Deputy Fire Chiefs Josh Jessup and Jason Rector made a trip to METCAD to congratulate Telecommunicator I Deanne Brazelton on how she handled a recent call for service.
On October 12, 2025, around 4:10 p.m., METCAD began receiving multiple calls about an apartment building fire in Champaign. Brazelton answered several of these calls before taking a call from a resident who was unable to escape the burning building. Brazelton was quick to ask essential questions to determine the caller’s exact situation and offer possible escape options. It was apparent to Brazelton that this person (and his dog) would need to shelter in place for his own safety. She provided clear instructions to the caller on which room to use, what to take with him, and how to delay the smoke and fire from reaching him while Champaign Fire Department personnel were en route. She logged his location, status, and updates on the dispatch record to be relayed to Champaign Fire Department units already on-scene. Brazelton stayed on the telephone with the caller until rescuers located him.
Brazelton’s quick thinking and clear instructions made a difference on this day, and the resident exited the building unharmed.