From Phil Stenholm:
Another chapter in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.
KSC732 IS ON THE AIR!
In June 1952, the Evanston Fire Department took a major step into modern communication by purchasing two-way FM radios for $13,000. These devices were installed in all fire stations and on most EFD vehicles. The purchase was funded through a bond issued in 1951. Although the system initially faced issues with interference from a local taxi company, the problem was quickly resolved by engineers from Motorola.
The introduction of the radio system led to the adoption of the "20-series" numbering system in 1952. This change helped avoid confusion with other nearby fire departments that shared the same frequency. For example, Engine 1 became Engine 21, Truck 2 became Truck 22, and so on. A new pumper/rescue unit was designated as Squad 21. Chief Henry Dorband used the call sign “F-1,†which he had previously used on the police department’s frequency after acquiring a two-way radio-equipped Mercury car in 1951.
Evanston ended up sharing its frequency with fire departments in Wilmette, Winnetka, Northfield, Glencoe, and Highland Park. Unlike the Chicago Fire Department, which used repeaters on its main frequencies, these suburban departments did not have such systems. As a result, transmissions from one department could sometimes interfere with another.
The Evanston Police Department’s base station received the FCC-assigned call sign KSA580 in 1951, while the EFD’s base station got KSC732 in 1952. The station at Fire Station #1 was known as “KSC732 – the desk,†or simply “732 – the desk.†Stations #2, #3, and #4 had call signs KSC733, KSC734, and KSC735 respectively. Fire Station #5 received KSD841 when it opened in 1955.
The EFD conducted two daily radio tests: one at 8 AM and another at 8 PM. Each station had to confirm receipt by stating its call sign. If a unit was out on a call, the test might be delayed or even canceled during an emergency.
Each company officer was responsible for tracking the status of their fellow units. For instance, the officer of Engine Co. 24 needed to know if Engine Co. 23 was in or out of service, as this could affect their response area. Officers would announce changes over the radio, often using the station's call sign or just the last three digits.
Initially, both police and fire radio consoles were located on the second floor of the police station, near the stairs leading to Fire Station #1. Later, they were moved to the first floor, next to the police complaint desk, far from Station #1.
Communication operators were civilian employees supervised by a police sergeant. Their salaries were split between the police and fire departments. Before 1975, operators were mostly men, often retired officers or firefighters. Good memory, clear speech, and multitasking skills were essential—typing was not required.
All fire calls, inhalator alerts, and details were broadcast over the EFD radio. Operators announced emergencies like fires, automatic alarms, and trash fires. Meanwhile, a firefighter at Station #1 usually handled non-emergency calls, such as lockouts or odor investigations.
A four-second horn tone was sounded before any important announcement, including fire calls, inhalator alerts, and routine tests. This unique sound, activated by a doorbell-like button, couldn’t be stopped once started and would cut through any ongoing conversation. There were only two buttons—one in the police radio room and one at the Fire Station #1 desk.
Operators didn’t assign companies to calls. Instead, they announced the type and location twice, followed by the time and the EFD call sign. The radio then turned into a conference line. Companies due to respond would acknowledge, and it was up to the platoon commander to ensure the right units were dispatched.
This old-fashioned system, dating back to 1952, remained in place until 1982. It was a unique part of Evanston’s firefighting history, showing how early communication shaped the way emergency services operated.
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