Pana Fire & EMS

05/13/2026

03/02/2026

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We are in the middle of the season when farmers want to get fields and waterways burned off. Many of these fires get out of hand, requiring a fire department response. Most people think a fire in a harvested field or waterway won’t go anywhere, but grass and field fires can change direction very quickly. Wind direction can shift, sometimes just due to the topography of the land.

Fighting these fires requires a lot of tactical decisions and a great deal of physical effort. Because of this, Pana Fire tries to provide as much extensive wildland firefighting training as possible.

On Saturday, February 28th, Pana Fire hosted a multi-department live burn class. Approximately 150 acres of CRP land were burned under controlled conditions.

In the past, grass and field fires were just chased and attempts were made to extinguish them, and that is still the case in some situations today. However, we’ve learned that getting ahead of the fire and setting controlled backburns is often the best method, when possible. When the head of the fire reaches the backburned area, there is no fuel left for it to consume, and it will burn out.

Twenty-four firefighters from Pana, Tower Hill, Moweaqua, and Assumption started on the downwind side of the property, laying fire on the ground using drip torches. The fire was allowed to burn a 5- to 6-foot-wide path, with firefighters extinguishing the farthest downwind line and letting the upwind line continue to burn into the wind. This created a wide, blackened area along the downwind field edges. The wind was constantly monitored for changes, which did occur during the training. We experienced wind from the northeast, then the east, and finally from the southeast, so more area needed to be blackened.

Due to the changing winds and the terrain, which included terraces and significant elevation changes, a line was cut across the middle of the property. Once all boundaries were protected, the fire was allowed to move with the wind.

Firefighters put in 8 hours of extensive training that day, and a lot was learned. The burn was completed successfully. These types of fires are sometimes more difficult and dangerous to fight than structure fires because of the unknowns of wind, humidity, and terrain. A structure fire typically stays within one area, but grass fires can spread rapidly and trap firefighters if they aren’t constantly aware of changing conditions.

Thank you to all the firefighters who attended. Even though everyone was getting tired, we had a successful and rewarding training session.

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09/22/2025

Pana Fire Official Notice and Press Release:
Pana Area Burn ban “Lifted”

With the rain the area received over the weekend and a possible forecast of more over the next few days, we have decided to lift the burn ban for now. We will continue to monitor conditions. Thank you for being respectful of the ban.
We hope everyone will use common sense if you do need to burn and Please remember with the ban lifted, it does not mean you can just burn anything.
City, County and State EPA does not permit burning of any dimensional lumber, furniture, garbage, wiring cardboard or any trash of any kind. You are allowed to burn yard waste only and can have a small campfire type fire if monitored.
Please Google Pana IL City Ordinances and go to Chapter 9 for burning rules. Breaking these rule can result in an ordinance violation and a fine so please check it out or contact the Fire Dept if you are unsure if what you want to do is legal or not.
Thank you,
Chief Rod Bland
Pana Fire Dept

09/09/2025

Official Notice from the Pana Fire Department –
BURN BAN EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 – UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Effective 3:00 PM, Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the Pana Fire Department is issuing a BURN BAN for all areas within the City of Pana and any area covered within the Pana Rural Fire Protection Association borders. This ban will remain in effect until further notice and will be re-evaluated periodically.

The ban includes all outdoor burning, including but not limited to brush piles, leaves, fields, and recreational fires such as small fire pits.

With conditions so dry, a small fire can become a large in minutes threatening lives and property.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated by the Pana Fire Department and all area fire agencies.

Thank you,
Chief Rod Bland
Pana Fire Dept.

07/17/2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of a long time member of the Pana Fire Department.
Lawrence Jannink a 63 year member of Pana Fire died July 16, 2025. Lawrence served the community actively for over 50 years and as an Honorary member often still attending fire meetings till his death. Lawrence was a mentor to many young firefighters that came through the dept. Sadly Lawrence’s wife Linda passed away the day before Lawrence on July 15, 2025.
Visitation will be from 1:00 pm till 3:00 pm at McCracken Dean Funeral Home with Graveside service at 4:00 pm at the Oconee Sacred Heart Cemetery.
A responder walk thru will be at 2:30 Sunday July 20, 2025. Emergency vehicles are welcome for the procession from McCracken/Dean funeral home to Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oconee.

06/21/2025

We still have some meals if you didn’t get a chance to get a ticket. $20. Come on up to the station.

06/21/2025

Rib Meals are ready to go. We also have 50-50 tickets.
Thank you for your support of the Pana Fire Dept.

06/21/2025

Pana Fire has got the ribs smoking. If you bought tickets don’t forget to come thru and pick up your meal from 4:00 to 6:30. Thank you for your support of Pana Fire.

05/17/2025

At 03:33 am today Pana Fire was dispatched for a house fire on Birch St. Upon arrival of Fire Command, a single story wood frame structure was reported fully involved with another exposure to the south of it.
Auto Aid from Tower Hill Fire was dispatched. A box alarm for tankers was requested from Oconee and Assumption.
The structure was unoccupied and had been for a couple years. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control from the exterior and then preform overhaul procedures to establish a loss stop. No injuries were reported. The structure was a total loss but the exposure was protected.
The fire is under investigation.