Homer Fire Protection District

05/14/2026

🔥⛳ FORE! Help Support the Homer Fire Department! ⛳🔥

The Homer Fire Department Golf Outing is coming up, and we’re looking for awesome Hole Sponsors to help make this event a success!

Want your business name out on the course while supporting your local firefighters? This is your chance! Whether you’re a business owner, community supporter, or just someone who loves firefighters and golf carts 🚒🏌️‍♂️… we’d love to have you involved.

🚨 Hole Sponsors Receive:✅ Sign displayed at a hole✅ Local community exposure✅ The satisfaction of supporting your hometown fire department✅ Bragging rights for helping keep the event rolling!

So grab a sponsorship before someone else tees off with your spot!

📅 July 11th📍 Harrison Park💲 Hole Sponsorship: 100

Interested? Message the Homer Fire Department to sign up!

Thanks for helping us drive this event straight down the fairway!

05/12/2026

Our fire family takes care of its own — and right now, one of our own could use the community’s support. ❤️

Many of you know Brandon Shaffer, active member of our department and owner of Shaffer’s Handyman Service. Brandon and Kailey are raising a beautiful family of 8, and during this difficult time, we’re asking our community to come together and help lighten the load for them.

We are sharing their Meal Train to help provide meals and support for the Shaffer family over the coming days and weeks. Whether it’s signing up for a dinner, sending a gift card, or simply sharing this post, every act of kindness makes a difference.

As firefighters, we often answer the call for others — today, we’re asking for support for one of our own.

Thank you for always showing what a strong and caring community we have. ❤️

Let’s support the Shaffer family as they navigate a difficult time. Brandon was hit with a diagnosis recently, and yesterday went through an extensive surgery. This beautiful family could use some support as the work through the coming weeks.

04/27/2026

Meet Fire Lieutenant Larry O’Neal 🔥🚒

Larry has been a dedicated member of the department for just over five years. During that time, he earned his First Responder license and most recently stepped into his new role as Fire Lieutenant.

Outside of the department, Larry works on a farm and enjoys spending time with his wife, three kids, and two dogs. When he’s not at the station or working, you’ll likely find him at family sporting events, working on cars, or serving the Lord.

Larry brings hard work, dedication, and a calm presence to the department — qualities that make him a strong leader both on and off the fireground.

Fun fact: Larry once managed to lose an entire bed of 5-inch hose off the engine… yes, all 1,000 feet of it. Safe to say that story still follows him around the station. 😉

We’re proud to have Larry serving as our Fire Lieutenant and appreciate everything he brings to the department.

04/25/2026

When the watch hits, the ingredients are out and you need to be getting prepped. That way when the chili starts to boil, and the warning comes out, you’re ready to hunker down.

Let’s be clear. It is incredibly HORRIBLE advice to get in a car and try to outrun a tornado if one is coming towards your location. Vehicles can be tossed and crumpled by even weak tornadoes. You’re exposed to the elements on the road and you may not be as aware with the latest information compared to if you are sheltering in place.

Optimally, you’re in a sturdy shelter or finding one quickly when a tornado warning is issued. If you don’t have one or live in a mobile home, you’re ready to find one before a tornado warning is issued. If you’re in your car, go to the nearest site built structure and sheltering there.

There is so much fear and misinformation out there. A tornado warning is a tornado warning and we should treat all the same and shelter. The chance is higher for tornado warnings and tornadoes on Monday, but the decision-making process shouldn’t change if a tornado warning is issued on a low end day or on an outbreak level day. It’s a tornado warning.

04/25/2026

Meet EMS Lieutenant Dalton Jones 🚑🔥

Dalton has been involved in Fire/EMS for just over two years, beginning his journey with Homer Fire Department in 2024 and joining Arrow Ambulance as an EMT in 2025. He graduated from Parkland College with an Associate’s Degree in Fire Service Technology and completed the Fire Academy through IFSI.

Outside of the department, Dalton enjoys staying active — whether that’s hitting the golf course, spending time in the gym, or hanging out with family and friends. He’s originally from Buckley, IL, graduated from PBL High School, and comes from a big family with four siblings. He’s also been with his girlfriend for four years.

Dalton may be one of the younger faces around the department, but don’t let that fool you — he’s frequently asked if he’s old enough to be on the fire department, and somehow always seems to be a favorite with the local ladies. 😉

We’re proud to have Dalton serving as our EMS Lieutenant and look forward to everything he brings to the department.

04/22/2026

Training like this doesn’t come around often—and we took full advantage of it.

Tonight, our members had the opportunity to conduct hands-on training inside a house owned by the village that is scheduled for demolition. This type of environment allows us to practice real-world scenarios in a setting that’s as close as it gets to the real thing—without the presence of actual fire. From search and rescue to hose deployment and ventilation, every evolution helps sharpen the skills we rely on when it matters most.

Opportunities like this are incredibly valuable and hard to come by, and we’re grateful to the village for allowing us to use the structure before it comes down.

And hey… if anyone happens to have a house they’d like to donate for training purposes, we promise we’ll put it to good use. These don’t exactly grow on trees 😉

As always, we remain committed to training hard so we’re ready when our community needs us most.

04/18/2026

Stay weather aware!! These storms are looking nasty.

04/12/2026

🚨 Telecommunicator Week Shoutout 🚨

This week, we proudly recognize and thank the dedicated dispatchers of METCAD 9-1-1 - Champaign County, Illinois and Vermilion County 911 during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

These men and women are the calm voice on the other end of the line during someone’s worst day. They are the first, first responders—gathering critical information, providing life-saving instructions, and ensuring help gets where it’s needed as quickly as possible.

Behind every call we respond to is a dispatcher working tirelessly to keep both the public and responders safe. Their professionalism, quick thinking, and commitment do not go unnoticed.

From all of us at the Homer Fire Department, we appreciate you not only this week, but every week.

📞💛

04/11/2026

EDIT: The two are only stepping down from their officer positions, they will continue their service on the department as “punk fireman” as our newbies get comfortable in their new roles.

🚨 Department Update 🚨

This past Tuesday marked a significant transition for our department. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our Chief, Don Happ, and Assistant Chief, Bub Miller, for their dedication, leadership, and MANY years of service to our community. Their impact on this department will not be forgotten.

Following this transition, we are proud to announce a new lineup of officers. The majority of these individuals are experienced leaders within our department who have stepped into new roles, continuing their commitment to serving our community at a higher level. We are also excited to welcome two new officers into leadership.

This group brings a strong foundation of experience, dedication, and pride in the job, and we are confident in their ability to lead our department forward.

Over the coming days, we will be introducing each officer individually so you can get to know the team leading our department.

Please join us in supporting our officers as they take on their new roles and continue serving our community.