BLOOMINGTON
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Fire protection changes with the times
As fire protection challenges evolve, the Bloomington Fire Department is adapting to meet the city ' s changing needs.
The Fire Department has been staffed historically with paid, on-call firefighters, but in recent years its roster has been well below the 155 firefighters the department is authorized to staff. To ensure a prompt, adequate response 24 hours a day, the department has been adding full-time firefighters with a goal of having full-time employees around the clock at all fire stations, supplemented by part-time firefighters.
The department’ s staff includes 48 full-time firefighters on shift duty, including 36 that were added with funding from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant. The grant provided funding for their salaries and benefits for three years, and 18 of the salaries are being absorbed into the department’ s budget this year.
The department also employs nine full-time chiefs, five full-time inspectors and 65 part-time firefighters.
As the fire department works to address its staffing challenges, the city is also in the process of replacing outdated fire stations.
The fire department was formed in 1947, following years of planning while Bloomington relied upon neighboring cities for fire protection. The city’ s first fire station was a two-bay garage at the intersection of 95th Street and Garfield Avenue.
Today, Bloomington firefighters work out of six stations. Fire Station No. 3 in east Bloomington was replaced in July
2020 and Fire Station No. 4 in northwest Bloomington was replaced in July 2023. Fire Station No. 2 is the next building to be replaced, and is currently in the design phase of the project.
Fire Chief Ulie Seal has been with the department since 1976 and became its first full-time fire chief in 2007.
Firefighters work 24-hour shifts and respond day or night. They also participate in a variety of training drills and community service programs throughout the year.
Each fall, department members participate in visits to fourth-grade classes at Bloomington schools to speak about fire prevention. The department also hosts an open house during National Fire Prevention Week in October, featuring fire prevention exhibits and displays from other organizations, including the city’ s police and public works departments.
Throughout the year, fire department representatives will test, install or replace smoke detectors for Bloomington homeowners. Smoke detectors are free to homeowners, and in-home visits are available by appointment. Residents who are physically unable to change batteries in a working smoke detector may also call the fire department for assistance.
The department’ s administrative offices are at Fire Station No. 1, 10 W. 95th St.
More information about the fire department and its services are available by calling 952-563-4801 or visiting its website at tinyurl. com / bfiredepartment.
2026 | Bloomington Guide | 7