The Daily Herald has published an article highlighting the challenges faced by the Mount Prospect Fire Department. According to Chief John Malcolm, the department is working hard to maintain quick response times despite budget cuts that have led to the loss of six full-time firefighter positions since 2010. Both the chief and the village board are worried about the long-term sustainability of the department.
One of the most concerning issues raised by trustees is the fire department’s practice of sending the tower ladder on every call, rather than returning to the station to retrieve it. This decision, while aimed at improving efficiency, has raised concerns about the strain on equipment and the potential risk of not having the ladder available when needed.
In 2010, as part of a 10% reduction across the village, the number of full-time sworn firefighters dropped from 72 to 66. To cope with this, Chief Malcolm initially tried using a “jump†company — a team of three people, including a lieutenant and two firefighters, who would respond to calls in either the engine or the tower ladder depending on the situation. This meant staffing two vehicles with just three personnel.
This approach had consequences. In July 2011, during a fire at a three-story apartment building hit by lightning, the tower ladder was left unstaffed at the station. "So I had no ladder truck at three o'clock in the morning," Malcolm recalled. He couldn't get mutual aid at the time, so the crew had to return to the station, switch rigs, and then go back out. The delay worsened the situation, with flames already spreading through the roof.
Eventually, the department decided to send Tower 13 on every call. This change significantly increased the number of responses for the tower unit. In 2012, it responded to 1,894 calls, compared to the total of 5,777 calls the department handled that year.
At a recent Committee of the Whole meeting, trustees voiced their concerns about the ongoing demands on the fire department. They were particularly worried about the wear and tear on the tower unit, the risk of the ladder being unavailable during ambulance calls, and the declining number of mutual aid resources.
- In 2011, Mount Prospect received 314 mutual aid calls and provided 142.
- In 2012, the numbers were 300 received and 235 given.
- In 2013, the figures were 185 given and 218 received.
- For 2014, it's projected that the department will receive 338 mutual aid calls but only provide 150.
With these trends continuing, the community and local leaders are now under pressure to find sustainable solutions to support the fire department as it faces increasing demands with fewer resources.
Thanks Ron & Chris
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