The Mission of the Belleville Fire Department is to provide Fire Safety and Prevention Education, Inspection, Suppression, Investigation, and Hazardous Material Mitigation for the Community. To provide the highest level of service for the level of resources provided to the department and to be highly trained and physically fit.
In 1841, Belleville's first fire department was organized. This was a volunteer department with two fire stations. By 1878, the City Council authorized a pay schedule for it's' firefighters. In 1918, Belleville's fire fighters unionized and became Charter members of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Belleville Fire Fighters Local 53, as a charter member of the I.A.F.F., is very active in the community and surrounding area.
By the 1920's Belleville was a growing community with two engine houses. In 1932 a third engine house was opened in the West End of Belleville at 6200 West Main Street. This engine house gave the city three strategically located engine houses with thirty-three fire fighters in the Department. A fourth engine house was recently opened on January 12, 2009 to keep up with the increasing population and growth of the City.
In the 1950's, The Belleville Fire Department had changed its' work week from a seventy-two hour week to a fifty-six hour work week. In 1971 the department changed to a forty-two hour work week.
In 1985, Engine House No. 2 was relocated to 2200 West Washington Street from its former location at 30 North 12th Street. In 1995, Engine House No.1 was relocated from 14 South Jackson Street to its new location at 315 Carlyle Avenue.
The four engine houses are manned 24/7 by a full time contingent of sixty State Certified firefighters, four Battalion Chiefs, three Chief Officers and two administrative assistants. The fire fighters are divided into four battalions of fifteen on duty per day. They work a forty-two hour work week. The Belleville Fire Department does not run EMS service, as this service is provided by private ambulance companies. January, 2009 the Fire Administration Offices moved to a new complex with the 4 Engine House at 1125 South Illinois Street, Belleville, Illinois.
The Belleville Fire Department operates eight pieces of modern fire fighting equipment with a total pumping capacity of 13,000 GPM. We operate three ladder companies; a 100 foot KME aerial truck and a 75 foot E-ONE aerial. The KME aerial truck was delivered new in May of 1997 and the E-ONE aerial was acquired new in February of 2001. In January, 2009 a 75 foot Pierce aerial truck was put into service.
The Front line pumper apparatus are a 1991 Pierce, and twin E-ONE Typhoon pumpers, one acquired in 2003 and one in 2004. Both E-ONE pumpers carry 1000 gallons of water and the 1991 Pierce holds 750 gallons. First responding pumpers and the 75 foot E-ONE aerial also do double-duty as Rescue apparatus and are fully equipped with state-of- the- art rescue/ extrication equipment and heavy duty air bags.
The Belleville Fire Department is very visible in the area of fire safety and fire prevention. Our firefighters operate a fire safety trailer that is taken to all of the elementary schools in the city annually, during October and November. Thousands of school children have been through the house and have heard our program since it's inception in the 1980's. They always enjoy the safety lessons brought to them by the firefighters and their robotic Fire Hydrant friend "Pluggie." We also conduct in-service programs for senior citizens, nursing homes and businesses within the city.
Our firefighters also conduct safety inspections of over 1,950 businesses in the City. Business inspections are conducted at least once a year for all commercial occupancies. There is an inspection fee for this service, with a $25.00 minimum fee and a $150.00 maximum based on square footage.
The Department has Certified Child Safety Seat Installation Technicians on staff that are available to the public for proper car seat installation and instruction. Appointments can be made by contacting the Fire Chief's Office.
Permits for recreational bonfires within the City are required and can be obtained through the Fire Chief's Office as well.
The Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau does construction plan review for all new businesses and multi-family construction within the city. The Fire Prevention Bureau enforces the 2006 International Building Code for new construction and the 2006 International Fire Code for existing buildings. We also work with the Office of the State Fire Marshal for the State of Illinois for underground storage tank enforcement and other areas handled by the State Fire Marshal.
The Belleville Fire Department currently holds a Class 3 ISO rating.
The Belleville Fire Department is a member of M.A.B.A.S Division 32, a mutual aid agreement that includes most of the Fire departments in St. Clair County and the St. Louis, MO City Fire Department. M.A.B.A.S. (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) divisions throughout the state of Illinois, provide a structured means of obtaining or supplying resources in times of need to all fire departments that need assistance.