Stillman Fire Protection District

05/19/2026

Congratulations to Devin Reed and Ben Carlson on graduating from the Basic Operations Firefighter program.

Completing this training is an important step in the fire service, and we appreciate the time and work they put into getting it done. Thank you both for continuing to serve the community and the Stillman Fire Protection District. We look forward to the next steps!

05/09/2026

A few weeks ago, the Stillman Fire Protection District held our annual banquet with current members, retirees, and families. It was a great evening filled with stories, laughter, recognition, and reflection on the many people who have helped shape this department over the years.

As Fire Chief, I cannot put into words how proud I am to serve alongside the men and women of this department. Every day, I get to watch people give their time, energy, compassion, and dedication to something much bigger than themselves. I am also incredibly proud to come from a department that was built by dedicated men and women who laid the groundwork for everything we have today. Long before many of us were here, people sacrificed their time, effort, and personal lives to build a department that cared deeply about its community and about each other. Because of them, we have a strong foundation to continue growing, improving, and serving the people of this district.
Our banquet was a reminder that the fire service is about much more than calls and fancy fire trucks. It is about people, tradition, family, service, and carrying forward the values that were passed down to us. It was an honor to recognize accomplishments, celebrate milestones, share some laughs, and spend time together reflecting on where we have been and where we are going. We had some fun with some awards that reminded us of some people’s adventures over the past year as well!

Thank you to everyone who attended, to our retirees who helped build this organization, and to every current member continuing to move it forward. I truly believe we have something special here, and I could not be more proud to be your Fire Chief.

Chief Chad Hoefle

05/05/2026

Today is International Firefighters Day. I’m proud to serve as Chief of the Stillman Fire Protection District, and even more proud of the men and women who make up this department. They come to work not knowing what they’re going to face that day, but they show up ready every single time. They work hard and they care about this community! In this profession, saying you trust your people to take care of your own family means everything, and I can say that without hesitation. Thank you for what you do for this community.

-Chief Hoefle

04/18/2026

Stay alert, Friends… Just getting word that we have 70 mile an hour plus winds moving into Ogle County right now.

04/17/2026

04/17/2026

https://www.weather.gov/media/lot/DssPacket.pdf

04/15/2026

We know the last couple weather alerts we shared didn’t end up impacting our community as directly as we thought it might. And honestly, that’s the best possible outcome.

The fire department exists to prepare for the things we hope never happen. Whether it’s storms, fires, medical emergencies, or the things you can’t even dream up, our job is to be ready at all times, before, during, and after an incident.

When we see weather that has the potential to impact our area, even if it ends up shifting, we’re going to share that information. Not to alarm anyone, but to give you the opportunity to be aware and prepared, just like we are. The reality is, the communities around Stillman were impacted. Situations like that can change quickly, and next time it could be us. We are there to help those communities affected as well and we hope when bad things happen, they recover quickly.

We appreciate everyone who takes the time to prepare, check on family, and stay alert when these posts go out. That kind of awareness makes a difference and honestly helps us do our job. It also matters more than you may realize. When bad weather is coming, if you drive by the firehouse, you won’t just see the personnel on duty. You’ll see many additional firefighter showing up, ready to respond before the first call ever comes in. These members make sure their families are prepared, and then walk out of the house to serve you. I am forever thankful for our staff and their level of commitment.

We will always hope nothing happens. But we will never stop preparing in case it does. We hope you don’t either.

Be safe, friends.

Chief Hoefle

04/14/2026

Be aware Friends!

225pm: Severe Weather Update:

- Models have gone back and forth on firing supercells across northern Illinois later this afternoon, and for now, they say storms will hold off until this evening. Across central Illinois, a round of storms may develop over the next several hours, and these may go severe warned very quickly as they move east with mainly large hail, but a tornado or two is also possible. The main focus later this afternoon will be on storms that develop across eastern Iowa near the warm front and move east into southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois. These will have the best environment for strong, long-tracked tornadoes this evening. We expect storms to develop across northern Illinois after 5-6pm as the cap weakens this evening, and we will monitor for a tornado threat along with very large hail. After 8-9pm, storms will transition from a tornado threat to a large hail and damaging wind risk, and they will march east into northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan.

04/09/2026

AI is rapidly transforming the fire service—are you prepared to leverage it? Join Brian P. Kazmierzak and Michael R. Clark at the IFCA 55th Annual Symposium Program for “Artificial Intelligence & Your Fire Department: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly,” an in-depth look at how AI can serve as a powerful force multiplier for today’s departments.

From reducing administrative burden and supporting data-driven decision-making to enhancing training, personnel management, and firefighter safety, this session explores where AI is already making an impact. They’ll also address potential risks and challenges, helping leaders understand how to implement AI responsibly and effectively. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical insight into one of the most important emerging tools in the fire service.

Register now for the 55th Annual Symposium:
https://www.illinoisfirechiefs.org/education/annual-symposium/

04/02/2026

We’re not saying there will be tornadoes in our area tonight, but as you know, weather can change quickly and predictions are saying there are chances around our area. Like you, we hope it passes us by. But hoping alone doesn’t prepare you. It’s like seeing dark clouds roll in and choosing not to grab a coat because you hope it won’t rain. Our job is preparedness so we can be ready for anything at a moment's notice. Preparing doesn't mean things won't happen, but it will help you for when life throws you something you are not used to.

Take a minute to look over these tips so you and your family are ready, just in case.

-Chief Hoefle