We believe that safety starts with prevention. Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week is a nationwide initiative that highlights the proactive steps we take to reduce risks, educate the public, and enhance emergency preparedness.
This page outlines the five key components of CRR—Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Economic Incentive, and Emergency Response—and how our department integrates these strategies to better protect our community. Through partnerships, training, inspections, and public outreach, we work year-round to prevent emergencies before they happen.
Explore the sections below to learn how we are committed to making our community safer, stronger, and more resilient.
Education is a key part of our commitment to community risk reduction. We engage with the public through station tours, CCR (Compression-Only CPR) and Stop the Bleed training, and fire safety education, ensuring our residents are prepared for emergencies. Our team actively promotes fire prevention by testing and installing smoke detectors for those in need and working with schools and community groups to provide hands-on learning experiences. Additionally, our personnel participate in ongoing monthly training in both fire and EMS to stay up to date on the latest advancements, ensuring we continue to provide the highest level of service. Through education, we empower our community and enhance overall safety.
Our crews regularly train throughout the district, engaging in building inspections, pump operations at various hydrants within the village, and specialized grain bin rescue training. Given the proximity of a grain bin just outside the village, we maintain a strong partnership with the local farm center to ensure our firefighters are well-prepared for such emergencies. These real-world training opportunities allow our crews to gain first-hand experience within the community they serve, enhancing both safety and effectiveness in emergency response.
Fire prevention is a key component of community risk reduction. Several of our crew members serve as certified fire inspectors, conducting inspections throughout the year to ensure local businesses and properties comply with fire codes and safety regulations. Our team performs initial inspections as well as re-inspections for locations that require corrective actions, working closely with property owners to address fire hazards and enhance overall safety. Through proactive enforcement, we help reduce fire risks and create a safer environment for our community.
Strong community partnerships play a vital role in enhancing public safety. Through collaborations with local organizations, businesses, and community groups, we have been able to secure donations and funding for critical equipment and programs. These partnerships have provided AEDs, updated training equipment, smoke alarms, bicycle helmets, and funding for new gear, ensuring our department remains well-equipped to serve the community. Additionally, local sponsors support incentive-based programs like our Adopt-a-Hydrant initiative, helping to encourage community involvement in fire safety. By working together, we strengthen resources, improve safety, and enhance the services we provide.
Transparency and continuous improvement are key aspects of our emergency response efforts. Each year, we release an annual report that provides a high-level overview of our department’s operations, including call volume, response times, mutual aid responses, and other key performance metrics. While we do not disclose details about individual incidents, this report allows us to assess trends, identify areas for improvement, and ensure we are providing the highest level of service to our community. By analyzing this data, we remain committed to enhancing our response capabilities and meeting the evolving needs of those we serve.