A municipal fire department, the Romeoville Fire Department was created in 1960, when it was staffed entirely by volunteers. As the village grew, so did the need for full-time fire and rescue service. In the early 1990s, it made the shift from a volunteer to a professional department. Today, the department has 19 full-time staff members, including three assistant chiefs, as well as nearly 50 firefighters at three fire stations. Specialty teams include water rescue, specialty rescue, hazardous materials and fire investigation. Plans to build a new fire headquarters have been temporarily put on hold as of 2010 due to the sluggish economy.