When you think of firefighters, you think of fires.
A closer look shows they actually battle fewer fires and more medical emergencies.
It's an increasing trend in recent years seen not just here in East Central Illinois, but across the country. This change requires additional training and resources.
About 60 percent of the calls Champaign Fire responded to in 2018 were EMS-related and only three percent were fires.
National data shows about 66 percent of the calls fire departments respond to are medical emergencies. Champaign responded to about 5,130 EMS calls last year—a small increase from 2017, but still slightly below national average.
When EMS calls come through, fire engines are usually the first ones on scene serving as the immediate first responders. That’s because they are able to respond the quickest.
“The wheels start and stop anywhere in Champaign in four minutes,” Champaign Deputy Fire Marshal Randy Smith said.