FAQ
The following are the answers to many frequently asked questions:Do I live in your District?
Sometimes this is hard to tell. You would have to live in an unincorporated area (not technically in Village of Bensenville or the City of Elmhurst) between Elmhurst and Bensenville, in DuPage County and Addison Township. One good clue is whether or not you vote for Bensenville or Elmhurst candidates. Another good clue is if you have a letter in the middle of your address, which indicates that you live in an unincorporated area. One way to be certain is if your property tax bill has a line for "Bensenville Fire Protection District #1". We have included zoning maps for both Bensenville and Elmhurst in our "Downloads" section, and if your property ISN'T marked as zoned some way but you ARE on the map, it's very likely that you are in this district. There is also a special map for those people south of Grand Avenue which clearly marks in color which properties ARE in this district.
What is the difference between a "Fire Department" and a "Fire Protection District"?
A Fire Department is a department of a municipality that handles fire and ambulance, like the public works department takes care of streets, and so forth. It is controlled by the municipality and is financed by the municipality from their budget as they see fit. If the fire department need money for a new fire engine, the municipality may shift money into the fire department one year, and into the street repair budget the next. The money to pay for things can come from many sources, including property taxes, sales taxes, and the like.
A Fire Protection District, on the other hand, is a self governing body with no mayor or city council to report to. It gets most of its budget from property taxes, and has no access to money from alternate sources such as sales taxes. Its sole purpose is fire and ambulance services, and has no responsibility for other things. The board is appointed in accordance with state law.