Carterville Fire Department

03/04/2026

March is National Severe Storm Awareness Month. This is a good time to update citizens the replacement Storm Siren ordered to replace the damaged siren at Cannon Park has been shipped. It is expected to arrive and be installed by the end of the month.

Outdoor Storm Sirens are intended to notify people of danger while outdoors. They are not intended to be an indoor warning or designed to wake everyone from their sleep. We have included an infographic from the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency on outdoor warning sirens.

02/22/2026

Prescribed Burn Notification – Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

The Carterville Fire Department has been notified that Crab Orchard fire crews plan to conduct a prescribed burn of approximately 600 acres on the Refuge, south of John Logan College and surrounding the Greenbriar boat ramp area.

The area planned for burning is highlighted in yellow on the map provided by Refuge staff.

If conditions remain favorable:

• Smoke is expected to drift southeast over Crab Orchard Lake
• Smoke should remain away from Route 13
• Crews will be on-site throughout the operation to ensure safety

Prescribed burns are an important tool used by land managers to reduce hazardous fuels, improve habitat, and maintain the health of the Refuge ecosystem.

We’re sharing this information so residents are aware and not alarmed if they see smoke in the area today.

02/11/2026

The Carterville Fire Department is proud to officially welcome Firefighter/Paramedic Perry Watkins to our full‑time staff.

Perry joined us in September, and while this announcement is overdue, the impact he’s already made on our department and our community is unmistakable. His dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving the citizens of Carterville have been evident from day one.

Please join us in congratulating Perry on his full‑time appointment. We’re grateful to have him on the team and look forward to the continued contributions he’ll bring to the department.

Welcome aboard, Perry!

02/11/2026

The Carterville Fire Department is proud to announce the promotion of Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Roland and Firefighter/Paramedic Tristan Houseworth to the rank of Captain.

Both Brandon and Tristan have demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to serving the citizens of Carterville. Their hard work, professionalism, and passion for the fire service have earned them this well‑deserved advancement.

Please join us in congratulating Captain Roland and Captain Houseworth as they step into their new roles. We look forward to the continued impact they will make on our department and our community.

Congratulations, Captains!

10/30/2025

09/22/2025

https://www.ems1.com/ems-management/ill-council-approves-full-time-backup-emt-position

The Carterville City Council approved a 12-hour day shift with 12 hours on-call overnight to cut second-call response times

09/06/2025

Did someone say FREE TRAINING??

06/06/2025

🚨Public Notice from the Carterville Fire Department 🚨

We want to inform the community that the storm siren located at Cannon Park was recently struck by lightning, resulting in significant damage to the unit.
The City of Carterville is actively working with a vendor to replace the damaged siren with a new, fully functional unit as soon as possible. In the interim, temporary repairs have been made to restore limited functionality. The siren has been rewired to operate at a reduced volume and is currently unable to rotate. While it will still activate during emergency weather conditions, its range and effectiveness are temporarily reduced.

A reminder about tornado sirens:
Tornado sirens are designed to be heard outdoors and serve as a warning to go indoors immediately when a threat, such as a tornado, is imminent. They are not intended to be heard inside every home or building. When you hear a tornado siren, you should seek shelter right away and tune in to local television, weather radio, or online sources for further emergency information and instructions.

To receive emergency alerts directly to your phone or email, sign up for Williamson County's Hyper-Reach system here:
🔗 https://signup.hyper-reach.com/hyper_reach/sign_up_page_2/?id=96946

Your safety is our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to restore full service to this critical warning system.
— Carterville Fire Department

05/23/2025

The Carterville Fire Department is thrilled to announce that our fire station will be under construction for the foreseeable future as we begin a major expansion project.

The north parking lot will be closed during this time to make room for the new addition, which will include:

*Two new double ambulance bays to better accommodate our growing fleet

*EMS Training Room to enhance the skills and readiness of our first responders

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Harrison-Bruce Foundations for investing in the safety and well-being of our community. Your support is making this vital project possible!

We appreciate your patience and understanding during construction.

05/21/2025

🚒 Meet Engine 903 – Carterville Fire Department’s Frontline Workhorse 🚒

Engine 903 is our first-out engine for nearly every fire call we respond to. Built in 2008 by KME, this Predator series apparatus is a proven performer on the fireground and a key part of our operational backbone.

🔥 Specs & Capabilities:

450 HP Cummins engine

1500 GPM 2-stage Waterous pump

1500-gallon water tank

20-gallon Class B foam system

Three preconnected hand lines

1,000 feet of 5" LDH (Large Diameter Hose) for water supply

2000-gallon portable folding tank for rural or shuttle ops

20 feet of 6" hard suction for drafting operations

15,000-watt hydraulic generator powering a Will-Burt light tower

🛠️ Extrication & Rescue Equipment Onboard:

Spreaders, cutters, rams

Struts, air bags, cribbing

A full set of hand tools and power tools

Engine 903 is more than just a fire truck — it’s a fully outfitted suppression and rescue unit that brings everything we need to the scene, day or night. Whether it’s a fire, vehicle crash, or rural water supply situation.

05/19/2025

🚒 Congratulations to Evan Smith and Morgan Houseworth! 🚒

We’re proud to recognize Evan Smith and Morgan Houseworth for completing their Basic Operations Firefighter Program — a major step in their fire service journey! 👨‍🚒🔥

An extra round of applause goes to Evan Smith, who has also successfully passed the National Registry Paramedic Exam. Evan is Carterville Fire Department’s newest full-time Firefighter/Paramedic!

Your dedication and hard work are truly commendable, and we’re honored to have you both representing our department and community.

Keep climbing higher and pushing forward — the best is yet to come!