Welcome to the website of the Deer Creek Fire Protection District.  We are an all-volunteer fire department in central Illinois.  We proudly serve the Village of Deer Creek and surrounding portions of Tazewell and Woodford Counties.  

If you live in our district and are interested in serving your communiy by becoming a volunteer firefighter or medical responder, please contact us.  All training is provided.  

Please check this website for updates often, as we will be adding new content and occasionally highlighting some of the incidents we've responded to.  If you have website feedback or suggestions, please email the webmaster.  Thanks for visiting!

Car Fire 6/29/09

Firefighters from Deer Creek and Morton responded to a fully engulfed car fire on Interstate 74 near mile marker 108. Personnel quickly extinguished the blaze, which occured in a construction zone.  Our thanks to the Morton Fire Department for their assistance at the scene.

New Rescue 1 Now In Service! 6/28/09

The Deer Creek Fire Department recently placed into service a 2002 Ford F550 4x4 rescue truck.  The truck was purchased from the Choconut Center Volunteer Fire Company in Binghamtom, NY.  The new truck replaces a 1984 converted ambulance that has since been removed from service.  The new Rescue 1 seats five personnel and has an abundance of compartment space to hold our hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life), medical equipment, air filling tanks, generator, and other rescue equipment.  This vehicle will be used to respond to a variety of incidents ranging from medical emergencies to vehicle accidents to house fires.  The truck was purchased with the assistance of a twenty year 0% interest loan through the Illinois Finance Authority and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.  

New Radios and Pagers Purchased 6/20/09

A recent Volunteer Fire Assistance grant administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has allowed us to purchase ten new waterproof portable radios, twenty new pagers, and a new base radio for the fire station.  This is a big help since our old pagers were in constant need of repair and we did not have enough portable radios to equip all firefighters on scene with a radio.  The new base radio will eventually be installed as a repeater on a new frequency, which will allow better communications and eliminate interference problems that we have on our current dispatch channel.  

Memorial Tree Planted 4/25/09
On Saturday April 25th a tree donated by Kirk Kamp was planted at the Deer Creek Fire Station in memory of former firefighter Mark Wiegand, who recently passed away.  Family and friends gathered to plant the tree in honor of Mark's many years of service to the community. 

Motor Vehicle Accident 3/17/09
Firefighters and EMTs were called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident in a distant rural part of the district on St. Patricks day evening.  A vehicle had left the roadway and struck a tree, after which it caught fire.  The driver was able to exit the vehicle, which quickly became fully engulfed.  Firefighters extinguished the fire and ensured that it did not spread to the surrounding wooded areas.  EMTs tended to the patient, who was transported to a local hospital by Morton Paramedics for non life-threatening injuries. 

Spring Fire Season - Please Report Controlled Burns 

The dry springtime fire season is upon us.  During this time of the year it is common for people to conduct controlled burns of prairie grass on their property.  If you are going to be conducting a controlled burn, we ask that you notify the Morton Police Department Dispatch Center ahead of time to reduce false alarm responses.  The Morton Police Department's non-emergency number is 309-266-6666.  If you need to report a fire that is out of control, please call 911 immediately.  We thank you for your cooperation.

Field Fire 3/4/00 

Deer Creek firefighters were called to a daytime field fire on Harding Road.  Engine 2 and Tanker 1 responded to the fire, which took about 45 minutes to fully extinguish.  Approximately 3 acres were burned.  The Deer Creek Fire Department reminds all members of the community to be extremely cautious when burning during this dry time of year.

Motor Vehicle Accident 1/7/08
Firefighters and EMTs were called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on an icy rural road.  Upon arrival crews found an SUV on its side with the driver still in the vehicle.  Stabilization struts were used to secure the vehicle and the windshield was removed so that the driver could be safely removed.  The patient was transported to a local hospital by Morton Ambulance.  The Morton Fire Department also assisted at the scene. 

Multiple Vehicle Accident 1/6/09

Rescue personnel from the Deer Creek and Eureka-Goodfield fire departments responded to an accident involving three vehicles on Interstate 74.  Drivers in two of the three vehicles were entrapped and required extrication using hydraulic rescue tools.  The injured were transported to local hospitals by Eureka Ambulance.  Both westbound lanes of Interstate 74 were closed for nearly an hour as crews worked to free the victims and clear the scene.  

New Fire Extinguisher Trainer - 12/1/08

The Deer Creek Fire Department has taken delivery of a new digital fire extinguisher training system.  This new training tool was purchased with funds from a donation by State Farm Insurance.  The BullEx system uses a computer-controlled propane burner to accurately simulate different classes of fires.  Participants use special extinguishers that can easily be recharged using compressed air and water.  The system senses whether the trainee is using the proper sweeping motion with the extinguisher and adjusts the flames accordingly.  This new tool will allow the department to offer free fire extinguisher training to area businesses and residents.  In the past, offering this type of hands-on training was cost-prohibitive because of the expense of recharging and maintaining an adequate supply of extinguishers.  If you live or have a business in our district and would like to participate in a free hands-on training course, please email us.

Thermal Imaging Camera Placed in Service

The Deer Creek Fire Department recently placed a new Scott Eagle Imager 160 thermal imaging camera (TIC) into service.  This heat-sensing camera can be used to search for victims in smoky environments, find hidden hotspots and fires, and for many other operations.  

Car Fire 10/18/08 

Deer Creek firefighters were called to an early-morning car fire on Interstate 74.  The Goodfield Fire Department responded as a mutual aid agency and was able to quickly extinguish the fully involved vehicle.  Deer Creek and Goodfield firefighters were on scene for about an hour.  The vehicle was a total loss. 

EVOC Training 9/27/08 

Department members recently took a course in Emergency Vehicle Operations. The classroom portion of the course included information on laws and standards regardning emergency vehicle operations on roadways. After the classroom session, firefighters completed a drive test through an obstacle course to show profiency in operating department apparatus.

Trailer Fire 9/13/08

Firefighters were called to the scene of a commercial vehicle trailer that had started on fire.  The trailer was not connected to a truck, and the fire was quickly extinguished.  Fire crews were on scene for about 30 minutes.

Motor Vehicle Accident 9/2/08
Firefighters and EMTs were called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident.  The vehicle had left the pavement and become lodged across a creek.  Occupants were able to exit the vehicle.  Deer Creek Fire Department personnel attended to the patients and secured the scene until the vehicle could be removed.

Debris Fire 8/6/08
Firefighters were called to the scene of a debris fire that had grown out of control and was threatening several adjacent buildings. Upon arrival, firefighters found the debris pile fully involved and quickly extinguished the fire and protected the exposed buildings, preventing fire spread. Firefighters were on scene for approximiately one hour. More pictures from this fire can be found here.