🚒 Fire & Rescue Operations Overview

The Zion Fire & Rescue Department serves just under 25,000 residents across approximately 8.2 square miles. Our two primary missions are fire suppression and pre-hospital emergency medical care, ensuring protection and service for all who live, work, and travel through the City of Zion.

Apparatus and Equipment

Between the two stations, the Zion Fire & Rescue Department maintains:

• 1 Command Vehicle
• 2 Engines
• 1 Quint with a 105-foot ladder
• 3 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances

Fire Response Operations

Every reported structure fire in the city receives an immediate response of duty crew personnel, which includes a command vehicle, two engines, and one ambulance. This standard response may be modified if crews are already committed to other incidents. The same level of response applies to reported fire alarms, both residential and commercial.

For incidents not involving a structure — such as odor investigations, utility emergencies, carbon monoxide alarms, or other non-fire situations — a command vehicle, engine, and ambulance may still be dispatched to ensure safety and rapid assessment.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

All Zion ambulances are equipped for Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergencies and staffed with at least two certified paramedics. Each medical emergency call receives an ALS ambulance from the nearest district.

If additional assistance is required, an engine company (also staffed with at least two paramedics) is dispatched for support. When all three ambulances are in use, a designated ALS-equipped engine—certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health as a non-transport vehicle—can respond to initiate treatment until an ambulance becomes available.

Mutual Aid & Cooperative Response

When emergencies demand additional manpower or coverage, off-duty personnel may be called back to assist. The department also participates in the Quad One Automatic Response Program alongside:

• Beach Park Fire Department
• Newport Fire Department
• Pleasant Prairie Fire Rescue
• Winthrop Harbor Fire Department

This automatic response system ensures rapid access to additional equipment and personnel when seconds matter most.

Statewide Mutual Aid

For large-scale emergencies, the Zion Fire & Rescue Department is an active member of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). This statewide network allows any participating department to request immediate support from across Lake County or even neighboring counties when critical resources are needed.

The Zion Fire & Rescue Department’s strength lies in its people, partnerships, and preparedness — ensuring professional, coordinated response to every call for help.