The City of Savanna, IL

Since the first Hose Carts and Hook and Ladder Company in 1887, a group of local individuals have put their lives “on-hold” and “on-the-line” to help protect their neighbor’s lives and property. The principles that brought those neighbors together over 135 years years ago still hold true today. 

The Savanna Fire Department consist of one full-time chief and 36 paid-per-call volunteer firefighters. These firefighters are dedicated to the City of Savanna and the Savanna Fire Protection District that they serve.

The Savanna Fire Protection District includes 52 square miles around the City of Savanna including the Mississippi River and the Mississippi Palisades State Park.

The SFD responds to an average of 125 calls per year that includes not only a variety of fire calls but they also respond for calls to assist the ambulance, carbon monoxide alarms, gas odor/leak/spill, motor vehicle accidents, storm damage, water rescue and boater assist.

They currently have two Engines, two Pumper/Tankers, two Brush Trucks, one Rescue Truck, one Aerial Truck, one Command vehicle and two rescue boats.

 All this equipment was supplied by either the volunteers through fund raisers such as the annual pancake breakfast and equipment was also purchased by the City of Savanna and the Fire District.

Since 2001, the Savanna Fire Dept. has received $441,317 of grant funds and the Savanna Fireman’s Association has raised over $470,000 for equipment, training, and vehicles dating back to 1983. 

Savanna is also home of The NW Carroll County Fire Training Center since 2019.  Funded by the Savanna, Mt Carroll, and Thomson Fire Departments, this 1600 square foot structure is designed to replicate a 2-story residential home.

Four 40-foot and two 20-foot shipping containers have been assembled and modified to create a kitchen, bathroom, and five additional rooms that can be set up to resemble any room found in a typical home...including a 16' x 20' attached garage.

In the spring of 2023, the Savanna Fire Dept. was instrumental in maintaining the 1,280-foot flood wall on J.B. Sullivan Drive which included 60,000 sandbags. The SFD worked around the clock to maintain the pumps and logged 1,330 hours of volunteer service free of charge.



Savanna Volunteer Fire Dept.
Chief—Scott Wolfe
Assistant Chiefs—Scott Parker, Thomas Ritchie, 
Captains—Kurt Arno, Curt Hockman, Vinnie Popkin, Kevin Reusch, Raymond Skiles, 
Lieutenants— J.C. Carey, Dwayne Ferguson
Training Officer—Jacob Helms
Engineer—Larry Hoertz, Ron Meinsma, Shawn Picolotti, 
Firefighters—Brian Boyer, Curtis Breuning, Blake Budimlija, Colt Carrier, Eric Christensen, Jamie Dykstra, Tad Foster, Gene Gonyier, Shane Griffith, John Heffelfinger, James Johnson, Curtis Koch, Bradley Kosier, Tim McWethy, Ryan Miller, Elliott Mills, Ethan Ritchie, Nathan Rubio, Matt Shaw, John Vernon, Mike York, Jay Zickau.

The Savanna Volunteer Fire Department Association is always taking applications for the department. Requirements for applications to be accepted are as following.
1. Must be a resident of the City of Savanna or the Fire Department District.
2. Must possess a valid Illinois Drivers License.
3. Must be 21 years of age at application.

Anyone interested can pick up an application at the Savanna Fire Station at the Dispatch Desk during normal working hours. Firefighters have a meeting on the 3rd Monday of each month, and training on the 4th Monday of each month. Any person interested in seeing the station or in being a Firefighter, stop by during training and chat with us.

 

 

Ambulance Association

The Savanna Community Ambulance Association is a not for profit association that contracts EMS services to both the City of Savanna and the Savanna Fire Protection District.

Savanna Ambulance is licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health as a Paramedic level service, working under the OSF Northern Illinois EMS system (St Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, Illinois).

