Two engines and firemen from six Iroquois County departments are on duty in Gifford.

MABAS 37 was asked to deploy to the tornado-ravaged community for fire protection and to maintain nine light-towers placed throughout the town. The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System stepped up to provide engines from Chebanse Township and Cissna Park. Firefighters serving Gifford are from Stockland, Cissna Park, Loda, Buckley, Chebanse Township and Ashkum.

Ashkum Fire Chief Jeff Glenn says "in 32 years on the job as a firemen, "never have I seen a thing like this." The Champaign County town was wiped out, 200 homes destroyed. Emergency lighting is in place until power can be restored.

Glenn said in the event there's any fire calls, the Iroquois County MABAS crews will handle the situations with Gifford firemen guiding the mutual-aid help, since most of the street signs are gone.

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