1899: Manhattan Village President Eberhart appoints Henry Wenzel as Chief Fire Marshal
1900: First 15 civilians were sworn in as members of the Manhattan Fire Department
1916: A fire in Salow Hardware Store destroyed three buildings in the downtown area of Manhattan
1925: Lighting struck a crude oil tank, causing fire and heavy black smoke that could be seen over fifty miles away
1928: A village code book formally outlined the general rules and regulations of the fire department, Fire Marshal, and its members
1929: A fire destroys St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wilton Center
1933: J.W. Hertle was appointed Chief; hose cart was stored in Herman’s Evans garage on the North side; 19 members listed on the department
1934: First Fireman’s Ball at Grange Hall
1937: Flashlights and tool chest was added to the hose carts; firemen/”dispatchers” were paid $1.00 per call; a hose cart was added to each end of town
1939-1942: First fire truck was purchased for $2,000 (W.S. Darley); the fire station was completed
1942-1944: Manhattan Rural Fire Protection Association formed; purchased a fire truck for $4,835 from Central Fire Truck Corporation
1947: Non-members of the rural association would pay a “rental” fee of $100 per run and a labor charge of $2.50 per hour for each fireman responding $500,000 Oil Blaze in Manhattan
1949: Manhattan Township and Jackson Township voted to create a fire protection district
1950: Wilton Township voted to be in the district, starting the Manhattan Fire Protection District, approx. 72 sq. miles
1953: Rural Association dissolved after selling the fire truck and equipment to MFPD for $7,500, a total of seven subdivisions at this time
1951: Voters approved a $24,000 bond for the addition to the fire station and new equipment
1953: First three trustees of MFPD; the first numbering system
1956: Firefighters protect second building after a $25,000 blaze at Manhattan Store (Goodwin’s)
1960: One of the first members of the Des Plaines Valley Mutual Aid Association
1961: First radio system installed; potential arson fire killing six calves costing about $75,000
1962: Numbering System was updated
1969: Fatal Fire at 265 S. State St.; train derailment containing isobutane near Aeropress
1970: Members participate in Fire School hosted by Joliet FD
1972: Lightning strikes at Aeropress, causing a fire with a possible propane explosion; new uniforms were received
1973: $13,000 multi-purpose fire truck added to the fleet; elevator knocked down for the new station 1; heavy extrication after three are trapped in the caboose of an overturned of 6 freight cars; Wilton Center fully involved causing damage to machines, truck, and 20 sheep destroyed
1974: Station 1 built; Department has eight rigs
1974: Station 1 cost $75,000, built by Professional Sales of Pontiac and finished by the firefighters; the first ambulance purchased; member of the Will-Grundy EMS system
1975: Ambulance purchased for approximately $18,000 from donations; car wash raises money for a new siren to be mounted on the station
1976: Apartment fire at 150 S. State St. causing 14 to be displaced after Ammo exploded; 1217 and 1212 Darley’s arrive $70,000 for both 1,650-gallon tanker and 1,000-gallon pumper
1977: ALS equipment came in; new 1221 with 750 gallons (E1); attic fire on Elevator Rd.; pond in the front yard used for water supply
1978: Department has four paramedics; receive Lifepak 5 defibrillator/ monitor
1982: The second ambulance was purchased; a new ambulance arrived at 1215 with ALS equipment
1981: Cadet program began for 15-18-year-olds
1984: The first female joined; fire prevention held at St Paul’s; November 4, 1984, ambulance district was voted on and passed
1985: Station 2 built with two bays: Mrs. Leo Nugent, donated Wilton Center property in memory of Leo Nugent; 30,000-gallon cistern; 1 pumper; 1 grass truck; 42 active members; training tower at station 2; new apparatus; full time; SCBA advancements; technical rescue training; delivery of Pierce pumper (1000 gallons of water, 2900 ft various hose, 6-man cab all inside)
1987: Jack Fitzgerald receives “Paramedic of the Year” by the Will County EMS System
1988: New squad; 6 men wrecking crew; new patch
1989: May 21, 1989, honors John E. “Jack” Fitzgerald as “Jack’s Day” for his many accomplishments
1991: Firefighters kept busy after a power outage caused three fires throughout the town
1992: Assistant Chief Bob Borden retires after 38 years; new 1214 replaced 1974 ambulance, E9-1-1 On-Line
1993: 1221 retires; ambulance refurbished
1994: New 1221 arrives
1995: “Technical Rescue” Trailer; an addition to station 1
1996: Fire station expands six times its original size; April 7: squad collides into Kurtz Ambulance while both were responding to emergencies with lights on
1998: Chief Dale VanderBoegh “Chubb” retires after 31 years as Chief
2000: Referendum; new ambulance; a ball of fire rises from Long’s Auto services on Manhattan Rd. destroying the building
2001: Firefighter Todd Burke dies in a car accident; Retired Chief VanderBoegh dies at home; purchased a new pumper tender 
2002: TIC Camera; new ambulance; N.Y. heroes welcomed to Manhattan; grain elevator fire
2006: 1212 arrives; full-time deputy chief hired; 1214 arrives
2004: Couple rescued from a burning house on November 14, 2004
2005: Good Time Charlie’s restraint caught fire on February 21, 2005, causing damage to businesses in the strip mall
2007: Commissioners appointed; MFPD goes full time
2008: Chief Jack Fitzgerald retires after 52 years (10 as Chief); Forsythe sworn in as Chief; sprinklers and alarms required for new commercial buildings; station 2 remodeled
2009: Burton Bar retires from the Board of Trustees; auto pulses; squad arrives; 1218 arrives
2010: Full-time Lieutenants; new 1221; new ambulance
2011: Captain Toepper retires; firefighters host summer bash
2012: Firefighter Matt Zack killed in a crash; plane crashes into a Wilton Township farm; house explosion
2013: MFPD was recognized as Fire-Safe Community at the Illinois Residential Fire Sprinkler Symposium in Addison; a tornado struck the area
2015: Firefighters escaped cornfield blaze when the winds picked up to cause the fire to become out of control in Wilton Township; $2.4 million addition to fire station 81 approved for Admin rebuild
2016: MFPD ambulance transporting a patient to Silver Cross Hospital flipped after being struck by a pickup truck in New Lenox; run cards begin to tie in with the CAD
2017: Laraway Communications Center was formed to consolidate four dispatch centers
2018: Receives 2017 Safer Grant; total contributions requirements for pension approved
2019: Chief Dan Forsythe retires; Chief Steve Malone promoted
2020: MFPD achieves ISO Class 1 rating; BC Boyle starts part-time admin; approval to purchase Horton ambulance; signed MFPD/PFPD “Admin Sharing Agreement;” Deputy Chief Dave Piper joins command staff; approval to purchase rescue pumper and pumper tanker for $1,450,000; ’94 Eng 83 MV06 sold to Garrison Volunteer Fire Department, Texas for $40,000
2021: Amended MFPD/PFPD IGA is approved and signed