Mission Statement:

The mission of the Geneva Fire Department is to protect life, property, and the environment, through education, prevention, suppression, and community service.

History of the Fire Department:

The department was formed in 1860, and is the second oldest department in the county. The original fire station was located at the corner of South Broadway and Park Street from 1868 until 1934. The station was then moved to the converted armory at the corner of East Main Street and Forest Street. During this time period the station was first manned with one man on duty 24 hours a day.

During the 1959 election the citizens of Geneva passed, by 82%, an $85,000 bond issue to build the current 4 bay station and buy a $32,000 American LaFrance pumper. Geneva Township passed, by 77%, a 2 mill levy to purchase 2 new trucks, an engine and a tanker, and continue contracting with the city for fire protection.

Geneva hired Gary Farley as its' first fulltime Fire Chief in 1979. The department traveled into unknown waters in 1981 with the joint purchase, with Saybrook Township Fire Department, of a refurbished 1968 Pitman Snorkel. This truck served the area well until its replacement in 1995 by a refurbished 1985 Sutphen 65 foot ladder. In 2003 a new 1500 pumper with a built in foam unit was purchased to replace a 1980 pumper.

The Geneva Fire Department currently serves Geneva City and Township with a roster of one fulltime Chief, three Fulltime Firefighters and twenty-nine paid on call firefighters. Our fleet consists of three, 1500 gallon per minute pumpers, a 65 foot ladder truck, a 1500 gallon tanker, a brush fire truck, heavy rescue truck and a chiefs vehicle.

Geneva's current Fire Chief, Douglas G. Starkey, began with the department in August 1980 as a part-time firefighter. He became a fulltime firefighter in 1990 and was promoted to Fire Chief on January 1, 2001.