{"id":10,"date":"2021-01-12T09:23:23","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T09:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ld-wp73.template-help.com\/wordpress\/prod_30313\/v1\/?page_id=10"},"modified":"2023-04-27T11:08:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T17:08:06","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/?page_id=10","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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About The Chatham Fire Department<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Chatham Community Fire Protection District was formed in 1928 and has continuously provided fire protection services to the Village of Chatham and the surrounding communities since its inception.<\/p>

Our station is located on Illinois Route 4 in the Village of Chatham, Illinois.<\/p>

The Chatham Community Fire Protection District covers over 75 square miles encompassing the Village of Chatham and the surrounding area. We provide over 17,500 residents within this District outstanding Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services. We are a combination Fire Department comprised of several dedicated paid and volunteer members.<\/p>

The District is governed by a three member board of Trustees whom are appointed by the Sangamon County Board. Our operational staffing includes three full-time Chief Officers, twenty-two volunteer positions, and fifteen full-time firefighter positions. Our support staff includes a three member Board of Fire Commissioners, an Office Manager and Administrative Assistant, a Chaplain, and a Department Photographer.<\/p>

The Chatham Community Fire Protection District are members of: M.A.B.A.S. Division 48; Illinois Fire Chiefs Association; Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts; Sangamon County Fire Chiefs Association; South County Fire Protection District Association; and Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Department History<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1928<\/h4>

The Chatham Fireman’s Association was formed on the 27th day of February of 1928. The Office of the Secretary of State in Illinois certified that the Chatham Fireman’s Association was a legally organized Corporation under the laws of the State of Illinois on the 19th day of March 1928.<\/p>

The by-laws were written, passed, approved and recorded on the 7th day of May 1928. W. Everett Cary became the first Fire Chief of the Chatham Fireman’s Association and remained in this position for 21 years until May of 1949. The firefighter’s of the day met in what was known as Woodman Hall. The equipment at that time consisted of one engine, one ladder, 800′ of fire hose, 3 lengths of suction hose, lanterns, wrenches, nozzles, buckets, flash light, crow bar, fire pole, fire extinguisher, fire coats, boots and hats. They responded the fire truck from Cary’s Garage where they rented storage space for it.<\/p>

The firefighter’s of this era were called to the firehouse by way of a siren that was mounted on the top of the 125′ water tower located in the square across from Cary’s Garage.<\/p>

1932<\/h4>

The Chatham Fireman’s Association met any place they could gather for a few years. They held their monthly meetings in firefighter’s homes, firefighter’s front porches or the Odd Fellow Hall. The Association began meeting at Cary’s Garage, also known as Cary Chevrolet Sales located on the square in Chatham, Illinois on and off during this time as well.<\/p>

1934<\/h4>

In 1934, the Association began to hold their meetings more regularly at Cary’s Garage.<\/p>

1937<\/h4>

In 1937, the Association began to hold their meetings more regularly at the Community Building, with an occasional meeting being held at Cary’s Garage.<\/p>

1949<\/h4>

On the 8th of March of 1949, a petition was filed to establish and fix the boundaries of the proposed Chatham Community Fire Protection District.<\/p>

In May of 1949, Lester Wiley became the second Fire Chief and remained in this position for 15 years until June of 1964.<\/p>

In July , the Chatham Board of Trustees approved to purchase fire apparatus from Central Fire Truck Company of St. Louis and in October appropriated $10,752.00 for that purchase.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fire Chiefs of the Department<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Chatham Fire Protection District has had only a few individuals that they have called Chief since the fire protection district was formed in 1928. To date, there have only been ten individuals elected or appointed to this position.<\/p>\n

The first Fire Chief of the Chatham Community Fire Protection District was Everett Cary who served in this position for 21 years. Everett Cary also holds the distinction of having the longest tenure as Chief. Gerald Hughes holds the distinction of being the only individual elected twice to be the Fire Chief. He was elected in March of 1979 and served through June of 1984, then again from June of 1992 through June of 1994.<\/p>\n

