PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

What PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT does

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District (PHFD) is a special purpose local government entity organized under Illinois law that delivers fire suppression, paramedic-level emergency medical services (EMS), and public safety education to residents and businesses within the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District in Cook County, Illinois. The district was formed through voter-approved consolidation of the former Prospect Heights Rural Fire Protection District and the Palwaukee Area Fire Protection District in 1998, and has evolved from an all-volunteer force to a full-time staffed department since 2001. Operations are delivered through two firehouses — the Wolf Road firehouse (opened 2023) currently serving as the active station, and the Camp McDonald Road headquarters undergoing renovation from June 2026 through spring 2027 — supported by a temporary administrative office.

PHFD's service portfolio comprises four core offerings: fire suppression and prevention; emergency medical services including Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support paramedic-level care (operated continuously since 1985); specialized rescue capabilities such as vehicle extrication using Jaws of Life apparatus; and community fire safety education including a school internship pipeline. Response is delivered through the 911 dispatch system with universal coverage for district residents, and mutual aid agreements with seven neighboring departments (Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Buffalo Grove, North Maine, Niles, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods) provide surge capacity. In 2025 the district handled 2,677 incidents (1,980 EMS, 697 fire), with year-to-date 2026 call volume tracking at 1,548 through July.

The district's revenue model is non-commercial: it is funded primarily through voter-approved property taxes, supplemented by one-time voter-approved bond issuances for capital projects (e.g., a $1 million bond in 1991 for firehouse renovation). Customer engagement occurs through the phfire.com website, a semi-annual printed HOSELINE newsletter, Facebook, public events, and a structured internship program with Northwest Suburban High School District 214 that feeds recruits into the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA). Leadership is provided by Fire Chief Drew R. Smith and Deputy Fire Chief Kelly Cossman following the September 2025 retirement of long-serving Deputy Fire Chief Tim Jones.

Name

PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Legal name

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District

Website

https://phfire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District is an Illinois special purpose local government entity that provides fire suppression, paramedic-level emergency medical services, and public safety education to residents and businesses within its Cook County district, funded primarily through voter-approved property taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety) (BPAIAGAL)

Keywords

• Fire protection services
• Emergency medical services
• Paramedic ambulance service
• Fire suppression response
• Public safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Prospect Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Funded primarily through property taxes as a fire protection district. Voters have approved tax increases for paramedic services (1984) and bond measures for facility construction.
2. Voter-Approved Bonds: Bond financing approved by voters for capital improvements. $1 million bond approved in 1991 for firehouse renovation; bond for consolidation and new firehouse construction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District delivers 24/7 fire suppression, emergency medical response with paramedic-level advanced life support, vehicle accident rescue (including Jaws of Life extrication), and community fire safety education to all residents and businesses within the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District boundaries in Cook County, Illinois. Services are funded through voter-approved property taxes and delivered by a full-time staff of firefighter/paramedics, part-time firefighter/EMTs, and apprentice firefighters from two firehouse locations.

Product overview

The Prospect Heights Fire Protection District provides unified fire protection and emergency medical services to Prospect Heights, Illinois. The district operates as a full-time staffed fire protection district offering fire suppression, paramedic-level ambulance services, and community fire safety education. Services are delivered from firehouses at Camp McDonald Road and Wolf Road locations, with all firefighters trained as both firefighters and EMTs/paramedics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Protection Services 24/7 fire suppression, prevention, and emergency response services protecting life and property against fire and other calamities for all residents and businesses within the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District boundaries in Cook County, Illinois.
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Paramedic Ambulance Service 24/7 emergency medical response and ambulance services including Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic-level care, delivered by cross-trained firefighter/paramedics and firefighter/EMTs.
• Vehicle Rescue and Extrication Specialized technical rescue services including vehicle extrication using Jaws of Life and related equipment, delivered as part of the district's emergency response capability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,677 total calls handled in 2025 with 2,677 total personnel responding
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mutual Aid Fire DepartmentsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Mutual aid agreements with neighboring departments: Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Buffalo Grove, North Maine, Niles, and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods fire departments. Assist on major incidents requiring additional resources.
• Northwest Suburban High School District 214coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Partnership through District 214's Pathways to Careers Program - Human and Public Service Pathway. PHFD hosts spring break fire service internship for high school students. Third year of program in 2026. Students receive hands-on training including fire suppression, vehicle extrication, and EMS response simulation.
• NIPSTA Fire AcademycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 December 2025Apprentice firefighters graduate from NIPSTA (Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy). PHFD sends new recruits for formal fire academy training before beginning service.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Mount Prospect Fire Department: Suburban Cook County fire department immediately adjacent to Prospect Heights and a mutual aid partner. Operates a comparable combination fire/EMS service model with paramedic-level response in a similar demographic setting.
• Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District: Mutual aid partner and similarly structured Illinois fire protection district providing fire and EMS to a nearby suburban community; comparable funding model and service scope.
• Palatine Rural Fire Protection District: Suburban Cook County fire protection district using the same Illinois special-purpose district governance and property-tax funding structure; directly comparable organizational form to Prospect Heights FPD.
• Niles Fire Department: Mutual aid partner fire department in northern Cook County; provides full-time fire and EMS response with paramedic capabilities in a comparable suburban context.
• Wheeling Fire Department: Neighboring fire department and mutual aid partner serving a similar suburban Cook County population. Delivers fire suppression and paramedic EMS with comparable staffing structure.
• Arlington Heights Fire Department: Larger suburban Cook County fire department tied to the same NIPSTA Fire Academy training pipeline and District 214 high school network, delivering fire and paramedic EMS.
• Buffalo Grove Fire Department: Adjacent Lake/Cook County fire department with mutual aid agreement; provides combination fire and advanced life support EMS to a comparable suburban population.
• Des Plaines Fire Department: Mutual aid partner and larger Cook County fire department operating full-time fire and paramedic EMS services with a similar service-delivery model.

Others

• Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA): Regional fire academy from which PHFD's apprentice firefighters graduate. Functions as a shared training infrastructure and talent pipeline rather than a direct competitor.
• Illinois Fire Chiefs Association: Statewide professional association representing Illinois fire chiefs and fire service leaders; comparable ecosystem participant and policy advocate for municipal and district fire services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PHFD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prospect-heights-fire-protection-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT