Editor’s note: Every Monday, the Muscatine Journal profiles a local figure who responds to questions provided by one of our reporters.

ILLINOIS CITY, Ill. — A lifelong resident of Illinois City and a 20-year member of the city’s volunteer fire department says he couldn’t be more proud of his fellow volunteer firefighters.

“When our pagers go off everyone available heads to the fire station right away because they know if we’ve been called, then someone needs help,” said Illinois City Fire Chief Rex Danner.

Another thing that makes him proud is that his crew will soon be moving into a new fire department just a block away from the current, smaller facility, at 23901 W. 124th Ave. The building they are now remodeling is a former millwork shop and the purchase was made with fire district property taxes. Danner is also applying for  grants to help with funding.

For a small rural town, 24 volunteers — 23 men and one woman — are a lot, Danner said. But those firefighters have the job of responding to car wrecks on Illinois Route 92 and the New Boston blacktop, as well as rural fires 

The Fire department averages

25-30 calls per year and has three firetrucks. It works mutual aid with Andalusia, Edgington, Buffalo Prairie and sometimes Joy and Reynolds.

Personal

Name: Rex Danner

Age: 45

Hometown: Illinois City

Career: Employee at Frye Builders, Muscatine; Chief of the Illinois City Volunteer Fire Department

Q&A

Why is it important to have a volunteer fire department in your area?

It saves the residents money in property taxes by not having to pay a full-time department. Also, when there is an emergency we are there as soon as possible and we are reliable.

How long have you been chief?

For 14 years and I can’t tell you how proud I am to be fire chief of a group like this. There are some of us who have put a lot of years and work into this and we are seeing a lot of young people become interested and that is positive to know they will step up and keep the department going.

What type of training do your firefighters do?

Extrication, structure fire training with air packs, pump truck training, and scene set-up. We have a training officer that coordinates our monthly training exercises, which we often do with our sister fire departments. There is a fire school in Champaign that we send firemen to every year for training also.

How well does mutual aid work for your department?

Mutual aid is very important to all of our surrounding communities. We page each other when we need help. Sometimes that doesn’t get the recognition that it needs. Mutual aid in small communities is used very often and is a cost saver. It can double the amount of help and trucks you have at a scene.

How much does it cost to run the fire department for the year?

At least $100,000. Most of that is covered by property taxes, but how does the department come up with any additional money needed for equipment?

Illinois City Days is the main fundraiser for the department, and we rely on donations from the community to buy new gear and do work to our fire department. We are also trying to buy a truck or van to haul our safety equipment and tools separately from the fire trucks.