Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are the firefighters paid?
A. No. Every member on the department is 100% volunteer.
Q. How does the fire
department financially operate?
A. The fire departments main financial support comes from taxes. We also
receive generous donations and memorials.
Q. How old do you have to be to join the
department?
A. Each must person must be at least 18 years old when they join. However,
if a member joins through the high school program, they must be at least 16
years old and at least a sophomore in high school.
Q. Why does the fire department respond with
the ambulance service?
A. The fire department is licensed by the Illinois Department of Public
Health as “Non-transporting Basic Life Support.” This means we are able to
practice the same level of pre-hospital medical care as the ambulance, but
we are unable to transport patients to the hospital. We respond with the
ambulance to assist them with patient care, CPR functions when need, and
help with loading the patient into the ambulance.
Q. Will the fire department charge me?
A. The fire department does not charge for medical calls or fires. However,
if there is a person that is involved in a vehicle accident inside our
district, and that person does not live inside a fire district with which we
have a mutual aid agreement, we are allowed to to bill that person for each
fire department vehicle and personnel that responds to the accident. We
currently have mutual aid agreements with all departments inside Peoria
County and Stark County.
Q. Do the firefighters work on shifts?
A. No. The fire department does not have shifts. Each member has a pager at
all times. If a member is available to respond on a call when there is one,
then they will go.
Q. Do you have to be an EMT
to be on the fire department?
A. No. It is each members choice whether they want to
become an EMT. We currently are licensed to allow EMT-Basic's and First
Responder's to practice medical care.
Q. How is the fire department
dispatched?
A. When a person calls 911, they are connected with the
Peoria County Dispatch Center. The operator will take all of your
information and immediately dispatch the proper agencies, such as fire,
police, or ambulance. Once the 911 operator has taken your information, it
takes only seconds for the fire department to be dispatched.