City of Urbana Fire Department

08/18/2026

Tonight Mayor DeShawn Williams duly appointed Roy Lane to Deputy Fire Chief of the City of Urbana Fire Department at the City Council Special Meeting held at Urbana City Hall.

Chief Lane, congratulations on your appointment to Urbana Deputy Fire Chief!

08/17/2026

Mayor DeShawn Williams State of the City Speech - An Excerpt

🚒 Urbana Fire Department: Investing in Fire Safety

"Over the past year, the Urbana Fire Department responded to nearly 6,700 calls for service, providing emergency medical services, fire response, rescue, and other critical assistance to our community.

To support our firefighters and plan responsibly for the future, the City has developed a long-term plan to maintain and replace its fire apparatus fleet.

As part of that plan, the City recently acquired a quality pre-owned ladder truck, restoring a critical backup capability and ensuring uninterrupted aerial response when the primary ladder truck is undergoing maintenance or repairs.

With more than 800 buildings three stories or taller in Urbana, having reliable ladder service is essential to keeping our community safe.

This investment gives our firefighters the tools they need today while helping the City plan responsibly for tomorrow." - Mayor Williams, State of the City Speech, August 2026.

Watch the entire speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUtZgmSZjsc&t=51s

Photo: the Urbana Fire Department's Ladder Truck 251.

08/08/2026

Chief Steve Doggett is an excellent public servant. He is an amazing professional who cares ultimately about the community's greater good.

"The people you work alongside become family. Whether we’re responding to emergencies, training together or sharing a meal at the station, those moments build lifelong friendships," Steve Doggett says.

08/04/2026

The City of Urbana invites community members, business leaders, local partners, and media outlets to attend the 2026 State of the City Address at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

The event will be held at Urbana Fire Station No. 3, located at 1205 West Bradley Avenue in Urbana.

The annual State of the City Address provides an opportunity to reflect on the City's accomplishments over the past year, highlight current initiatives, and share the vision and priorities that will shape Urbana's future.

Go here for more: https://www.urbanail.gov/executive-department/page/city-urbana-announces-2026-state-city-address

08/04/2026

The City of Fire Department sincerely thanks our Urbana Meijer for the generous donation of smoke alarms. These alarms will help us greatly serve our residents and stakeholders.

Seen here, from the left, are Urbana Fire Chief, Steve Doggett; Robyn Gundlach, Team Leader - Asset Protection; and Joseph Mangano, Store Detective.

05/12/2026

STEVEN DOGGETT APPOINTED TO URBANA FIRE CHIEF

Steven Doggett was appointed to Urbana Fire Chief by Mayor DeShawn Williams at the regular Urbana City Council meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, for a term ending on June 30, 2027.

“Please join me in welcoming Steve Doggett as the new Fire Chief for the City of Urbana,” Mayor DeShawn Williams said. “I’m grateful for Steve’s leadership and the thoughtful, graceful way he has navigated change throughout his career. I’ve seen firsthand the respect the rank and file have for him, and that respect speaks volumes about the kind of leader he is. I look forward to continuing to work alongside Chief Doggett as we serve the great City of Urbana together. Congratulations, Chief.”

Chief Doggett has been with the Urbana Fire Department for 19 years and during that time, Doggett has served as an arson investigator, worked closely with the Finance Department as a City-wide budget reviewer, represented Fire employees for seven years as the IAFF Local 1147 President. He is a Field Staff Instructor at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute and was previously the Program Director of the Illinois State Fire Academy Program.

Prior to joining the Fire Department, Doggett was a Police Officer for the Village of Westville as well as a Firefighter at the New Port Chemical Depot in New Port Indiana. He is married to his wife, Shanna for 23 years and has three children: Alex, Molly, and Maddy.

Doggett holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Illinois Springfield.

05/12/2026

STEVEN DOGGETT APPOINTED TO URBANA FIRE CHIEF

Steven Doggett was appointed to Urbana Fire Chief by Mayor DeShawn Williams at the regular Urbana City Council meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, for a term ending on June 30, 2027.

“Please join me in welcoming Steve Doggett as the new Fire Chief for the City of Urbana,” Mayor DeShawn Williams said. “I’m grateful for Steve’s leadership and the thoughtful, graceful way he has navigated change throughout his career. I’ve seen firsthand the respect the rank and file have for him, and that respect speaks volumes about the kind of leader he is. I look forward to continuing to work alongside Chief Doggett as we serve the great City of Urbana together. Congratulations, Chief.”

Chief Doggett has been with the Urbana Fire Department for 19 years and during that time, Doggett has served as an arson investigator, worked closely with the Finance Department as a City-wide budget reviewer, represented Fire employees for seven years as the IAFF Local 1147 President. He is a Field Staff Instructor at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute and was previously the Program Director of the Illinois State Fire Academy Program.

Prior to joining the Fire Department, Doggett was a Police Officer for the Village of Westville as well as a Firefighter at the New Port Chemical Depot in New Port Indiana. He is married to his wife, Shanna for 23 years and has three children: Alex, Molly, and Maddy.

Doggett holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Urbana Firefighters Local #1147

05/04/2026

Urbana Honors Our Urbana Fire Service
International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed annually on Monday, May 4, 2026. This day honors the dedication, courage, and sacrifice of firefighters worldwide, particularly remembering those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The City of Urbana honors our Urbana Fire Department for all they do for our community.

04/02/2026

The Urbana Fire Department is proud to announce these recent promotions in the department. They were all sworn in by Mayor DeShawn Williams.

Included are:

1. Jacob Hutchcraft, promoted to Captain and was joined by his wife Megan who pinned him.

2. Blake Kuhns, promoted Captain, joined by his wife Jamie who pinned him.

3. Kelly Ryono, pinned as a Firefighter, who was joined by her twin sister Megan.

04/02/2026

Urbana Fire Department Promotions
We congratulate the Fire Department on the latest promotions within the department. Seen here are, from the left, are Mayor DeShawn Williams; Jacob Hutchcraft, who was promoted to Captian; Blake Kuhns, who was promoted to Captain; and Kelly Ryono, who was pinned as a Firefighter.