The service has two ambulances, 1-E-13, is a 2016 Ford/Horton and is licensed at the Paramedic level, and 1-E-15 is a 2000 Ford/Medtec



At this time the Board of Directors consists of:



President
Charlie Corey, EMT-P

Vice President
Erik Torrison

Secretary - Office Manager
Louise Brouillard, EMT-P

Treasurer
Mona O'Heron

Glen Ron Johnston
Carol (Jackie) Walker
Julie Brigham
William Wright
Alice Riffe-Torrison
Teresa Ross

2016 Attendants Officers

President
Amy Hubble, EMT-P

Vice President
Ashley Hamilton, EMT-B

Secretary/Treasurer
Charlie C. Corey, EMT-P

Training Officer
Steph Brown, EMT-P

Infection Control Officer
Louise Brouillard, EMT-P

Attendants

Brenda Adland, EMT-B
Corinna Bates, EMT-B
Jamie Dykstra, Driver
Duane Ferguson, EMT-B
Erin Foster, EMT-B
Mike Fullick, EMT-P
Harry Grissinger, Driver
Gina Hale, EMT-P
Ann Magill-Hamilton, EMT-B
Shelby Hubble, Driver
Eric Jobin, EMT-B
Ashleigh Kloepping, EMT-B
Jennifer McColley, EMT-B
Rob Murphy, Driver
Shawn Picolotti, Driver
Wendy Popkin, EMT-B
Rhonda Rathje, EMT-B
Tammie Sipes, EMT-B
Ray Skiles, Driver
Becky Sweitzer, EMT-P
Stephanie Whiting, EMT-B
Sandy Wurster, EMT-B

Hired Medics

William Brown, EMT-P
Ashleigh Kloepping, EMT-P
Tom Perrin, EMT-P
Becky Sweitzer, EMT-P

Training

The Savanna Ambulance Attendants training is held the Third Wednesday of the month starting at 1800 hrs, lasting to 2000 hrs, with their business meeting following the training. Any EMT or EMD is welcome to attend our training sessions.

Contact Us

Ambulance Emergency Phone Number: 911
Ambulance Non-Emergency Phone Number: (815) 273-2246

Business Office:
827 Chicago Avenue
Savanna, Illinois 61074

By Appointment 815-273-7002

FAX: (815) 273-3008
E -mail savannaems@grics.net

Histroy

Savanna Community Ambulance Association Providing Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Services to the Savanna Community

What is dedication, commitment, and sacrifice? That is what the dedicated people who run our ambulance service and the other thousands of volunteer services across our country do ever day of the week, every week of the year.

Savanna Community Ambulance History

Prior to the late 1960's and the early 1970's pre-hospital care in much of rural America, including Savanna, consisted of the local mortician responding with a hearse converted for ambulance use. In 1966 the National Highway Safety Act put the Department of Transportation in charge of developing an Emergency Medical Service System.

Into the early 1970's the local funeral home in Savanna continued to transport patients. With the new rules and regulations the owners decided to cease operation. The local cab company attempted to run the ambulance service but with ever-changing rules and regulations and reimbursement problems with Medicare and insurance companies, the owners decided it was no longer feasible. On June 1, 1973 the Savanna Fire Department temporarily took over the ambulance service for six months while the city explored other alternatives. H. Lee Riffe and Milo Reed became the first EMT's in Savanna.

In August of 1973 Mayor Don Nehkorn appointed a seven-member board to develop a volunteer ambulance service for the city. At the first meeting of the new board, it was recommended that they add two members from the rural areas and make it a "Community Ambulance Service." To staff the ambulance a volunteer attendants group was formed. This group included Shirley Shore, H. Lee Riffe, John Letcher, Fred Ernest, Jim Ernst, Harry Grissinger, Tom Trader, John (Jason) Shauer, Milo Reed, Don Wolfe, Don Phillips, Al Titsworth, Dave Arno and Charles Corey.

The first ambulance was an old hearse rented from Foster Coach and stored at the fire department. During the first few months the ambulance board actively sold subscriptions to raise money for a new ambulance and equipment. The City of Savanna along with the Ambulance Board applied for a federal grant. In mid December of 1973 the board purchased the first ambulance, a 1973 Dodge Medicruser for $13,500 including all equipment required by the federal government.

After a few years it became evident that the ambulance service needed to be run as a business. One of the board members had done the billing in her home, and then an attendant's wife was paid to do the billing. Mayor Nehkorn provided much needed help when Medicare became more complicated and reimbursements were down. The Mayor suggested utilizing one of the city clerks to do the billing. With the City Clerk Betty Mathew doing the billing, patients knew that they could conduct their business during normal business hours. Financially this was one of the most dramatic changes in our service. Medicare was billed in a timely manner and patients' payments were received more promptly. This demonstrated to the board that we were not just a volunteer service. We were a needed service for the community.

