The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) is the statutory State Fire Academy for Illinois. It serves as the oldest continuous fire training institution in the United States. Since 1925, first responders from across the state and world have relied on IFSI to deliver hands-on, innovative, and top quality training, education, and research. Our Mission: Helping Firefighters Do Their Work Through Training, Education, Information, and Research Located in Champaign, the main IFSI campus offers a 28-acre training ground with class-A live fire props and training equipment. Courses are delivered on campus, at state regional training centers, and local fire departments across the United States and internationally.