Elmhurst Fire Department news

The Elmhurst Fire Department is currently facing a staffing crisis, with three firefighter positions remaining unfilled due to budget constraints imposed by the state of Illinois. This has raised concerns among residents and local officials about the department's ability to respond effectively to emergencies.

At the April 18 City Council meeting, Elmhurst City Manager Jim Grabowski addressed the issue after several residents, including firefighter Geoff Gaebel, voiced their concerns during earlier public sessions. Gaebel, who works as a firefighter in another municipality, highlighted that the department has been operating with three fewer personnel for over a year, bringing staffing levels to their lowest since 1999.

Gaebel warned that under-staffing could lead to serious consequences, both for firefighters and the community. He emphasized that fire trucks often operate with fewer than the required three crew members, which can compromise safety and response times. “When the apparatus runs with less than three personnel, bad things happen,” he said, adding that this affects not just the firefighters but also the city, its residents, and the buildings they protect.

Citing a National Fire Protection Association document and a City Managers Association study, Gaebel stressed that at least four firefighters are needed to properly manage a fire scene, including water pumping, search and rescue, and other critical tasks.

Grabowski defended the department’s current staffing, stating that it is still meeting expected standards despite the shortage. He noted that the city is currently covering the three vacant positions through overtime pay, with firefighters working time-and-a-half to cover all shifts.

However, Alderman Mark Mulliner expressed concerns about the long-term impact of relying on overtime. He argued that placing firefighters on double shifts creates an undue burden and raises safety risks. He also criticized Grabowski’s reasoning, pointing out that paying overtime is costly and that the city has made other hires in recent months, contradicting the idea of a severe revenue shortfall.

Mulliner added that the department is actually short four people, as one chief position remains vacant. He urged the city to reconsider its stance on hiring replacements, emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper staffing levels for public safety.

Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:

Recent discussions at an Elmhurst City Council meeting have drawn attention to the city’s ongoing challenge with fire department staffing. Geoff Gaebel, a lifelong resident and firefighter in a neighboring town, criticized the decision not to fill three vacancies—two resulting from retirements and one from medical leave.

“The Elmhurst Fire Department is currently short three members and has been for about a year, bringing the department down to its lowest staffing level since 1999,” Gaebel said.

City manager James Grabowski explained that the department is currently covered by overtime, with each shift being staffed by Elmhurst firefighters working at time-and-a-half rates. He also cited the uncertainty surrounding Illinois state finances and the terms of the firefighter union contract as reasons for not filling the vacancies.

Ed Siuzdak, an Elmhurst firefighter and member of the IAF Fire Fighters Union, expressed concern over the current staffing situation. He mentioned that union representatives had discussed removing the no-layoff clause in the contract, but Grabowski did not provide a clear commitment to hire new firefighters.

Siuzdak also suggested that upgrading fire engines with advanced life support equipment could help improve emergency response, though he noted that only a third of firefighters are currently functioning as paramedics.

Grabowski reiterated his concerns about budget limitations, stating that any changes would require careful consideration of financial and operational impacts. Discussions about equipment upgrades were still ongoing, with questions about staffing and resource availability remaining unresolved.

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