AMBOY – Amboy Fire Chief Jeff Bryant Sr. is always a busy man.

But the last month or so has been busier than usual as the Amboy Fire Protection District has been on more calls than usual while still hosting and planning its community events.

“May was the busiest month in the history of the Amboy Fire Protection District. We had 68 calls. We’re on a record pace for calls in a year.”

The call breakdown for May was 55 emergency medical service calls, six unintentional fire alarm, dispatched and cancelled enroute, mutual aid standby calls, three hazard calls for a spill, leak, or power line down, two motor vehicle accident with injury calls, one woodland fire call, and one false call.

On Saturday, June 22, 19 cadets are graduating from EMT/EMR classes. The 19 are from different stations including Amboy, Ashton, Compton, Lee, and Woodhaven Public Safety.

“That’s a big class. There are usually 10. We’re still looking for fire fighters. If anyone would like to join, people can email me at cheif@amboyfire.com, or they can show up on a Wednesday night at the fire station,” Chief Bryant Sr. said. “There is paid training, and they’d get paid for going on calls. It’s kind of a part-time job, but the biggest thing is you’re benefiting your community. If it’s not you, who? Departments are struggling to staff. We were struggling, but now we’re in a little better position.

“Reminder, replace your old smoke detectors with new smoke detectors. We have them available at the Amboy fire station. Call 815-857-2325 to schedule a pickup.”

The AFPD has a few events coming up on the calendar starting with the Amboy Fourth of July celebrations on Saturday, July 6.

“Every year, the Amboy Fire Protection District has teamed up with the City of Amboy. The city pays for the fireworks along with some other sponsors including the Depot Days Car Show,” Bryant Sr. said. “Along with that, we try to do things similar to a festival where families, regardless of economic status, can come out and have a great day celebrating the most important day we should celebrate, Independence Day.”

The Amboy Fourth of July festivities are at no cost and will include bounce houses, foam party, face painting, the band Back Country Roads, which played at the fire station during last year’s holiday, and more.

If there is inclement weather, all events/happenings will happen at the fire house. Otherwise, they are scheduled to take place on SE Avenue near the Amboy Depot Museum.

From 7-11 a.m. Saturday, July 13, the Amboy fire station, located at 25 NE Avenue, will be serving sausage, pancakes, eggs, and biscuits and gravy.

There will be a free-will donation to help cover costs related to training.

“We like to open our doors and let the community in. The breakfast isn’t connected to a holiday or a celebration, it’s just a gathering with good food,” Bryant Sr. said. “We like to show the community what we’ve been doing. We’ve done a lot of work to the fire station and to our equipment. The community can be proud of what the Firemen’s Association, the Amboy Fire Protection District, and grant funding has done to help make the fire department as prepared as it is.”

While all of this is going on, the Amboy Fire Protection District is going through an expansion.

After town meetings in both Harmon and Amboy in late 2023, the two fire departments are joining together.

“We’re still moving along with the consolidation of the Amboy and Harmon Fire Departments. It was official in January,” Chief Bryant Sr. said. “So far, we’ve ran three EMS calls in the Harmon rural response area. We’re going to be on the November ballot to have them form a part of our district.

“Right now, we’re covering it, but they’ll become part of our district in November after a referendum. I appreciate everyone’s support to make it happen to help improve the quality of life of citizens in Amboy and the Harmon rural area.”

The union will add 60 square miles to the Amboy Fire Protection District, which will bring its total coverage area to 180 square miles. The ambulance response area is now 230 square miles.