Career (Paid) EMS Provider

DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT

De Kalb, IL · Dekalb County

DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Career (Paid) department serving De Kalb, IL (Dekalb County), with 3 stations and 54 total personnel. The department also provides EMS services. Full equipment, coverage, and staffing data from HIFLD are below.

54
Total personnel
3
Stations
Fire trucks
Yes
EMS service
+135%
above IL avg personnel
(23/dept)
87th
percentile by size
of 984 IL depts
18
personnel per station
staffing density
$4.9M
3 FEMA grants
AFG / SAFER

Department Profile

Type
CAREER
Location
De Kalb, IL
FDID
DA121

FEMA Grant History

$4.9M
Total Funding
3
Awards
Year Award Amount
2024 EMW-2024-FF-00058 $1,892,689.52
2020 EMW-2020-FF-01625 $2,721,256.42
2020 EMW-2020-FG-12778 $251,008

Source: USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER) USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER)

Staffing vs the Illinois average

How DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT's personnel count compares to the typical department in Illinois. It is larger than 87% of the 984 reporting departments statewide.

▲ 135% above the state average
Stations
3
State fire deaths/yr
127
IL departments
1,493

What This Data Tells You About DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT

DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT operates as a Career (Paid) department in De Kalb, within Dekalb County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 54 total personnel, 3 stations, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active, which directly affects how medical calls in the service area are routed and how quickly an advanced life support unit can reach a patient. Department type matters because career, volunteer, and combination organizations carry very different response-time profiles and funding sources.

Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. Illinois has 1,493 registered fire departments and 34,868 total personnel, averaging roughly 23 staff per department. DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT runs 135% above that state average, signalling a larger-than-typical crew likely tied to denser population or higher call volume. The state records about 72,000 fires, 127 fire deaths, and 55% volunteer coverage each year, which shapes training, funding priorities, and mutual-aid patterns felt at every department in the state.

Federal investment further defines this department's trajectory: DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 3 FEMA grants totaling $4,864,953.94 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff. Residents, insurers, and mutual-aid partners use these data points to judge whether coverage is adequate for the built environment, whether ISO ratings are defensible, and where future capital investment should flow. All figures on this page come from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) public dataset, USFA published statistics, and USAspending.gov, and are presented without editing so the underlying federal record remains transparent and verifiable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many firefighters does DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT have?

DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT has 54 total personnel according to HIFLD data. This is 135% above the Illinois average of 23 per department.

Does DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT provide EMS services?

Yes, DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in addition to fire response.

How many fire stations does DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT operate?

DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT operates 3 fire stations.

What type of fire department is DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT?

DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Career (Paid) department serving Dekalb County, IL. Career departments employ full-time paid firefighters.

Has DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT received federal grants?

Yes, DEKALB FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 3 FEMA grants totaling $4,864,953.94 through the AFG and SAFER programs. The most recent grant was in fiscal year 2024.

How many fire departments are in Illinois?

Illinois has 1,493 fire departments with 34,868 total personnel. 55% are volunteer departments.

Data from HIFLD Open Data (FEMA/DHS). Not all departments report equally.

Related

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFireData Editorial

Federal data sources

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from FEMA/DHS HIFLD Open Data. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.