Cornbelt Fire Protection District

06/04/2026

🚒 GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT 🚒

The Cornbelt Fire Protection District is pleased to announce that we have been awarded funding through the 2026 Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Small Equipment Grant Program.

This grant funding will be used to purchase new extrication equipment, replacing aging rescue tools and enhancing our ability to safely and efficiently remove victims from damaged vehicles during serious motor vehicle crashes and other rescue incidents.

Providing our firefighters, paramedics and EMT’s with reliable, modern equipment is essential to delivering the high level of emergency service our community expects and deserves. This funding allows us to improve our rescue capabilities while reducing the impact on local taxpayer dollars.

The District remains aggressive in pursuing grant opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels. These efforts help us secure critical equipment, improve responder safety, enhance emergency response capabilities, and maximize the value of every tax dollar entrusted to us. Whenever possible, we seek outside funding sources to supplement our operating budget and reduce the financial burden on our residents.

“Every dollar we can bring into the district through grants is a dollar that does not have to come directly from local taxpayers,” said Fire Chief John Koller. “We are committed to providing our personnel with the best tools available while being responsible stewards of public funds. This grant will allow us to modernize our extrication equipment and better serve the residents and visitors of the Cornbelt Fire Protection District.”

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal for its continued support of fire departments throughout Illinois. Programs like the Small Equipment Grant help departments improve firefighter safety, strengthen operational readiness, and provide better service to the communities they protect.

Thank you to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal for its continued partnership and investment in the Illinois fire service

06/03/2026

One of the best parts of the job is taking a few minutes to share what we do with the next generation.

Today we got to spend some time with a couple future Cornbelt firefighters and let them help with a little training!

05/22/2026

05/18/2026

05/12/2026

Please join us in congratulating Captain Justin Wesley on earning his Fire Instructor II certification, and Firefighters Nate Beachey and Tyler Stauffer on earning their Fire Instructor I certifications.

This is a significant accomplishment that takes dedication, time, and a commitment to the fire service. Continued education and professional development like this directly strengthens the training and instruction provided to Cornbelt Firefighters and helps ensure we continue delivering the highest level of service to our community.

Congratulations to Captain Wesley, Firefighter Beachey, and Firefighter Stauffer on this outstanding achievement.

05/05/2026

Break in the rain meant one thing: Training time!
Your Cornbelt Firefighters took advantage and got after pump operations to stay sharp and ready.

05/02/2026

Your Cornbelt Firefighters had a great time at the Mahomet Seymour Ag Day today.

This is such a great program for our community, bringing people together, supporting local agriculture, and giving kids and families a chance to learn and connect. You can tell how much pride and effort goes into making this event what it is.

We enjoyed seeing so many familiar faces, meeting new ones, and being part of the day.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello and to those who put in the work to make the such a success

04/29/2026

Mr. Keith Dawkins, one of the founding members of the Cornbelt Fire Protection District, stopped by today to visit with our members, and it was truly special.

In 1953, Mr. Dawkins and the other 12 founding members of Cornbelt had the vision, commitment, and courage to build something that would protect this community for generations to come. They laid the foundation for what Cornbelt Fire Protection District is today, a department rooted in service, commitment , and neighbors taking care of neighbors.

Because of their leadership and dedication, our community has had dependable fire and EMS protection for more than 70 years. What they started continues every single day through the work of our career and volunteer members serving this district.

We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Dawkins and all of the founding members for what they built and for what it still means to our community today. Their legacy lives on in every response, every member, and every tradition of service that continues today.