Fire

Our Fire Department consists of 17 volunteer firefighters including the Officers. The position of Fire Chief is a part time paid position while the firefighters are volunteer, paid on call.  Between the two departments (City and Rural Fire District) we average around 140 calls per year.  Along with answering fire calls, the department also teaches a fire prevention program at the schools and participates in community activities and various other public requests for services that average to nearly 30 events/calls per year.   Anyone interested in serving our community as a volunteer firefighter can pick up an application at the fire station or City Hall.


We are a fully equipped department that provides fire suppression, auto extrication and other rescues within 6 square miles of the City limits of Pinckneyville.  Being a fully equipped department is instrumental in helping to keep the City's Insurance Services Office (I.S.O.) Public protection Classification number low.  The classification is on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being superior.  The better the rating, the lower the insurance premiums for our resident's and business' properties.  I.S.O. bases their ratings partly on personnel, equipment, training, and water distribution among other things.  Our current I.S.O. rating is a class 5.  Having the proper and necessary equipment, regardless of the price or amount of use, helps when being evaluated my ISO.

All other area outside of the City limits is served by the Pinckneyville Rural Fire Protection District, which is a separate entity from the City of Pinckneyville that maintains its own ISO.

Both departments are members of MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) and the Coal Belt Fire Protective Association.  These organizations provide a network of mutual aid agreements with other departments and fire districts regionally and statewide for assistance on large fires or other natural disasters and emergencies.

Kevin B. Hicks – Commissioner of Public Health and Safety



Jim Gielow – Fire Chief