Canton Fire Department

The Fire Department is comprised of 16 sworn personnel and 1 civilian. The Department is structured as follows:

The Administrative Assistant works a 40-hour work week. Assistant Chiefs, Lieutenants and Firefighters work a schedule of 24-hours on-duty then 48 hours off-duty. Each shift consists of 5 personnel. The shifts start and end their day at 7:00a.m.

The Canton Fire Department Special Operations consist of the Fulton County Hazardous Materials Team, the Water Response Team, and the Technical Rescue Team (TRT).

The Technical Rescue and Hazardous Materials teams are staffed by members of other regional fire departments in order to make a full team. This concept promotes community interaction between departments for training, then when a large-scale event occurs, our communities can all work together for successful mitigation of the incident.

The Fulton County Hazardous Materials Team consists of Hazardous Materials Technicians from the Canton Fire Department and Copperas Creek Fire Protection District. This team responds to requests for help from fire departments anywhere in Fulton County and is a part of a regional hazardous material response team with the Macomb Fire Department.

The Canton Fire Department Water Response Team is comprised of firefighters who have certifications in open water, advanced open water, rescue diver, cold water rescue, and dry suit diver. We respond primarily within the city limits of Canton, but also to requests of mutual aid to other fire departments in the area who are in need of assistance with emergencies in the water. 

The Technical Rescue Team is made up of firefighters from the Canton & Macomb Fire Departments. Each department and city contributes personnel and equipment to the team. Team members must undergo 360 hours of initial training and then monthly in-house skills retention training, along with quarterly regional team training. The subject areas included are Trench Rescue, Rope/High Angle Rescue, Vehicle Rescue, Structural Collapse and Confined Space Rescue. The members of the team are trained to the Technician level in all of these specialties.

Fire Prevention: The Canton Fire Department provides a wide variety of information to people both in order to prevent property damage, injury and loss of life from the ravages of fire, and to educate our citizens about what we do.

Fire Safe House: The Canton Fire Department Safe House is utilized in teaching proper fire prevention throughout the year at the Canton elementary schools, the Friendship Festival, and at the Canton Fire Department.

Canton Fire Fighters Local 1897 strives to raise money and support the Strube Scholarship, which is awarded to a high school senior going to college.  We also support local participants in Boys State, Girls State, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA fill the boot), Canton High School After Prom, and the CHS Halloween Parade.  We firmly believe in providing opportunity and helping people as much possible. To learn more and to follow us on Facebook visit the links below.

The Canton Fire Department has a rich history dating back into the 1800s. Early records show a hook and ladder purchased in 1885 for the volunteer fire department which served Canton. The first paid Canton Fire Department was established in 1906 with its location at 49 South 1st Avenue.

To learn more about the history of the Fire Department visit the link below.

In Memoriam: Firefighter Howard Strube was a member of the Canton Fire Department when he was killed in the line of duty on September 7th, 1997. The memory of Firefighter Strube’s service to the citizens of Canton and the friendship with his fellow firefighters lives on. He will not be forgotten! (Icon link that links to the In Memoriam page.)

• Office of Illinois State Fire Marshal
• Illinois Fire Service Institute
• Illinois Fire Inspectors Association
• International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc
• Central Illinois Fire Investigators Association
• National Fire Protection Association
• Mutual Aid Box Alarm System
• International Society of Fire Service Instructors
• U.S. Fire Administration
• Peoria Area EMS