The original Greendale Fire Station in 1939.
The Greendale Fire Department has many years of proud and dedicated service to this community. In May of 1938, the new residents began moving into the community with its' 572 urban housing units, business center, school, utilities, paved streets, parks and playgrounds. Surrounding the Village were 13 working dairy farms. During late August, Greendale began to be reasonably populated; the need for adequate fire protection became apparent. By September 1938, an organized Volunteer Fire Department was started, consisting of 28 volunteer members, equipped with a 1937 Howe Fire Engine. Members of the Milwaukee Fire Department conducted Firefighting training.
In the department's first year they answered 30 alarms ranging from a little girl locked in a bathroom to barn fire. The Fire Department was divided into two shifts, days and nights, each shift having an Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant as well as Firefighters and drivers.
The Fire Department, Police Department and Department of public works were all located in two buildings in the Village Center. A siren was located on the roof of the building and sounded for alarms to notify the volunteers. There were 6 alarm boxes, strategically located within the Village that would activate the siren.
As the population and housing grew in the Village, the need for on duty personnel became necessary. The first three full-time Firefighters were appointed to the Department in May 1965. At that time, they worked a nine-hour day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and were hired primarily to supplement the volunteer force whose members found it difficult to offer their time in the afternoon and early evening hours. On January 1, 1968, the department went to 24-hour shifts working a 72-hour work schedule. In 1971 the department had three shifts working a 56-hour work schedule. Staffing level has remained the same, with 19 full-time personnel, a Chief, 3 Captains, 3 Lieutenants, 12 full-time Firefighters, and 16 Paid-on-Call Firefighters. The department responds to an average of 1,700 per year.
