Palos Park Honors First Emergency Dispatchers

It was in 1952 when a 14-year-old girl named Susan Firalyo died in a house fire near 86th Avenue and 122nd Street in Palos Park. The tragedy shook the community.

In the wake of her death, six men held a meeting and decided that Palos Park was in need of a fire department. Residents quickly lined up and a volunteer force was established.

Residents needing emergency assistance would call a number and the wives of the volunteer firefighters would answer the call. It was not until 1968, 16 years later, that the 911 number was established.

Three of those emergency call center pioneers were recognized on Monday by the Village of Palos Park. Nancy Gloat and Adel Arenz were original emergency dispatchers. Along with Bob DeNovo, who spearheaded the system with his wife Dolly, they were recognized by the village for their work establishing a system that has grown to new technological heights in recent years.

"A community is defined by the quality of its community servants," Mayor John Mahoney said. "There were some great role models for us."