After several fires in the 1930s, including a major fire on the village square on July 20, 1935, there was a true concern for fire safety in the village of Danville. So in March 1938, the village council established the Danville Volunteer Fire Department with Dana Snow serving as chief.
Fire hydrants were installed in the village that year, and a pumper was built in a garage. A pumper/tanker was then constructed from a used gasoline truck in 1949. Over the next 35 years, the department grew from one truck to a fleet of seven pieces of fire equipment and two squads with leadership being from Ralph Mickley and Dale Hammond.
EMS services were then added to the department in 1971, providing service for six townships and two villages. A second station was built in Howard in 1973; and Hammond’s son, Mike, took over as chief. Over Hammond’s 18 years following, the department acquired an aerial ladder and a heavy rescue truck with essential equipment for rescue work. In 1992, a BCD technical rescue team was established, comprised of Bladensburg, College Township, and Danville fire departments. Larry Stimpert took over as chief in 1996, and the district has since grown to a fleet of 16 pieces of fire equipment and two additional squads.
In 2000, it was decided that the community could benefit from forming a joint fire district, and the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District was born in 2001, serving the villages of Danville and Brinkhaven plus the townships of Brown, Jefferson, Howard, Union, Butler, and Harrison. The district operated with all volunteers until 2003 when paid personnel were hired.
The district is currently under the leadership of Fire Chief Larry Stimpert, Assistant Chiefs George Durbin and Marcia Durbin, Lieutenants Tyrel Samples and Jason Stephens, and Captains Chris Wilis, Regis Fowler, and Brian Durbin who oversee a staff of more than 50 firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs.
EKJFD leadership has always made sure to stay up to date on the latest equipment and supplies to provide the highest level of protection for our community. Since 2010, we have had the pleasure of purchasing the following items:
Unit: 1
Name: L. Stimpert
Rank: Fire Chief
Unit: 2
Name: G. Durbin
Rank: 1st Asst. Chief
Unit: 3
Name: M. Durbin
Rank: 2nd Asst. EMS Chief
Unit: 4
Name: T. Samples
Rank: Lieutenant
Unit: 5
Name: C. Willis
Rank: Captain
Unit: 6
Name: J. Stephens
Rank: 1U Lieutenant
Unit: 7
Name: R. Fowler
Rank: Captain
Unit: 8
Name: B. Durbin
Rank: Captain
Unit: 9
Name: M. Smith
Certification: 3U Lieutenant
Unit: 10
Name: B. Smith
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 11
Name: T. Calland
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 13
Name: M. Carey
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 14
Name: L. Williams
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 15
Name: J. Stimpert
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 16
Name: D. Manring
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 17
Name: K. Durbin
Certification: Probationary FF/EMT
Unit: 18
Name: D. Robbins
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 19
Name: J. Stimpert
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 20
Name: L. Rager
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 21
Name: D. Colopy
Certification: FF
Unit: 22
Name: J. Vanhoose
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 23
Name: J. Mullett
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 24
Name: A. Mackey
Certification: Probationary FF/EMT
Unit: 26
Name: T. Phillips
Certification: FF/EMT-A
Unit: 27
Name: A. Beaver
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 29
Name: C. Fowler
Certification: EMT-A
Unit: 31
Name: A. DeNune
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 33
Name: D. Hyden
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 35
Name: D. Lee
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 36
Name: C. Meyer
Certification: Probationary FF/EMT
Unit: 37
Name: J. Hood
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 38
Name: M. DeChant
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 40
Name: B. Roberts
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 41
Name: A. Sims
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 42
Name: D. Carter
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 43
Name: J. Reigle
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 44
Name: D. Campbell
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 46
Name: M. Ashman
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 47
Name: R. Wind
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 48
Name: T. Bagley
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 50
Name: J. Fletcher
Certification: FF/EMT-P
Unit: 51
Name: A. Durbin
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 52
Name: B. Young
Certification: FF/EMT
Unit: 56
Name: G. Durbin
Certification: FF