Ottawa Fire Department

06/16/2026

With the threat for tornadoes across the region tomorrow, now is a great time to review tornado sheltering guidelines. Here are some tips on what makes a shelter good or bad.

06/16/2026

06/12/2026

Our thoughts are with the Streator community and all those involved in navigating such a devastating event. Our brothers and sisters at Streator Fire Department are working tirelessly to assist their citizens at this time, please see the following post from them regarding donations.

Good morning! It has been brought to our attention that there is a social media post (or maybe several) telling people to bring donations to the Streator Fire Department.

1. We appreciate everyone’s desire to help. That is one of the BEST qualities of our community is its compassion and eagerness to be a part of the solution.

2. Right now we are NOT prepared to take donations. Our crews are busy protecting the city, conducting damage assessments, and all of the work that comes with recovering. Please do not overwhelm the fire department with phone calls and traffic for donations as we need to be able to focus on helping others.

3. There will be a time for donations. For specific details about what to donate and where stay tuned to Streator Mayor Tara Bedei. All directions will come from the Emergency Operations Center.

Thank you all so much. You are truly an incredible community.

05/18/2026

Ottawa Fire members, present and past, gathered for our annual Firefighters Memorial this weekend.

The names of those that we’ve lost are read aloud, a wreath is hung in their honor and the bell is rung in remembrance.

This tradition serves as a reminder that the heart of service and commitment to our community spans generations. It’s also a time when retired members can share stories with those just starting their careers and the spirit of the fire service renews.

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this event together!

05/04/2026

Fire departments from Ottawa, Utica, Tonica, and Oglesby gathered for a rope rescue training on Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Wildcat Canyon at Starved Rock State Park. Firefighters train at the park each spring for real-life rescues. Wildcat Canyon has cliffs that are over 100 feet high, and it creates a real-life scenario environment for rescuers to practice.

05/01/2026

04/22/2026

Thanks to our friends at Reddick Public Library District for including us in their celebration of National Library Week!

04/21/2026

Please see the following press release for further information on today’s Industrial Fire/Hazmat Incident.

04/17/2026

Please join us in congratulating our newest IFSI Academy Graduates!

-Firefighter Lauren Bangert
-Firefighter Kennee Harris
-Firefighter Derrick Hobbs

Fire Academy is an arduous process but is crucial in building the skills and fortitude necessary to take on a career in the fire service. Congratulations on successfully completing this process! We look forward to your next steps integrating onto your respective shifts!