In December of 1947, after many years of raging prairie fires and devastating structure fires, a group of early pioneers decided to purchase our first fire engine, a used 1941 Ford pumper from neighboring Bedford Park. A lean-to was quickly built on the east side of the “Community Building” located at 75th Street and Oketo Ave to house it out of the elements. Shortly after in early 1948, a volunteer fire department was established, however it wasn’t officially recognized by the State of Illinois until January of 1949. A siren was eventually affixed to the top of a nearby telephone pole to notify the volunteers of a fire call. In 1952 our original volunteer firefighters built the first actual firehouse, Station #2, in the “Gardens” through generous donations of building materials from many local businesses, including the 3M Corporation, Bridgeview Hardware and Paints, John A. Oremus/Prairie Materials and Bridgeview Lumber and Supply Company. Also, in 1952 a used 1937 Chevrolet/Central States pumper was purchased from Hazel Crest, IL. as Engine #2.

Our second firehouse, Station #1, was built in 1955 on the site of the present Village Hall building and served until 1973 before the construction and opening of the existing building in 1974. The Bridgeview American Legion donated a used 1951 Packard ambulance to the department in 1956.

Up until 1968, the Southfield area was protected by the Columbus Manor Fire Protection District. When the fire district was dissolved by annexation and the majority of it was taken over by the Oak Lawn Fire Department, Bridgeview provided fire protection for this unincorporated area east of Harlem Ave, by leasing the former firehouse at 91st and Oak Park Ave. Because of the original Village Limits ending south at 83rd Street, the Roberts Park Fire Protection District covered everything in Bridgeview south of 79th Street, west of Harlem Ave to 95th Street. 

In April of 1971, the Village of Bridgeview hired its first 4 full-time firefighters who were supplemented by a large quantity of volunteers. A total of 18 full-time firefighters were hired that year. A year later a petition was filed in court to disconnect from the Roberts Park Fire Protection District due to the annexation of land Bridgeview had acquired all the way to the southern end at 103rd St. May of 1973 was the disbanding of the Nottingham Park F.P.D., which their unincorporated area became the responsibility of the Bridgeview Fire Department.

In August of 1976 the Village of Bridgeview purchased the former Meyer Brothers refuge garage to be converted into Station #3. In August of 1981, there are 34 full-time members on the Bridgeview Fire Department.