The Willard Airport Crash Rescue Department provides fire protection , emergency medical services, CPR and Fire extinguisher training to the customers and staff of Willard Airport and the students and staff of the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation.
A brief history of the University of Illinois Willard Airport Fire Department
Willard firefighters participate in annually required live fire exercise at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, Sept. 1996. Click for a larger view. | In 1961 Willard Airport hired its first Airport Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal worked an 8-hour day, five days per week. At that time the airport operated with two emergency vehicles, a 1944 O-5 Crash Foam Truck and a 1953 Willys Jeep with a 350lbs. dry chemical unit.
In 1969 the purchase of an International Harvester Truck with a mounted Ansul Magnum dry chemical unit and pre-mixed AFFF (foam) unit gave firefighters much greater capabilities to combat any fuel fires that occurred.
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In 1970 four firefighters were hired to work an 8-hour rotating shift giving Willard fire protection 24 hours a day. In 1975 an Oshkosh M-1500 Crash Rescue Apparatus was purchased. It carries 1500 gallons of water and 180 gallons of AFFF. A military version of this same vehicle (a model P-4) was later acquired and both of these are in service today.
|  | | Fire 32 at work. Click for a larger view. |
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In 1979 nine firefighters were employed and this number was reduced to seven in 1981.
 | | Foam Training. Click for a larger view |
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In 1984 the nearby villages of Savoy and Tolono signed a mutual aid agreement with Willard Airport. The firefighters from both of the agencies train regularly with Willard in an effort to prepare for incidents in and around the airport. |
At present, the staff at Willard includes an Airport Fire Marshal and six Firefighters working 12-hour shifts.
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Crash and Fire Rescue
