Fire Department
Protection through Prevention & Preparedness
The Morton Grove Fire Department protects lives and property through emergency response, prevention, education, and public safety services. It works with partner organizations and agencies to support residents and businesses, and in any emergency, you should never hesitate to request assistance. Use the quick links below to learn more about our partner organizations and fire safety resources.
The Morton Grove Fire Department has a full-time professional staff of 45 members, including 40 sworn firefighters, who respond from two fire stations. View Organizational Chart
Our front line apparatus includes two ALS Engines, one Squad, two ALS Ambulances, and one Incident Command Vehicle.
The department participates in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 3 as well as the Illinois Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force 1. The MGFD is a member of the Regional Emergency Dispatch (RED) Center and the Northern IL Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA).
The department provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, extrication, fire prevention, code enforcement, public education, hazardous material response, technical rescue, fire investigation, water rescue and ice surface rescue. With auto aid and mutual aid agreements, our department provides outstanding service to Morton Grove and neighboring communities.
Vision Statement
To strive to achieve a level of service that consistently surpasses our customers’ expectations in the delivery of traditional and non-traditional fire and emergency medical services, with a focus on enhancing the quality of life in the Village of Morton Grove as an unrivaled partner and ultimate resource to the jurisdiction.
Motto
Protection through Prevention & Preparedness
Core Values
COURAGE – COMPETENCE – ADAPTABILITY
Every year, the Department issues an Annual Report that highlights its operations, achievements, and key metrics from the previous year. You can review the following Annual Reports:
- 2025 Annual Report
- 2024 Annual Report
- 2023 Annual Report
The Morton Grove Fire Department was established in 1904, nine years after the village of Morton Grove was organized.
The first horse drawn pumper was purchased that took 8-10 men to raise a stream if they could get a water supply. With no water system in the village, the firefighters were dependent upon wells, ponds, ditches, or even the river (now known as the North Branch of the Chicago River
A distinctive feature of the company is the locating of Pyrene fire extinguishers throughout the village where they are easily accessible. The object being to quench fires in their early infancy, or hold them in check until the arrival of the fire company.
By 1912 the village had its first water supply with a hydrant system. A year later the firefighters purchased a new Howe gasoline pumper.
The first motorized fire truck was a Studebaker that was purchased in 1916. This truck had a chassis and motor designed for use as a World War I ambulance. For 20 years it served the MGFD.
For many years the volunteers were called from their work or home throughout the community by several short blasts of the Poehlmann plant whistle. This was supplanted by a siren system installed in 1927.
In 1965, after 61 years of volunteer service, the MGFD went to a professional and full time paid department. An ambulance was purchased for the MGFD through gifts of $6000 from the American Legion, $2500 from Morton Grove Days, and the balance of $13,000 from gifts from industry and citizens. In 1969 the department answered 965 calls, 461 of which were for ambulance service.
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Headquarters – Station #4 6250 Lincoln Avenue Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Station #5 8954 Shermer Morton Grove, IL 60053 |
| INCIDENTS | |||
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Fire | 66 | 108 | 83 |
| Overpressure Rupture, Explosion, Overheat | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Rescue & Emergency Medical | 2626 | 2664 | 2262 |
| Hazardous Condition – No Fire | 93 | 93 | 108 |
| Service Call | 571 | 639 | 730 |
| Good Intent Call | 489 | 475 | 478 |
| False Alarm & False Call | 445 | 479 | 400 |
| Severe Weather & Natural Disaster | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Special Incident | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 4,295 | 4,464 | 3,476 |
“Be Alarmed!” is a fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program administered cooperatively between the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The program distributes fire safety education materials and 10-year sealed battery ionization technology smoke alarms to fire departments in the state of Illinois. Learn More.
Links and Resources
Dennis Kennedy, Fire Chief
fire@mortongroveil.org
Fire Station #4: 6250 Lincoln Avenue, Morton Grove, IL 60053
Fire Station #5: 8954 Shermer, Morton Grove, IL 60053
Emergencies: 9-1-1
P: (847) 470-5226 F: (847) 965-7711