Dupage Policy Journal

Downers Grove Fire Department responded to 1004 calls in 2018 - 15 percent more than the previous year, according to data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System.

The calls in Downers Grove included 67 fires - 25 structure fires, eight vehicle fires and 34 other fires. The fire department also responded to five calls for ruptures, explosions or overheating.

In all, the department saw $1,804,700 in fire loss - or about $26,936 per fire.

The department also received 932 false calls, including six malicious calls and 926 other false calls.

The calls resulted in two civilian fire-related injuries. Additionally, seven fire service member were injured in non fire-related incidents.

The Downers Grove Firefighters Pension Fund, which has 75 active employees and 89 retired or inactive employees, was $2,653,617 positive as of December 2017, according to the fund's mandated filings with the Illinois Department of Insurance. That amounts to $35,860 for every fire in 2017.

	2017	2018	Year-over-year change (%)
Building Fires	31	25	-19.4
Vehicle Fires	3	8	166.7
Other Fires	40	34	-15
Total Fires	74	67	-9.5
Total Calls	873	1,004	15