Letter From the Fire Chief

The Mt. Vernon Fire Department welcomes you to the City of Mt. Vernon, located at the crossroads of Southern Illinois at the I57/ I64 corridor that takes travelers and Industry across Illinois from Paducah to Chicago and St. Louis to Evansville.

Our department serves the citizens of Mt. Vernon as well as all our welcomed overnight guests staying at our many hotels and working at our numerous businesses. The fire service has changed dramatically over the years, but the Mt. Vernon Fire Department has strived to maintain an ISO Class 3 rating.

The Mt. Vernon Fire Department is organized into three Divisions, four engines, two truck companies, and two HazMat units. Division one consists of Operations, whose focus is on the members and day-to-day activities of the department. Division two is Administration, whose responsibilities include planning, organizing, Fire Safety and Prevention which includes fire investigations. Division three is the Training division of the Department. It oversees the training aspect of our department members.

The Mt. Vernon Fire Department not only responds to structure fires but also provides training, staffing, and response for any hazardous material emergencies and technical assistance for businesses/industries within our jurisdiction. Our department is a member of MABAS Division 47, and we proudly serve several counties in our division and beyond through interagency agreements.

Our emergency medical response is a major portion of our services. Mt. Vernon Fire Department provides advanced level (ALS), prehospital first responder care to all our citizens and visitors. There are three fire stations that are strategically placed to support all types of emergency situations. Members of the Mt. Vernon Fire Department are cross-trained as Paramedics to staff our front-line engines for response. This enables rapid emergency response for our citizens and visitors.

Each member of the Mt. Vernon Fire Department is committed to safety. They must train over 200 hours per year to meet the high standards of the State Fire Marshall’s Office, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Department of Labor/ OSHA and NIOSH. This is demonstrated daily by the members’ adherence to not only their safety but also the safety of the public.

The members of the Mt. Vernon Fire Department have been and will continue to deliver the highest level of care and service to all visitors and the citizens of the community. As firefighters and emergency service workers, the work is more than just a job… it is our way of life, and we are proud to serve you every day.

Thank you for visiting our site and if you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

- Fire Chief Kevin Sargent