HILLSBORO (Heartland Newsfeed) — Four fire departments in Montgomery County have responded to a combined total of 61 fire calls in 2016, according to data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System obtained by Heartland Newsfeed.
The Coffeen Fire Protection District responded to six calls, comprising of three structure fires and two other fires. Included in the total is one false call. A damage estimate of $30,000 were incurred, roughly $6,000 per fire.
The Fillmore Fire Protection District responded to ten calls, comprising of five structure fires, two vehicle fires and three other fires. A damage estimate of $127,000 were incurred, roughly $12,700 per fire.
The Litchfield Fire Department responded to 77 calls, which comprised of 22 structure fires, six vehicle fires and 13 other fires. Included in the total are 36 false calls. A damage estimate of $752,600 were incurred, roughly $75,260 per fire.
According to the department’s mandated filings to the Illinois Department of Insurance, the pension fund for Litchfield firefighters, comprising of 14 active employees and 10 retired/inactive employees, was $417,840 in debt as of April 2016. That reflects roughly to $10,191 for every fire call in 2016.
The Hillsboro Fire Department responded to 14 calls, comprising of four structure fires and one other fire. Included in the total are nine false calls. One civilian non-fire injury was incurred.
According to the department’s mandated filings to the Illinois Department of Insurance, the pension fund for Hillsboro firefighters, comprising of five active employees and three retired/inactive employees, was $61,136 in debt as of April 2016. That reflects roughly to $12,227 for every fire call in 2016.
A follow-up report will be published as information regarding the remaining departments in the county are released.
Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.