The Kankakee Fire Department, an ISO Class 1 designated organization, presently consists of approximately 51 firefighters and officers who respond out of four fire stations working 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, with four pieces of front line apparatus - three engines & one ladder truck plus two Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances and a Shift Commander. The Fire Department is responsible for fire protection, advance life support emergency ambulance service, hazardous materials response and tactical rescue within the City of Kankakee plus our auto aid and mutual aid response’s. We also handle water emergencies on the river along with a wide variety of other emergency and non-emergency responses.

Most department personnel work 24 hours on and 48 hours off with 5 personnel working   a 40-hour work week. There is a Chief, a Deputy Chief, 5 Captains, 9 Lieutenants and presently we have 31 firefighters. In addition 42 members are paramedics, 12 are certified fire investigators and 5 are certified arson investigators. We are supported by two full-time administrative assistants.

The department operates a full time proactive Fire Prevention Bureau covering annual inspections in approximately 1,200 businesses. They also provide life safety and fire education to area schools, community organizations and local industry. This can include CPR instruction, fire extinguisher classes and safety education. The department also provides a Child Safety House, fire station tours, children’s obstacle course and safety events to the public at a variety of community events.

The department also has a full time progressive training division providing a wide variety of annual fire, EMS and rescue continuing education meeting the requirements of various regulatory agencies including ISO, NFPA and the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The area protected constitutes approximately 22 square miles and includes 10,000 housing units and two hospitals along with a variety of commercial, industrial and retail  businesses. The department protects Interstate 57 from milepost 306 to 313, the Kankakee River within the city limits, and covers 2 rail lines which pass through the heart of the city.

The department's proactive endeavors help assure a safer community and ensure that skilled, professional personnel are available to respond to emergency situations as they arise.