Wood River Fire & Rescue Dept.

06/04/2026

05/15/2026

The wait is over. Meet the new LUX 360.
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05/13/2026

04/22/2026

Josh Follmer is our "Firefighter of the Year" 2026 award winner
It is with great pride and sincere appreciation that I submit this nomination for Josh Follmer. Josh is an invaluable member of our fire department and consistently demonstrates the qualities that define true dedication, professionalism, and service.
Josh is one of those individuals who works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our department runs smoothly. Much of what he does may not always be visible to the public, but his efforts have a direct and lasting impact on our operations and overall success. He is dependable, hardworking, and approaches every task with a logical and thoughtful mindset.
He actively responds to calls and remains committed to serving our community whenever needed. In addition to his frontline involvement, Josh is continually striving to expand his knowledge in both fire and EMS. His commitment to ongoing education and improvement strengthens not only his own skills, but also the overall capability of our department.
Josh is involved in multiple aspects of the department and never hesitates to step up when asked. Whether he volunteers or is “volun-told” to serve on a committee, he accepts the responsibility without complaint and follows through with dedication and professionalism.
One of Josh’s greatest strengths is his calm demeanor. He brings a steady presence to every situation, and people are naturally drawn to his approachable and composed personality. His ability to remain level-headed under pressure makes him a trusted teammate and a reliable leader when it matters most.
Josh Follmer is truly a great asset to our department. His commitment, work ethic, and quiet leadership make a lasting difference every day. Congratulations Josh!

04/19/2026

Fighting fire is a dangerous activity that requires a lot of training. Today we were able to practice our skills with a practice burn. Two new firefighters got their first experience of fighting fire inside a burning building. Training like this can never be simulated it has to be done with live fire practice.

04/18/2026

Weather permitting, WRFD will be conducting a house training burn Sunday morning April 19th at the location noted in the photo. You may see some flames and smoke in that area but it will be a controlled burn, so there is no danger.

04/07/2026

Wood River Fire & Rescue, along with Cairo FD, recently trained alongside TriCity Life Net medical helicopter crew to strengthen coordination during critical emergencies. In rural communities like ours, distance and time can significantly impact patient outcomes, and medical helicopters provide rapid access to advanced care for serious injuries, strokes, and heart attacks. This training ensures our crews can safely establish landing zones, communicate effectively with flight teams, and seamlessly transfer patient care, allowing us to deliver faster, higher-level treatment when every second counts for the people we serve.

04/03/2026

Busy month for WRFD with strike team deployments, mutual aid calls, training, and fundraising activities creating a demand for volunteer time.

04/02/2026

We were blessed with a little bit of moisture! YAY, and the governor lifted the burn ban, BUT we did not. We are NOT issuing any burn permits at this time and still advise you to not burn. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.