Fire Department

Crete Fire Chief Michael Waterman announced on Wednesday that he will retire on April 4th.

“There comes a time to open a new chapter in your life and say to yourself it’s time to take care of you and your family. After 36 plus great years in the fire service it’s time to say fair well. I have made more friends then I can name and worked with the best people in the world,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

“I am opening a new chapter and for those of you in and around Beecher you will still see me quite often. I am going to remain as a trustee at the Beecher Fire District and will be around the Hack-Jensen funeral home a whole lot more,” he added.

Don’t forget: Crete Fire Department Open House is this Friday! Tour the station, check out the trucks, meet the firefighters, see the Superior medivac helicopter at 6PM (weather permitting) and feast on delicious pulled pork dinners. Oct 1st. 4-7:30PM at 524 W Exchange St. in Crete.

300 sandwiches sold in under 50 minutes; the Crete Fire Department Drive-thru Dinner Fundraiser for training and gear was more successful than anyone could have hoped for. Thank you again to everyone who came out to show support and donate. We promise to make a lot more sandwiches next time! Thank you to Smokey Jo’s for donating the very delicious pulled pork.

Congratulations to Assistant Chief Lynn Weir on his retirement from the Crete Fire Department. Good luck to you Lynn in all your future plans.

Crete Fire Chief Mike Waterman presented lifesaving awards to Captain Jim Boehner, Lieutenant Scott Kirkpatrick, FF/EMT Kelley Grzych and FF/EMT Matthew Briggs.

The four members of the Crete Fire Department responded to a call in July of this year, saving the life of an individual in anaphylactic shock after having received a bee sting.

Due to COVID-19, the Crete Fire Department was unable to host its annual pancake breakfast and open house events earlier this year, both of which help raise funds for training and equipment.

A substitute ‘Drive-Thru Dinner Fundraiser’ is now planned for Friday, October 30th, 5-8pm, at Crete Fire Station 1, located 524 W. Exchange St, Crete, IL 60417. See flyer below for more information.