Shelbyville, Cowden, Findlay fire districts respond to 55 fires in 2016

SHELBYVILLE (Heartland Newsfeed) — Three fire districts in Shelby County responded to a combined total of 55 calls in 2016, according to data obtained by Heartland Newsfeed from the National Fire Incident Reporting System. The Shelbyville Fire Protection District responded to 41 calls in 2016, comprising of 11 structure fires, six vehicle fires and 10 other fires. Included in the report was one malicious false call and 13 other false calls. Damage estimates of $159,550 were quoted, or roughly $5,909 per fire. One fire-related civilian injury was reported. The fire district’s Firefighters’ Pension Fund, through mandated filings with the Illinois Department of Insurance, reported they were $76,452 in debt as of June 2016. The fund comprises of four active employees and five retired or inactive employees. For every fire in 2016, the debt breaks down to $2,832 per fire. Findlay Fire Protection District responded to 11 calls in 2016, comprising of five structure fires, one vehicle fire and four other fires. The report includes one false call. Damage estimates of $143,500 were quoted, or roughly $14,350 per fire. Cowden Fire Protection District responded to 23 calls in 2016, comprising of eight structure fires, three vehicle fires and seven other fires. Five false calls are included in the report. $2,500 in damage estimates were quoted, or roughly $139 per fire.