Forrest Illinois Fire Department

04/12/2026

It’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week! Thank you to everyone at Vcom-911 that play a vital role in helping us serve the community! We appreciate all of you!

03/09/2026

Keep an eye on the weather on Tuesday.

Heads up!

Tuesday will be a day to be weather aware since there will be a threat for multiple rounds of severe storms in the general area from late afternoon through the overnight hours into Wednesday morning. While we are still a few days away, here are some insights into the severe weather threat:

✔️All hazards including tornadoes, destructive hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding will be on the table.

✔️The threat for tornadoes will be highest near a warm front. Warm fronts often stall near or just south of the Interstate 80 corridor this time of year. This aspect of the forecast will be a key focus going forward.

✔️The main threats north of the warm front will be destructive hail and flash flooding.

✔️There will be multiple rounds of storms, lasting potentially over a 6 to 12 hour period in some locations.

Adjustments in the forecast are all but likely as we get closer. With that said, keep Tuesday in mind for a day to be weather aware.

12/07/2025

Training today in Pontiac at the new county training facility. Appreciation is extended to the Pontiac Fire Department and to all Pontiac firefighters who facilitated our use of the facility and participated in the training exercise, which included ladders, SCBA's, and forcible entry.

09/27/2025

Last week a farmer was nice enough to lend us his field so our department could practice different tactics when fighting field fires. We were able to cover operating the trucks in the field as well as farm safety during harvest times.

09/16/2025

🚜🔥 Harvest Season Fire Safety 🔥🚜

As fields dry out, the risk of fire increases. Protect your equipment, your crop, and yourself by following these safety tips:

Machine Maintenance & Prevention
✅ Blow off chaff, leaves & debris daily to reduce fuel buildup
✅ Lubricate bearings & chains to prevent overheating
✅ Inspect wiring & connections for damage
✅ Check tires for cracks or wear

On-Field Safety
🔥 Carry at least two fire extinguishers—one in the cab & one accessible from the ground
📞 Have a plan to call 911 immediately if a fire starts—don’t delay
🚜 Keep a tractor with a disk in a safe location, ready to help stop a spreading fire

09/09/2025

BURN BAN in Forrest! FSW Fire Department has announced
Beginning Thursday, September 11th you will not be able to burn until further notice. Thank you

09/05/2025

08/17/2025

A huge thanks to Edwards Upfitting for knocking it out of the park with this light package. And we also want so say thanks to RTD Auto Repair in Roberts for hooking us up with a lift kit and new wheels and tires. The new off road package will come in handy when fighting field fires.

07/31/2025

We join City of Fairbury Fire Department in mourning the loss of firefighter Smith Bachtold.
Smith’s infectious smile and his willingness to help others will be greatly missed. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.
Rest easy brother we will take it from here.

City of Fairbury Fire Department mourns the loss of a valued member of the department, Smith Bachtold. His loss will be deeply felt, and our prayers go out to his family and friends!

https://www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com/obituary/smith-bachtold?fh_id=10800

07/08/2025