are doing and risk their lives to help a neighbor in need.

In 2011, the 62 men and women of Glen Ellyn’s Volunteer Fire Company:

·         Donated 9,300 hours, responding to 940 fire and 2,070 ambulance calls

·         Answered over 3,000 calls, an average of 8 per day

·         Trained for more than 10,000 hours on Sunday mornings and Monday nights

·         Earned a salary of $1.00 (for 300 hours of service)

·         Saved the taxpayers an estimated $3.5 million dollars

At the end of their career, firefighters who retire with at least 15 years of service receive a one-time benefit of $1,000 for each year of service.   This is meant to offset the time, talent and treasure given by these men and women in appreciation of their service to the Village of Glen Ellyn and the residents of the Glen Ellyn Fire Protection District.