Fire chief reports two recent fires, thanks mutual-aid partners

The Director of Fire Emergencies briefed trustees on two recent fires and expressed gratitude to mutual-aid partners. The department responded to a fire at Great Harvest and another at Dan Veil Auto Sales on Thanksgiving, the chief said, and credited East Peoria Fire, Pekin, Tremont, Washington and Deer Creek for assistance.

The director described an extensive response including three ladder trucks and praised volunteers and full-time crews for getting the fires under control in what he called a "dangerous situation for the building." A trustee and a resident described the scale of the response; a resident recounted speaking with a worker (Joe Springer) who was grateful for the rapid response after a machine caught fire.

No new operational decisions, budget allocations or formal requests for aid appeared on the meeting agenda. The remarks were recorded as department reporting and public comment.