The Waterloo Fire Department was organized on January 8^th, 1887 and consisted of a hose company, an engine company, a hook and Ladder Company & a supply company.  The department officers consisted of the Chief, Assistant Chief, President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Each of the four companies were under the direct

Supervision of a Foreman and Assistant Foreman, they started out with 66 members.  Today we operate with 45 members; some of them are both Fire Fighters and EMT’s.  

The first Fire Station was located on Madison Street , where the present day Nietzel Hardware & Car Quest is located.  This fire station was located here until 1899, when a new fire station was built.  This new station was located also on Madison Street , but farther east, next to what is now Stubby’s Bowl & bordering the Maunesha River .  It was used for both a Fire Station and City Hall.  This station housed the fire equipment; it also contained the city jail located in a separate part of the building.  

In 1905 the firemen built the Waterloo Firemen’s Park; the park then had a baseball field, a pavilion, restrooms, a now historic Carousel.  The Firemen’s Park over the past 20 years has changed its look several times.  We now have 3 baseball fields, a softball field, a soccer field, a walk path, the Carousel is still in working order, most of the buildings have been restored and remodeled, and there is a bridge that will take you from the park and follow the path right to the Fire Station.  We will be adding another baseball field in the next few years.  We are hoping to celebrate the 100 year birthday of the park this summer.  Details are still in the works.   

In 1964 a new Fire Station was built, it had three apparatus bays, a meeting room, kitchen, radio room, bathroom with shower, and an area for the fireman to relax after a calls.  This Fire Station was located on North Monroe Street , where the New City Hall and Waterloo Police Department is today.  In 1964 a Federal Fire Siren alerted the firemen that there was a fire call.

In 1945 the Waterloo Fire Department started providing emergency medical care to the community of Waterloo. The department purchased a Resuscitator Unit to be used by trained members of the fire department in conjunction with the first aid care administered by members.  When the Waterloo Fire Department started its EMS division in 1966, it started out with 10 members under the medical direction of Dr John Garman.  The Waterloo Fire Department was the second fire department in the state of Wisconsin to have a based EMS Service.   Today we operate under the Medical Direction of Dr Benjamin Schmidt, with 23 EMT’s. 

In 1998 the Waterloo Fire Department built the current station that we are in.  On the East side of the City of Waterloo , in the industrial park.  We have five apparatus bays, a communications room, ready room, meeting/kitchen area, sleeping quarters, showers, decontamination room, offices for all officers, treasurer, and the chief, a mezzanine with a weight and exercise room, hose drying room that also has an air compressor refill station for our Drager SCBA’s, EMS Supply Room, and a mechanics room. We also have a training tower, on the east side of our station. 

The Waterloo Fire Department also operates a Lifeline Program affiliated with the Columbus Hospital , a Child Alert Program, public education, and community fire education and other community related programs.