In 1974 Savanna built a new fire station, expanding the space from five vehicle bays to eight, and making room for our ambulance, at this time the fire department added a tanker and another pumper, and the Ambulance Association added another ambulance. It became evident the new station was not large enough for both departments. In the early 1980's the ambulance board started building reserve funds, so we could have our own building.

The Most dramatic change to our ambulance service relating to patient care came in 1988. That is when the attendants decided to upgrade to the intermediate level. We elected to join the Northern Illinois Mobile Intensive Care Program, which is now OSF Northern Illinois EMS, a part of St Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. The first attendants to go through the intermediate class were Penny Von Essen and Dave Lockhart. The second class was attended by Louise Brouillard, Charles Corey, and Robert Bimm. In 1989 the service decided to upgrade to the Paramedic level, and three of the attendants, Penny Von Essen, Louise Brouillard, and Charles Corey started paramedic school in Elizabeth, Illinois. They received there paramedic license; Louise in March, Penny in April and Charlie in October. Savanna Community Ambulance was the first ambulance service in Carroll County to advance to the paramedic level.

In 1994 we had to move our billing office to a donated office space above the Black Hawk Area Credit Union. Since that office was not handicapped accessible we had to explore other options. In 1995 we purchased our current property and broke ground that fall. Many local volunteers helped with the labor for our new EMS building to help control the cost. The leading one was Steve Mennenga, a local Plumber who donated all his labor to install the plumbing / electrical / heating & air conditioning. In the spring of 1996 we moved into our new ambulance facility. We now have garage space for both of our ambulances, a handicapped accessible billing office and a modern training room.

Crime Stoppers

(815) 244-7867
Help us stop crime by arresting criminals. Learn how Crime Stoppers works and how you can earn extra cash.

How does crime stoppers work?
Since 1988 the Carroll County Crime Stoppers has been making a positive impact on crime in our area. As the result of tips from anonymous callers, Crime Stoppers has assisted local law enforcement in the arrest of numerous felons; has paid out thousands of dollars in cash rewards and has assisted in the recovery of thousands of dollars in narcotics and stolen property. With the assistance of local media, Crime Stoppers has become well known in Carroll County.

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000.00 to persons who provide information which results in a felony arrest of the apprehension of a fugitive. You don't have to give your name.

Who answers the Crime Stoppers tip line?
Highly trained dispatchers at the Carroll County Sheriff's Department answer the Crime Stoppers tip line, 244-STOP (244-7867).

Is the Crime Stoppers tip line recorded?
No, the tip line is not recorded and it can not be traced. Your call is completely anonymous.

What is done with the information once it is given to the dispatcher?
Your information is given to the law enforcement agency, which has jurisdiction where the crime occurred. Additionally, all drug information is forwarded to the Blackhawk Area Task Force. Those answering the tip line do not investigate the crimes, they just pass the information on.

If you don't know my name, how do I get paid?

When you call in with information, a short report is written and you are given a code number. If your information leads to a felony arrest, you can claim your reward by supplying that number.
How much money do I get and when do I get paid? The Carroll County Crime Stoppers Board and president meet every other month and discuss each case to determine the reward amount. There is no set guidelines which determine the amount for a given crime. Once the board agrees on a payment a reward is issued. The caller calls back at a prearranged date and time and arrangements are made to give their code number and receive their reward - no questions asked. Occasionally a meeting would be arranged at some public place where the exchange would be made. The caller must remember the code number.

How is Crime Stoppers funded?

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization. The board is made up of concerned citizens who work hard to raise funds. Donations are received from communities, businesses and individuals. Additionally, the law allows a Crime Stopper assessment to be made by the court on those individuals convicted of crimes.

Carroll County Crime Stoppers function is to pass on information regarding criminal activity. Crime Stoppers does not take reports of crimes from victims. If you are the victim of a crime, please report it to the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the crime took place. If it is an emergency, please call 911. If you are not sure who has jurisdiction, fell free to call the Carroll County Sheriff's Department or the Savanna Police Department for assistance.

The Carroll County Crime Stoppers tip line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The above information was received from Deputy Ryan Kloepping of the Carroll County Sheriff's Department. If you have any questions about the Carroll County Crime Stoppers, please contact Deputy Ryan Kloepping at the Carroll County Sheriff's Department, (815) 244-9171