"THE DESIRE TO SERVE, THE COURAGE TO ACT"
Dongola (IL) Fire Department is in Union County of Southernmost Illinois, midway between Carbondale and Cairo. The department is all-volunteer, with 19 members.
Our immediate response area covers about 66 square miles. We have mutual aid agreements with all surrounding departments as well an agreement with the United States Forest Service in the Shawnee National Forest.
Emergencies 911 or 618-833-5500
Village Hall - 618-827-4343
Chief - Joey Ferguson
Asst. Chief - Larry Eddleman
Fire Station phone (not always manned) - 827-3420
Fire paging frequency 153.860
Fire radio onsite 154.400
State Police, Ullin 845-3740 non-emerg, 845-3737 emergency
P.O. Box 250
310 Old US Highway 51
Dongola, IL 62926
info -at- dongolafire.org
Our fire station is at the north edge of town, near the school and clinic. It was built in ... kitchen, meeting & training room.
Dongola
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Since 1923
In August, 1923, the citizens of Dongola, through a persistent effort of the town board, purchased a chemical fire fighting apparatus and a volunteer fire fighting company was organized.
The purpose of Dongola Firefighting Company No. 1 will be to do all work possible to save the lives and property of Dongola and elsewhere if relief work calls us to other localities. We ask the hearty co-operation of every citizen of our hometown that we may all serve justly, honorably and for the good of all.
George A. Meisenheimer was elected chief, Clyde Karraker assistant chief, Aaron Capron, Ado Karraker and Elvis Coleman as firemen, and Estus Cope as fire truck driver.
The first call was on the night of August 22, 1923 when a spark from a passing locomotive on the I.C.R.R. set fire to the grass on the Neibauer lot. A dead tree caught fire and burned fiercely, throwing sparks on and near the Neibauer and Co. flour mill, making it possible for the mill to be in danger of burning. The danger was quickly eliminated and Run No. 1 for the Dongola Fire Co was recorded.
[The Neibauer mill, later the Keller mill, was at the north edge of town, behind the Shell station later run by Estus Cope.]
The chemical engine has paid for itself many times over and by working it vigorously we can still get something out of it.
--- from Dongola Record, 1931
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First Line of Community Defense
Volunteers comprise 73% of firefighters in the United States. Of the total estimated 1.1 million volunteer and paid firefighters across the country, 800,000 are volunteer.
Communities served by volunteer firefighters depend on them to be their first line of defense for many types of emergencies. Volunteer firefighters are summoned to a wide array of emergencies across the country every day including fires, emergency medical incidents, terrorist events, natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, water rescue emergencies, high-angle and confined space emergencies, and other general public service calls. The public relies on the volunteer emergency services to be their first line of defense in these emergencies.
The majority of fire departments in the United States are volunteer. Of the total 30,542 fire departments in the country, 21,671 are all volunteer. Services contributed by volunteer firefighters save localities across the country an estimated $37.2 billion per year.
The number of Volunteer Firefighters in the United States has declined more than 10% since 1983. Major factors contributing to the decline include increased time demands, more rigorous training standards, and the proliferation of two-income families whose members do not have time to volunteer. --nvfc.org
Dongola
