Wilmington, IL – Residents in Wilmington may overhear emergency radio chatter referencing an active shooter response Thursday evening, but local officials stress it’s only a drill.
According to the Wilmington Fire Protection District, the department—working with WESCOM, the area’s public safety dispatch center—is conducting a series of radio-based training exercises focused on active threat and active shooter scenarios. The first drill begins Thursday at 6 p.m., with two more sessions planned for Friday at 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Fire officials emphasized that these communications are strictly for training purposes and are essential to maintaining readiness for high-risk incidents. “While we hope to never use this response outside of training, these radio drill trainings are important to public safety response communications,” the department said in a statement.
Residents who may hear emergency-style radio transmissions during the listed times should not be alarmed, officials added. The drills are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen coordination and communication among first responders in critical situations.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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