GFD Programs for Residents

The Galesburg Fire Department is committed to assisting our residents through multiple programs. These programs are designed to assist our residents with fire safety.

Public Education Opportunities

GFD offers station tours to educational groups. Students get the opportunity to see the trucks up close, see the firefighters gear, where they work on reports and review inspections, where they cook and sleep. If your educational group is interested in touring one of our stations, please complete the Station Tour Request form so we can make sure your group has a great experience.

We receive a lot of requests to attend school events, parades, back to school events, etc. Please be sure to contact us right away for the best chance to get on the crews' calendar. 

If you would like to have a crew attend your event, please complete our Community Event Request form.

GFD is actively out in the community teaching our neighbors about Fire Safety. We visit all the Galesburg public and private schools every October to teach youth about making a home fire escape plan, cooking safety, to name a few. Many times the crew will don their fire protection gear so kids can see they have nothing to fear.
If you are interested in having GFD provide Fire Safety Training to your group, please contact us.
GFD's Training Captain coordinates and conducts these trainings. If you would like to learn more, please contact the Training Station at 309-345-3791.
GFD does not offer CPR or First Aid training.
Please contact Barbara Whedbee - OSF's EMS Systems Coordinator.
P: 309-344-3161  ext 64195

Explorers Program

Smoke Alarm Information

Is your smoke alarm less than 10 years old?

You should replace your smoke alarms every 10 years to ensure they are working and up to date. GFD strives to keep our community safe. This includes making sure your smoke alarms are functioning properly. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly.

If you are a City of Galesburg resident and want to see if you qualify, please complete this form. Once your application is received, it will be reviewed and our Captain in charge of this program will call you to set up an appointment to install the alarms.

Chief Hovind and Captain Caruana discussed the importance of fire safety and emergency preparedness on WGIL's Morning News on March 3, 2025.

Safety Tips:
  • Install smoke alarms outside:
    • each sleeping area, and
    • on every level of the home, including the basement.
  • Large homes may need extra smoke alarms
  • Interconnected smoke alarms are best. When 1 alarm sounds, they all sound.
  • Test all smoke alarms once a month
  • A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall.
  • Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10' from the stove.
  • People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf can use special alarms that have strove lights and bed shakers.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old!

Tips for Mounting Smoke Alarms:

Alarms should be mounted high on a wall or on the ceiling.
Wall-mounted units should be installed so the top edge of the alarm is 4 - 12 inches from the ceiling. Ceiling-mounted alarms should be attached at least 4 inches away from the nearest wall. In a room with a pitched ceiling, mount the alarm at or near the ceiling's highest point. In stairways with no doors at the top or bottom, position smoke alarms anywhere in the path of smoke moving up the stairs. Always position smoke alarms at the bottom of closed stairways, such as those leading from a basement, because dead air trapped near the door at the top of a stairway could prevent smoke from reaching an alarm located at the top.

State law requires smoke alarms to be installed within 15 feet of each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On floors without bedrooms alarms should be installed near living areas such as dens, living rooms, or family rooms.

Smoke alarms are not recommended for use in kitchens, bathrooms, or garages where cooking fumes, steam or exhaust can set off the alarm when there is no fire.

Effective January 1, 2023 Illinois residents have to replace their old smoke alarms with the type that has a long term, 10-year sealed battery. It is recommended that you replace your smoke alarms every 10 years to ensure they are working properly and up to date. The Galesburg Fire Department has partnered with the American Red Cross fire alarm distribution program as well as the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance in providing residences with the 10-year smoke alarms.  If you are a City of Galesburg resident and wish to see if you qualify, please fill out the application. Once the application is received, it will be reviewed and a Fire Captain will contact you to schedule the installation.

For more information about the law please check this link:  Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal

Car Seat Installation

The City of Galesburg has multiple Child Safety Seat Technicians. These individuals receive training that provides the basic technical skills, experience and knowledge of the proper use and installation of child passenger safety seats required to conduct child safety seat inspections.  
To make an appointment, you can contact the following departments: