The Cerro Gordo Fire Protection District came into existence in 1972 when voters in two counties, Piatt and Macon, passed a referendum creating the fire district as a taxing body. It's predecessor was a combination of two organizations, the village government funded and staffed by unpaid volunteers and the Cerro Gordo American Legion Post 117, whose military veteran members provided fire protection in the rural areas on a subscription basis. The First Chief of the newly organized taxing district was Avon Niles, the last Chief of the former village fire department. The first trustee's were Denzil Bartison, Edwin "Pete" Hale and T.J. Shambaugh III. Fire alarms were received on a fire phone "party line" system where a call would simultaneously ring along continuous ring on five telephones located at various sites in the village, one of which was the restaurant down town. During business hours, whomever was at the restaurant received the call would take information, run out the back door, down the alley to the firehouse, activate the siren which was located on the water tower, and write the location information on the chalk board. That system later expanded to fifteen "fire phones' in the homes of volunteers. A pager system replaced the old telephone method of receiving calls. As '911' evolved and pagers came into use, the PSAP's (Public Safety Answering Point) of Piatt and Macon counties now dispatch alarms to our pagers. The former firehouse, that is now the American Legions Post 117 building on Monroe Street in Cerro Gordo was replaced by a three - bay building in 1976 at its current site. In 1987 an addition of another bay along with meeting room, kitchen, communication room, Chiefs office and storage room was completed. Over the years the firehouse has been and continues to be a shelter for all that is put out by fire catastrophes and many other weather related emergencies. Volunteers hold weekly trainings at the fire station and are often the host department for county wide trainings.The fire station is also used for fundraising the volunteers do as well as fire prevention demonstrations. The fire department leadership has always diligently worked to get the best equipment available and provide ongoing training for the volunteers. Cost of training and required testing is borne by the district. Over the years the mission of the fire service has shifted dramatically from a singular focus of fighting fires and fire prevention to include all manner of emergency services. Training skills are provided with the equal emphasis on First Responder and Emergency Medical Training. The department responds to over 200 emergency alarms a year. In addition to responding to fires, the department also is trained to respond to emergency medical calls, motor vehicle accidents, Haz-Mat, rope rescue, water rescue and is also a certified ice rescue team. The fire department also spends much of their time with their eyes in the sky as it keeps Cerro Gordo and La Place under watch in severe weather events as they operate the village warning siren. Volunteers are granted honorary status at the age of 56, exempting them from front line firefighting and rescue efforts. They still, however enjoy all rights and privileges of those in active service. The Cerro Gordo Fire Protection District is a member of the Piatt County Fire Association, Macon County Fire Association, the OKAW Fire Association, and MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System), Division 46. Current Trustees are President Gary Zackery an honorary member of the volunteer group, Treasurer Jim Flaugher, and Secretary T.J. Shambaugh IV. The Cerro Gordo Fire Protection District Fire Chief is Randy West serving as Fire Chief since 1995. Other Chief officers include Deputy Chief Blake West and Battalion Chief Jacob Songer. In addition to the Chief officers the fire department also has two Captains, two Lieutenants, and three Engineers. The department is managed by the chain of command. All officer spots are filled by the use of testing for each position. The volunteers continue to serve unpaid although the group as a whole receives a monthly allowance from the fire district. Meeting minute records go back to the year of 1936. Several years ago, former fire chief Carl V. Cripe (1991-1995) began a tradition of reading the minutes of old meetings at the monthly business meetings which continue today. Hearing the minutes from long ago gives our volunteers today a better image of how the department has changed in growth and are specialized more than ever before, but yet still find the friendship and strong ties much the same. The Cerro Gordo Fire District operates on one of the lowest property tax rates in the State of Illinois of 0.16927 per one hundred dollar value of the property. The department is classified a great rating from the Insurance Service Office "ISO" of a class 6 for fire suppresion. The Cerro Gordo Fire Protection District serves 105 square mile area in there first due area with a living population of 6,500 people living in Cerro Gordo, Oakley and Decatur Townships.

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You can help us buy spending $15 and get a green reflective address sign. You can purchase these at any home improvment store or call the firestation and we can order for you and see it's installed correctly.