Harvard 's Fire Protection District consists of 47 trained firefighters , of which 22 are Emergency medical technicians and 14 are paramedics . The district traces its history to 1865 when five men got together to purchase a fire engine for the village of Harvard . In 1871 , the engine was sent to Chicago via the railroad to assist in the Great Chicago Fire . In 1892 , it was again placed on a train to assist with a fire in the community of Kenosha , Wisconsin . In 1899 , the first constitution and by-laws were drawn up for the Harvard Fire Department . The Harvard Rescue Squad was founded in 1956 with a $ 7000 donation from the Harvard Jaycees . In 1971 , the City and Rural Fire Department merged to form the Harvard Fire Protection District
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Harvard, Illinois