DANVILLE — The Fischer Theatre will host a special film event uniting firefighters from across the nation, spotlighting a Wichita Fire Department firefighter. Danville first welcomed this event last year.
“Firefighters at the Fischer” will be shown for free for firefighters at the Fischer Theatre on Wednesday, featuring Isaac Frazier, who has 22 years of experience.
Ryan Allison, a Captain with the Danville Fire Department, says the event will give attendees practical knowledge in handling high-stakes rescues, rapid decision-making, and effective choices under pressure. Additionally, it will create opportunities for participants to network and collaborate with other fire professionals from across the country, enhancing skillsets and professional support.
“Building on the success of last year’s inaugural ‘Firefighters at the Fischer’ event — which brought over 100 firefighters from departments around the Illinois-Indiana area together for a free evening of professional development at the Fischer Theatre — the 2026 program continues the Danville Fire Department’s goal of providing high-quality training opportunities close to home,” Allison said.
Allison said on Friday that around 90 people have registered, and there is room for more.
“Last year, Chief Clyde Gordon presented information on a Line of Duty Death (LODD) that his department experienced with someone he had previously supervised,” Allison said. “The message was about training and accountability. I know we have had Chief Gordon’s message referenced plenty of times when it comes to holding each other accountable and assuring our members are being provided the highest level of training we can deliver to them.”
Allison said Frazier takes his Tactical Advantage Training all over the United States, and has prior experience as a Special Operations Captain in St. Johns County, hands-on training at FDIC, work as a NAVRA assessor, and founded ‘Into the Job Fireman’s Symposium.’
Prior to the event, there will be time for networking and cocktails starting at 5 p.m., with the program starting at 7.
Departments across the Midwest can send their firefighters, company officers, and chief officers.
As of now the following cities or fire crews have departments are participating in Illinois and Indiana: Danville, Danville Auxillary Police, Urbana, Terra Haute (Ind.) Fire Department, Honey Creek out of Terra Haute, Madison Township out of Camby, Ind., Attica, Ind., Bellmore Fire Department of Rockville, Ind., Eli Lilly Fire in Lebanon, Ind., Martinsville, Rossville, Tilton, Mundelein, Bismarck, Georgetown, Decatur, Homer, Anchorage Middletown Fire from Louisville, Ky., Avon, Ind., Brownsburg, Ind., Champaign, Lynch Area Fire Protection District of Danville, Illinois Fire Service Institute, and East Central Fire & EMS from New Haven, Ind.
To register for the event, go to the Danville Fire Department Facebook page and sign up.