The Keep the Wreath Red campaign, now ended its 17th year, a success. This year's campaign began on November 30, 2009 and ended January 4, 2010. Even though there were four structure fires during this time, none of these fires were holiday related. The campaign is over, but we still hope everybody continues to practice fire safety, by testing smoke detectors monthly and replacing batteries at least yearly. We continue to provide free smoke detector batteries and a free smoke detector and installation for the elderly. For more fire safety tips, please check our safety tips page.

By Sauk Valley Newspapers

DIXON – A house fire Saturday evening left a Dixon family of five homeless, and two teenage girls were treated at KSB Hospital for smoke inhalation and released. Mike and Tonya Litts are owners of the home at 606 Good St. They lived at the home with their three children, two sons and a daughter.

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By Joseph Bustos - photo by Alex Paschal, Sauk Valley Newspapers

DIXON - Doug Kitson didn't fall through the ice Saturday, but he was fished out of the water a few times.  The paid-on-call firefighter played the role of accident victim Saturday while wearing a red cold-water suit to keep him warm in the frigid water.

Members of the Dixon City and Rural fire departments rehearsed the drill repeatedly for about an hour at Humphrey's Pond during their annual practice for ice rescue scenarios.

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By Sarah Owen

DIXON - Local firefighters' campaign to raise awareness of holiday-related fires seems to have worked: The wreath stayed red this year.

From Dec. 1 through Jan. 4, both the Dixon Rural and Dixon Fire departments displayed a Christmas wreath lit with a red bulb. In the event of a holiday fire - one involving candles, Christmas trees or lights, for example - the firefighters were to change the bulb to white.

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By SVN Staff, Sauk Valley Newspapers

DIXON - The Dixon Fire Department Charitable Association's first pancake breakfast likely will not be its last.

Firefighters flipped flapjacks for nearly 550 people Sunday, and collected more than $2,500 for Toys for Tots, Chief Tim Shipman.

By Sarah Owen, Sauk Valley Newspapers

Dixon delivers smoke detectors, safety message with pizza

DIXON - Firefighters navigated Engine 6 down narrow residential streets Wednesday night not to put out fires, but to prevent them. They gave away a few free pizzas, too.

During Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, firefighters are following local pizza delivery drivers as they hand out pies. Customers with working smoke detectors on all levels of their homes can score a $10 gift certificate, good for their next pizza. Those without working detectors get free 9-volt batteries and, if needed, a new smoke detector.

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By SVN Staff, Sauk Valley Newspapers

Working smoke detectors could score residents a free pie

DIXON - It's Fire Prevention Week, and for the second year in a row, city firefighters are teaming up with local pizzerias to entice people to install smoke detectors and keep them juiced up.

Beginning at 5 p.m., Fire Engine 6 will follow drivers from Al and Leda's today, Domino's on Tuesday, Maria's on Wednesday, Mama Cimino's on Thursday and Friday, and Pizza Hut on Saturday.

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By SVN Staff, www.saukvalley.com

DIXON - A changing of the guard at the Dixon Fire Department took place at Monday's City Council meeting, when Tim Shipman was sworn in as chief.

Shipman replaces Dean Rhodes, who was honored at the meeting for 22 years of service with the city.

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