Pocahontas - Old Ripley, Illinois - Fire, Rescue, & EMS services.
The Pocahontas - Old Ripley Fire Department as organized originally as the Pocahontas fire Department in the late 1860's to service the newly incorporated Village of Pocahontas. Initially a bucket brigade, they soon purchased a hand-drawn piece of fire equipment. In the 1920's, the first motorized fire truck was purchased-used. It was stored in the old Kirstein garage building which is still located on State Street. Fire phones activated the volunteers, which in turn relayed the phone message to other firemen.
In 1958, the Pocahontas-Old Ripley Fire Protection District was formed. It is the only fire department in Bond County providing Paramedic, Intermediate, and Basic services. The services are made possible through volunteer efforts organized by citizens who were concerned about the nearest ambulance service being 10 miles away. Many of the department's volunteer firefighters have given their own time to take EMS training. Today, the fire department has four pieces of fire equipment, two ambulances, and one heavy rescue truck. The fire department is supported through tax dollars, ambulance, fire & rescue billings, also proceeds from volunteer-organized events.
