09/07/2026
🔥 REMEMBERING ROB SCHIELD — SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 🔥
Today, September 7, we remember Rob Schield on the anniversary of his passing.
Rob dedicated his career to the East St. Louis Fire Department and had a true love for the fire service. To Rob, being a firefighter was more than a career — it was a brotherhood, a calling, and a part of who he was.
But Rob’s influence on the fire service reached far beyond the walls of his engine house and the streets he protected.
Through Fire Cam, Rob took his passion for firefighting and turned it into something that would have an impact on firefighters across the country. Fire Cam cameras have been used by firefighters nationwide, capturing the reality of the job from a firefighter’s perspective and providing footage that can be used to document incidents, review operations, improve training, and share the story of the fire service with the public.
For those of us who were fortunate enough to know Rob and work with him, that impact is personal.
The Cahokia Fire Department had the opportunity to participate in testing several Fire Cam cameras as Rob continued working to improve his products specifically for firefighters. Our members were able to put those cameras to work in real-world fire service conditions, provide feedback, and even participate in marketing videos showcasing Fire Cam equipment.
Those experiences gave us a front-row seat to something Rob was building that would eventually reach fire departments and firefighters throughout the nation. We got to see his passion, determination, creativity, and commitment to making a product designed by a firefighter, for firefighters.
That is part of Rob’s legacy.
Every Fire Cam mounted to a helmet, every piece of footage that helps a department review an incident, every training opportunity created from what was captured, and every firefighter who has been able to share the realities of this profession carries forward a small piece of what Rob started.
And anyone who knew Rob knew there was another side to him that was just as memorable. He loved a good prank, loved making people laugh, and had a way of creating memories that stayed with you long after the call was over. His personality, laughter, and love for this profession made him impossible to forget.
Six years later, Rob’s fingerprints can still be found throughout the fire service he loved so much.
We are grateful that Cahokia had the opportunity to play even a small part in the Fire Cam story, and even more grateful for the memories we were able to make with the man behind it.
Rob, you are missed more than you know.
Rest easy, Rob. Keep watch over your family.
Your cameras continue to capture the job you loved.
Your work continues to influence the fire service.
And your memory continues to ride with firefighters across this country.
🚒 Never Forgotten. Always Loved. Always a Firefighter. 🔥
