Officially established in 1911

 1908

A bucket brigade was formed in DeForest.

February 13, 1911

DeForest Fire Department was formed by 11 men, Tom Farness was elected as the first Chief.

October 1911

Dyson Bennet made the first fire wagon to carry hose and buckets for $40.

September 1912

A new fire station was built, and the fire bell was mounted in front of the station, totaling $110.

1925

Regular fire inspections were made on area homes and businesses.

1928

The fire department acquired its first motorized fire truck.

September 11, 1931

The fire department purchased Fireman’s Park for $800.

December 1, 1932

The fire department asked the village board for steel helmets, raincoats, and rubber boots to outfit firefighters.

1950

A third motorized truck, a Seagrave Pumper is added to the fleet along with uniforms for the firefighters, smoke masks, and a resuscitator.

1961

Fire phones replaced the fire bell (Someone would call the switchboard operator to report a fire and they would ring the 10 fire phones throughout the district and sound the fire whistle).

April 1, 1963

Construction of the new station around the old station began. Members of the fire department donated their time to help with the construction. The fire bell was moved to the top of the building.

1967

A Chevy panel truck is purchased and equipped with a resuscitator and an industrial type first aid kit to respond to “rescue” calls to stabilize patients before Dane County Traffic Department’s station wagon ambulance could make it to the scene.

June 1973

Two firefighters enroll in EMT class.

1975

The department responded to 152 ambulance calls that year.

1976

The Windsor Fire Department dissolved and joined forces with The DeForest Fire Department.

January 1978

The first Hurst “Jaws of Life” rescue tool was purchased to replace the hydraulic porta-power tool.

June 1980

DeForest began being dispatched by the Dane County Communications Center.

1984

The department responded to 329 ambulance calls and 74 fire calls.

October 4, 1987

The fire department held its first open house for the public to look at apparatus and watch various demonstrations.

1991

The department responds to 428 ambulance calls.

1998

Roger Bjorge was hired as the first paid member of the department.

May 1999

The DeForest Fire & EMS department is recognized for 25 years of EMS service.

1999

DeForest EMS responded to approximately 800 ambulance calls.

2001

DeForest formed its first Extrication Team which competed in the Great Lakes extrication Competition in June and placed 3rd overall.

November 12, 2005

The Extrication Team competes in the National Extrication Competition in Las Vegas, NV.

October 2006

The Extrication Team competed in the International Extrication competition in Burlington, Canada where they placed 12th out of 30 teams and won the innovation of the year award.

2008

The Extrication Team participated in the National Extrication Competition in Chili, NY.

2010

The department responded to 168 fire calls, 882 ambulance calls and 87 combination fire/rescue calls.

February 13, 2011

The DeForest Area Fire & EMS department marked its 100th year of service.