09/02/2026

From the Desk of IFCA President Brian Lambel

Fire Chief, Wilmette Fire Department

Seventy-five years ago, this past month, nine fire chiefs met and laid the groundwork for our statewide Association. The next meeting was held on September 16 in Kankakee, with invitations sent to 383 eligible prospects throughout the state.

The purpose of the Association was:

“To provide a forum in which the chiefs of Fire Departments of cities, villages and towns, and other municipal corporations, in the State of Illinois, may discuss matters of mutual interest, and to provide these chiefs a channel for concerned action for their continuing efforts to improve the efficiency and to elevate the status of the fire service, as well as to furnish them an aid in their efforts to promote more effective fire prevention and suppression through educational, legislative, and technical means.”

Since that day, the Illinois fire service has worked through wars, pandemics, legislative impacts, both funded and unfunded mandates, America Burning, collective bargaining, 9/11, and a significant increase in the demand for service through the 911 system.

We must ask ourselves: How did they accomplish everything they did?

The answer is through our membership.

Your Association currently has four Presidential roles, six Directors, 12 Areas with numerous Area Representatives, more than 20 standing Committees, and the Educational and Research Foundation – all working for you under the direction of the IFCA Strategic Plan.

This month, you will be voting for open positions within the Association, and we are proud to say that we have a full slate of Presidential and Director candidates. But we must also prepare for the future.

We owe it to the visionaries who came before us, our entire membership, and our fire service partners. Please consider serving in a position that fits your capacity and allows you to give back, strengthen our Association, and help shape its future.

Thank you again for everything you do. I hope to see you in Peoria at our Annual Conference, October 11–14.

Be Safe,

Brian Lambel, IFCA President