The Northern Piatt Fire Protection District has been serving the community for nearly 80 years. Established in 1947, Northern Piatt began as one of the state's outstanding firefighting units exclusively devoted to farmers. The founders were known as "farmer-firemen" at the original Northern Piatt County Fire Department No. 1 in Mansfield, Illinois. This first firehouse still stands today at the corner of Oliver Street and Washington Street, directly south of the Mansfield Post Office.

Today's Northern Piatt County Firefighters remember the very first fire call as if they were the original responders from nearly eight decades ago. A news article written by Lynn Ruester, still circulating around the station, tells the story:

Farmer and Fire Chief Clark Dickson recalls the event vividly. He was driving the truck that cold winter night in 1947. “A farmhouse was burning, and we got called out. We didn’t have any heat in the garage where we kept our truck, and sure enough, the engine was frozen. We made it out to the fire, but then we couldn’t get the pumps working. We had all our men out (26 firemen) trying everything we could to thaw the pumps.” Dickson continued,  "We adapted and overcame as any good fireman should do and we put a handle on the fire dispite the freezing temperatures". 

But even this first story had a happy ending. After tinkering with the engine, they got the pumps working, and Northern Piatt County Fire Protection District Number 1 subdued its first fire. When the Fire Department returned to the station in Mansfield that night, they agreed on one point: the only fire they’d ever let burn was in the furnace heating their garage. Northern Piatt takes pride in overcoming challenges from the very beginning.

The department continued to serve a territory of approximately 70 square miles, and records show that at one point, there were 270 farm improvements located within the district, making an average cost of $7 per farm improvement for fire protection. This was crucial for the farmers living in or around the Blue Ridge township, as they would have a fire department when they needed one. The first generation of Mansfield’s volunteers built up an “esprit de corps” that rivaled the spirit of full-time, paid city departments. The department had to set a maximum number of firefighters they were allowed to keep (26 men). There was a waiting list to become a member, although the waiting list also remained full as the current firefighters were having too much fun.

Today, Northern Piatt Fire continues to instill the same spirit and pride of work that previous generations passed on. The district has expanded to 100 square miles, covering Northern Piatt County and parts of Dewitt, Champaign, and McLean Counties. Times change, bigger and safer equipment arrives, but the same principles still apply to the dedicated individuals at Northern Piatt Fire. Northern Piatt Firefighters will continue to provide a high level of service to the community. In eight decades, their stories will be shared around the firehouse.

Stay tuned for more history to come!