Unit 7 Fire Protection District

What This Data Tells You About Unit 7 Fire Protection District

Unit 7 Fire Protection District operates as a Volunteer department in Dorchester, within Macoupin County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 20 total personnel, 1 station, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as not provided.

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. Unit 7 Fire Protection District runs 13% below that state average, signalling a leaner crew typical of smaller jurisdictions or heavily volunteer-staffed areas. 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: Unit 7 Fire Protection District has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $204,349 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff.