The Mundelein Fire Department was established on September 4, 1924. Mr. Ray Wells was the first Chief of the Fire Department and held that position until 1935. There have been 14 Chiefs since that time, including the current Chief, Tim Sashko, who was appointed on October 22, 2007. In 1929 the original fire station was contained in the current Mundelein Village Hall located at 440 E. Hawley St. The fire department then moved into its own facility in 1947.

Mr. A. C. Kracklauer, President of The Sparkler Mfg. Co., donated the property for the station, which at that time was located directly across from the fire station. Between 1952 and 1961, five separate additions were added to the building. Our first motorized fire pumper was donated to the Village by the late Cardinal Mundelein in 1925. The pumper was a 1925 Stoughton, which was received at a ceremony held at the St. Mary of the Lake Seminary on July 4, 1925. This truck was in service until 1945 when it was replaced by a Chevrolet fire engine.

On January 1, 1958, the Mundelein-Countryside Fire Department agreed to become separate fire departments. Construction of the new Countryside Fire Department began in October of that year. This station, which is still in operation, is located on Midlothian Rd. south of Route 60/83.

The Village hired the first full time firefighter in January 1970. Later that same year, two more full time employees were added. In addition to the Chief and the 3 full time employees, 26 paid-on-call firefighters responded to alarms. In 1997 the Mundelein Fire Department had 15 full time firefighters and 26 part-time firefighters. The Chief, one Deputy Chief, one Captain and 4 Lieutenants comprised the supervisory staff of the fire department.

As of 2003 all of the staff, both career and part-time are certified by the State of Illinois as Firefighter II and EMT. In addition, there are 21 State Certified Paramedics; 5 Underwater Rescue Team Divers; 3 Below Grade Rescue Specialists; 7 Fire Prevention Bureau Inspectors; 3 Hazardous Materials Specialists; 3 High Angle Rescue Specialists and 3 Structural Collapse Specialists.

The Mundelein Fire Department took delivery of two new vehicles in early January and February of that year, a 1998 Road Rescue Ambulance and a 1998 Pierce Sabre Pumper. These two pieces of apparatus replaced the 1984 Ambulance and 1969 Mack Pumper.

The Mundelein Fire Department occupies two state of the art fire stations. Station 1 is situated behind the Dominick’s, on Midlothian Road. This is the main headquarters of the Fire Department and was operational in the year 2000. Station 2 is located at Rt. 45 and Hickory, this station was operational in the summer of 1999.