VIDEO: Fire crews in unincorporated Champaign-Urbana say the area has heard the sound of sirens more often in 2025. Officials with Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District say there was a 10% uptick in call volume compared to 2024. โI think our increase comes from you know running emergency calls, more calls in the field, and a growing population in the district,โ said Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Jeremy Hoffman.
And they are not the only ones. The Savoy Fire Department said there were more than 1,000 calls compared to the year before. Cornbelt Fire in Mahomet has seen a 70% surge in calls since 2015. โI think you want to train as much as you can,โ Hoffman added.
Hoffman with Eastern Prairie said the station may be understaffed, but preparation has helped his team be best equipped for a call. He said another way the crews have been able to handle the load is from community members stepping up.
