History of the ALFPD

• Algonquin Fire Brigade established Fall of 1895
• First recorded purchase of Firefighting equipment was a 600' length of hose and nozzles for $315.75 on October 1, 1895.
• First mobile Firefighting equipment purchased was two used hose carts from the Village of Rock Island for $50 each on November 5, 1895.  Cost of these carts when they were new was $265 each.
• Ladders, axes, and play pipes (of the best kind) were purchased on January 7, 1896.
• On February 4, 1896 the Village of Algonquin paid $43.50 in labor to remodel and install a bell on the barn that housed one hose cart.  The barn was owned by Mr. Winholp located in the downtown area of the Village.
• The first recorded Fire Marshal appointed by Village President John Peter on February 4, 1896 was Marshal Charles Wandrock.
• May 5, 1896: the second hose cart barn was built on the school grounds for a cost of $51.30.
• Possibly the first fire hydrant was installed on December 12, 1896 in the Village in the area of the railroad tracks at a cost of $70.
• In 1911, the Fire Brigade moved into its new quarters which is presently the Historic Village Hall at 2 South Main Street.
• In 1926, the Algonquin Fire Department purchased their first motorized Fire Engine from Peter Pirsch & Sons in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
• September 9, 1950 was the first meeting of the newly formed Algonquin Fire Protection District.
  • Donald Baily was appointed Fire Chief and paid $100 per year.
  • Carl Berkley ws appointed Assistant Chief and paid $50 per year.
  • Trustees were: Walter Debb - President, Ray Platt - Secretary, John Culp - Treasurer
  • Firemen were: James Abbott, Lewis Albright, Albert Bohl, Kenneth Egerton, Carl Kublank Jr, William Markowitz, Claude Michaelis, Herman Naatz Jr, John Podhorsky, Harry Rick, Glen Ritt, Alvin Rogman, Clifford Rogman, Milton Schuett, William Simonini, Orval Wagner, and Paul Wendt.
• First Fire District bills were paid on November 14, 1950 totaling $319.71.
  • Fire District paid rent to the Village of Algonquin for Fire Truck storage at the rate of $25 per month.
• August 14, 1951: Firemen were given $2 per hour (for time putting out a fire)
• June 10, 1952: Paul Wendt was appointed Fire Chief and Bud Wagner was appointed Assistant Chief
• February 13, 1953: First fire phone installed in Fire Chief's house
• March 10, 1953: Trailer hitches were installed on all members' cars to pull boats
• January 12, 1954: new fire house bid from Enock S. Johnson was accepted totaling $32,536.17
• In 1954, the Fire Department moved into new quarters at 302 North Harrison Street in Algonquin
• In 1965, the Fire District opened its second fire house at 2 East Oak Street in Lake in the Hills
• In 1978, the name of the Fire District was changed to the "Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District"