Department has battled fires since ’74

North Warren Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1974 in the last area of Warren County to get volunteer fire protection.

Chief Kevin Duncan currently oversees the department and Matt Welcome is the assistant chief. The first fire chief was Glenn Vandagriff.

The first station was situated where Ace Fence Co. is presently located at 7454 Smithville Highway. At the time, it was an old gas station and North Warren Volunteer Fire Department operated out of two bays with apparatus including a 1954 Chevrolet pumper convertible.

In 1977, station one was moved to its present location at 9086 Smithville Highway on land donated by Russell and Emily Jones. In 1984, station two, located on Bluff Springs Road, was built on land leased from Wayside Community Center. Then in 1995, station three, located on Judge Warren Road, was built on land donated to the fire department by Milburn Scott.

The North Warren Volunteer Fire Department has 24 personnel who volunteer their services and time 24/7. All firefighters are FireFighter One certified and vehicle extrication certified as well. North Warren also has five members who are licensed EMT-IVs and seven first-responders. The department has equipment and vehicles that includes two pumpers, two tankers, and two brush trucks.

The North Warren Volunteer Fire Department coverage area borders Campaign/Rock Island, Centertown and DeKalb County. In 2006, the department answered between 160 to 170 calls in the North Warren area.

The department also performs medical emergency runs with the first-responder program. The department has applied for and received grants throughout the years.

In 2001, North Warren received a grant for SCBA (airpacks) and a compressor. In 2004, a grant was received for turnout gear and a thermal imaging camera. North Warren Fire Department is solely subscriber funded.