Westville Area Fire Protection District

06/12/2026

Please see the following storm update from Vermilion County 911.

Thank you.

06/12/2026

Please see the following from Vermilion County 911.

Stay safe out there.

06/07/2026

Good Evening.

First, thank you to everyone for the support that you have shown to us, it is very much appreciated.

As everyone is aware, things are expensive across the board, and the fire service is not exempt to this. Fortunately, we have the membership resources and support to look for as many opportunities for funding as possible, and one of the avenues that we try to use to the fullest extent are the grant opportunities that are out there on different levels. Some we have been successful at, and some we have not.

We are very happy to report that some time ago we applied for the Small Equipment Grant through the Illinois State Fire Marshal Office. Our application was to secure funding for 20 complete sets of wildland / rescue turnout gear. This would allow our members to have this gear to use for fires that are not structural in nature, such as field fires. We recently found out that we have been awarded the grant for $26,000.

This will provide a huge benefit for our members to have this gear, and we will be putting it to use as we get the required paperwork completed, members sized accordingly, and orders placed.

Thank you to the Illinois State Fire Marshal for your continued support of the Westville Area Fire Protection District, these funds will help out for many years to come.

As always, thank you to our community and our neighboring communities for your continued support.

We are excited to announce the recipients of the FY-26 Small Equipment Grant. A total of $6 million was awarded to 260 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state.

Visit this link for a complete list of recipients: https://sfm.illinois.gov/currentfocus/smallequipmentgrantrecipientsannouncement-fy26.html

05/23/2026

Building construction update.

As you drive by, you can now see structure starting to take shape. Ground was cleared, then groundwork was done to allow for a large amount of concrete to be poured. Now the steel is going vertical to have the building start to take shape.

Exciting to watch the progress.

Thank you all for your continued support.

05/21/2026

On Wednesday evening May 20 Westville Area Fire Protection District did a night training with Georgetown Fire Department and Georgetown Ambulance about flow path. We spoke about the importance of reading smoke conditions, closing doors behind you went making entry and searching, what happens when you vent to early, and what can happen when you have random opening happening in the structure by people opening doors and breaking windows and showing what that does to the smoke and fire flow paths.

It was a great training that provided a ton of excellent talking points, and provided visuals so that it can be seen what is being talked about.

Thank you to Georgetown Fire Department and Georgetown Ambulance for coming up for this training.

05/21/2026

On Wednesday May 20 Westville Area Fire Protection District was invited by Project Success Judith Giacoma to put on a Fire Safety class for parents. They provided fire safety items for the parents in attendance, and Chief Mark Ames II spoke about the importance of smoke detectors, what to do in case of fire, and we provided some hands on fire extinguisher use with a controlled fire. The kids there also got to check out the trucks that we had there and left with some goodies as well.

Thank you Project Success Judith Giacoma for the invite, it all went great!!

05/18/2026

Shortly after 13:00 Westville Area Fire Protection District was dispatched to the 2400 block of State Route 1 for the report of a structure fire. Crews arrived on scene to find a fire in the kitchen and was contained to that room. Business next door was evacuated as a precaution.

There were 15 members on scene from the following agencies
Westville Area Fire Protection District
Georgetown Fire Department
Lynch Area Fire Protection District
Tilton Fire Department
Arrow Ambulance

Thank you to all for your support during this call to service.

05/17/2026

Congratulation's to the Westville High School Class of 2026.

One of our own, Lillian Shuey, will be in the graduation class today, however today in not her first graduation.

Lillian joined Westville Fire in 2023 as a Cadet, and she hit the ground running from the work fire. She is always eager to learn, willing to help, and never afraid to do the jobs that she was able to do while in the Cadet role. She got the ability to attend multiple trainings host by and at Illinois Fire Service Institute, and took advantage of every single opportunity to learn.

In January of 2026, she volunteered to take the EMT-Basic class being put on by OSF in Urbana. She did this for 16 weeks while still maintaining current required courses for Westville High School and Danville Area Community College. After 16 weeks, she graduated as Valedictorian of the class that had a few other (4) volunteer members in it, and 12 college students from Parkland and the U of I.

Lillian is also now a graduate of Westville Fire's Cadet Program and is now a Probationary Firefighter. Funny story, the day of graduation practice this past Friday, she was part of our crew that was called out for mutual aid in support of a structure fire, and she got to put on the SCBA and go to work. Her drive just does not quit, as she was at that fire for a good portion of the overnight.

I mentioned earlier about DACC, Lily graduated on Friday with her Associates Degree, and she was one of the Suma Cum Laude candidates graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Another tremendous accomplishment.

Which brings us to today. Lily will be a WHS Graduate of the class of 2026. She will be graduating with a 4.0 GPA as well from Westville. She was named a 2026 Illinois State Scholar, part of the National Honors Society for years, and became a member of OWL.

Lily's plans for the fall are to continue in her education as she has applied and has been accepted into Western Illinois University, as well as being accepted into the Fire-Medic (Paramedic) program that they have there. She would graduate with a Bachelor's, several levels of certifications, and her Paramedic license. One of her goals is to become an instructor, so that she can give back to those with a passion to learn, and she also has expressed interest in being on the of people who responds to national disasters to help people in one of the greatest times of need.

Lily, whatever you choose to do, you will do great at it. Everyone involved with Westville Area Fire Protection District has enjoyed watching you grow on this journey. Keep doing what you love, never be afraid to show up, and keep your world big because you never know where the call to serve will take you.

We are all very proud of you, and congratulation on everything that you have earned.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

05/01/2026

On January 22 2026 two of our members started the EMT Basic course that was put together by East Central Illinois EMS that had sixteen students at the start of class. For 16 weeks they attended classes twice a week, homework, ER clinical hours, ambulance clinical hours, lots of tests, reading, discussion posts, quizzes, and hands on training.

Last night, April 30, these two members successfully completed the course and are now eligible to take the National Registry test for a Illinois EMT Basic license.

Both of these members were part of the group that was recognized for perfect attendance of the class. Probationary Firefighter (in less than 24 hours) Lily Shuey was Valedictorian of the class. Assistant Fire Chief Matt Shuey was Salutatorian of the class, the grades between them were within 0.03 points of each other, and the entire top five of the class were within 0.15 points of each other. A highly competitive class for sure that was a mixture of members from volunteer agencies, as well as University of Illinois and Parkland students.