Through the early 1990’s the Fire Chief was elected each year by the membership of the department. He in turn appointed his staff officers each year. With the advent of full-time staffing and a new station looming, the Chatham Fire Protection District Board of Trustees removed this process from the membership and appointed their first full-time Fire Chief, Bruce Osborne. Chief Osborne saw the Chatham Fire Protection District through the transition from a volunteer department to a combination department along with the building of our current station.<\/p>\n

The Fire Chief’s names and their years of service are as follows:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Philip G. Schumer
Oct, 2005 to Aug, 2022<\/p>

Bruce A. Osborne
Jun, 1994 to Jun, 2005<\/p>

Gerald M. Hughes
Jun 1992 to Jun, 1994<\/p>

Michael D. Branham
Jun, 1989 to Jun, 1992<\/p>

Gerald L. Baulos
Jun, 1984 to Jun, 1989<\/p>

Gerald M. Hughes
Mar, 1979 to Jun, 1984<\/p>

Richard B. Estill
Jun, 1978 to Mar, 1979<\/p>

Russell R. Cloyd
Jul, 1964 to Feb, 1978<\/p>

Charles W. Nichelson
Jun, 1964 to Jul, 1964<\/p>

Lester Wiley
May, 1949 to Jun, 1964<\/p>

W. Everett Cary
May, 1928 to May, 1949<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fire Commissioners History<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In Honor of Those Whom Have Served as Fire Commissioner for the Chatham Community Fire Protection District
with Overwhelming Dedication, Outstanding Performance, and Exemplary Service Given in the Interest of Public Safety.<\/p>

James W. Hoskinson
Sep 2021 to Present<\/p>

Kevin S. Bell
May 2020 to May 2021<\/p>

Dan Holden
Dec 2018 to Present<\/p>

Steven A. Sullivan
Oct 2016 to May 2020<\/p>

Shane Hill
Jul 2009 to Present<\/p>

Charles E. Bliefnick
May 2007 to Aug 2016<\/p>

Paula J. Staab-Polk
Sep 2006 to Dec 2018<\/p>

Troy D. Bell
Sep 2006 to Jun 2009<\/p>

Michelle A. Bulinski
Sep 2006 to Dec 2006<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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District Trustees History<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In Honor of Those Whom Have Served as Board Members of the Chatham Community Fire Protection District
with Overwhelming Dedication, Outstanding Performance, and Exemplary Service Given in the Interest of Public Safety.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Served As President<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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George A. Perkins
June 2021 to Present<\/p>

Gerald M. Hughes
Dec 2008 to May 2021<\/p>

Steven A. Sullivan
Jun 2004 to Nov 2008<\/p>

Walter Nowak
Jun 1979 to May 2004<\/p>

Ralph C. Jacobs
Jun 1956 to May 1979<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kevin S. Bell
June 2021 to Present<\/p>

George A. Perkins
Feb 2009 to May 2021<\/p>

Michael D. Branham
Jun 1996 to May 2008<\/p>

Ivan L. McBride
Apr 1986 to May 1996<\/p>

John D. McMillan
Sep 1981 to Feb 1986<\/p>

Ed Bobell
Jan 1978 to August 1981<\/p>

William C. Skaggs
Jun 1956 to March 1971<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Gary L. Mueller
Oct 2008 to Present<\/p>

Don E. Butler
Aug 1977 to Jun 2008<\/p>

John J. Workman
Jun 1956 to Dec 1977<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

About The Chatham Fire Department The Chatham Community Fire Protection District was formed in 1928 and has continuously provided fire protection services to the Village of Chatham and the surrounding communities since its inception. Our station is located on Illinois Route 4 in the Village of Chatham, Illinois. The Chatham Community Fire Protection District covers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1912,"href":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions\/1912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cfd-il.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}