From Phil Stenholm:
Another installment in our series on 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 with the installation of two-way FM radios. Priced at $13,000, these radios were installed in fire stations and on most EFD vehicles. The purchase was funded by a 1951 bond issue. Initially, there were some technical issues with "bleed-over" interference from a local taxi company, but Motorola engineers quickly resolved the problem.
The use of the 20-series prefix began in 1952 to reduce confusion with other nearby fire departments that shared the same radio frequency. This helped distinguish Evanston’s units from those in Wilmette, Winnetka, Northfield, Glencoe, and Highland Park. 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 receiving a new radio-equipped Mercury car in 1951.
At the time, Evanston shared frequencies with several north suburban departments. Unlike the Chicago Fire Department, which used repeaters, these smaller departments did not, leading to occasional interference. This made clear communication even more important during emergencies.
The Evanston Police Department received its FCC-assigned call sign KSA580 in 1951, while the Fire Department got KSC732 in 1952. The base station at Station #1 was known as “KSC732 – the desk,†or simply “732 – the desk.†Stations #2 through #4 had call signs KSC733, KSC734, and KSC735, respectively. Fire Station #5, which opened in 1955, was assigned KSD841.
The radio system was tested twice daily—at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Each station had to acknowledge the test by stating its call sign. If a crew was out on a call, the test could be delayed or even canceled during a major incident.
Company officers were 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 it affected response areas. Officers would report 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 in a second-floor room of the police station, near the stairway to Fire Station #1. Later, they were moved to the first floor, next to the police complaint desk and away from Station #1.
Communication operators were civilian employees supervised by a police sergeant. Their salaries were split evenly between the two departments. Before 1975, all operators were men, many of whom were retired police or firefighters. Good memory, clarity, and multitasking skills were essential—typing was not required.
All fire calls, inhalator calls, and details were broadcast over the EFD radio. Operators announced alarms, car fires, trash fires, and more. A firefighter at Station #1 typically handled non-emergency details like lock-outs or odor investigations.
A four-second horn alert was sounded before every call or test. This unique tone was triggered by a button similar to a doorbell and couldn’t be stopped once activated. It covered any ongoing conversations. Only two buttons existed—one in the police radio room and one at Fire Station #1’s desk.
Operators didn’t assign companies to calls. Instead, they announced the type and location of the call twice, then stated the time and the EFD call sign. The radio system then turned into a conference call, and responding units were expected to acknowledge. It was up to the platoon commander to ensure the right units responded.
This old-school dispatch method, dating back to 1952, remained in place until 1982. It was a unique and effective system for its time, reflecting the early days of emergency communications in Evanston.
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