Another historic perspective on the Evanston Fire Department (EFD) comes from Phil Stenholm, offering a detailed look at how ambulance services evolved in the city over several decades.
The EFD has been providing ambulance services to Evanston since 1976. However, the roots of emergency medical response in the city date back much further. Since 1913, Evanston firefighters had been responding to "inhalator calls"—a term used for medical emergencies involving breathing difficulties. Before that, the Evanston Police Department (EPD) was the primary provider of ambulance services, operating a horse-drawn ambulance from its headquarters as early as the 1890s.
In 1916, the EPD upgraded to an automobile ambulance, which was stored in a bay just east of the firehouse at 807 Grove Street. A major shift occurred in 1958 when the EPD and EFD entered into a "Police-Fire Cooperative Plan." Under this arrangement, police officers were cross-trained as firefighters. These two-man units, known as Car 31, Car 32, and Car 33, were equipped with stretchers, inhalators, first-aid supplies, fire extinguishers, axes, and turnout gear. They responded to a wide range of calls, including fires, ambulance runs, and inhalator incidents. Over time, these units were reduced to single-person crews, and the practice of cross-training ended, though the EPD continued to provide ambulance service using its three patrol station-wagons.
Meanwhile, the EFD maintained three stretcher-equipped staff cars—F-5 at Station #1, F-1 at Station #2, and F-3 at Station #5—as backup ambulances. These vehicles served as a secondary resource when the EPD’s ambulances were unavailable.
In the summer of 1974, the Illinois Department of Health loaned an MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) to the EFD for a 90-day trial. Though the EFD had no paramedics at the time and the unit lacked ALS (Advanced Life Support) equipment, it gave the department a chance to operate as the city’s primary ambulance service temporarily. The experience was well-received, especially by police officers who preferred not to handle ambulance duties. This led to the start of the EFD’s Paramedic Program at St. Francis Hospital in 1975, with the goal of transitioning ambulance services to the fire department by 1976.
Despite this, Mayor Jim Staples initially wanted the ambulance service to remain under the EPD, believing that having ambulances “on the street†24/7 was more effective than keeping them in fire stations. However, Police Chief William McHugh convinced him otherwise, citing the rising crime rate and the difficulty of managing both policing and ambulance duties.
The first EFD ambulance—a 1975 Dodge van MICU equipped with ALS gear donated by Washington National Insurance Company—was placed into service at Station #1 in January 1976. It was staffed by three firefighters: two paramedics and one trainee. Ambulance 1 responded to all EMS calls across the city, often working alone within its district or with support engines elsewhere.
When a call came in, the senior paramedic on board would determine if it required BLS (Basic Life Support) or ALS care. If it was ALS, Ambulance 1 handled it; if BLS, a police station wagon or another EFD vehicle would relieve it to allow for quicker turnaround.
In 1976, the City Council approved the purchase of a second MICU ambulance, and plans were made to staff both with two-paramedic crews and disband Squad 21. However, tragedy struck in November 1976 when Ambulance 1 was nearly destroyed in a collision caused by a drunk driver. At the time, Ambulance 2 was still on order, so the Skokie Fire Department loaned an old Cadillac ambulance to Evanston. Though not an MICU, it served as a temporary replacement until the new ambulance arrived, after which Evanston purchased the Cadillac and kept it as a reserve unit.
Ambulance 2 was placed into service in January 1977, and both Ambulance 1 (the Skokie Cadillac) and the new MICU operated from Station #1. Ambulance 2 took all first-call EMS runs, while Ambulance 1 was used for fire calls and EMS when necessary. The original Ambulance 1 was later repaired and returned to service, but the response plan remained unchanged.
By 1978, the Cadillac ambulance—now called Ambulance 3—was equipped with ALS gear and became a third ambulance, manned only when needed. In 1980, two new Ford modular MICUs were added, replacing the older models. The old Ambulance 2 became Ambulance 3, and the layout of the ambulance assignments changed accordingly.
Over the years, the EFD continuously adjusted its ambulance response strategies. By 1982, a system was introduced where Ambulances 1 and 2 alternated responses, allowing crews to take breaks between calls. This improved efficiency, especially given the high volume of emergency calls.
In 1986, Ambulance 2 was moved to Station #4, and the city-wide coverage was restructured to ensure faster paramedic response. A "jump company" plan was introduced in 1989, pairing engine companies with ambulances, but it proved ineffective due to lack of engine coverage during long runs. The plan was abandoned the following year, and the system reverted to a more stable configuration.
The evolution of the EFD’s ambulance service reflects a complex history of collaboration, adaptation, and innovation, ultimately leading to a more efficient and responsive emergency medical system in Evanston.
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