Dupage Policy Journal

The Elmhurst City Council met on Feb. 6 and unanimously voted 14-0 to approve a report that included a request from the fire department to purchase a rescue vehicle for their fleet.

The fire department has been working with the City since November to create the proposal; Marti Deuter, Public Affairs and Safety Committee chair, said in a recent letter to the council. They met in November and twice in January to discuss the proposal, which included cost savings that would occur over the next several decades. Currently, the department has two front-line engines, two reserve engines, a ladder truck and a tower ladder that are shared between two fire stations. The gasoline-powered “rescue squad” vehicle would reportedly cost $260,000 and be in addition to the current vehicles.

“The purchase will have no effect on personnel,” Deuter said. “The two firefighters currently assigned to the ladder truck would respond to a call with either the truck or the rescue squad depending on the nature of the call. The report includes a lot of detail that I won't review, but I want to emphasize that the purchase of the rescue squad helps us align our apparatus to the services our department is providing. Historically, we have equipped the department with the vehicles needed to respond to fires, and we still need access to that equipment. This report recognizes the changing nature of fire service and provides for a more efficient response.”

The fire department sees this as a huge cost savings and equipment savings for the department. They respond to both fire emergencies and medical emergencies, and bringing the large ladder trucks to calls costs more for the department and also wears down the truck and the city streets. The vehicle being proposed is more like a pickup truck that could carry necessary medical equipment. The operating cost is $1.20 per mile, which is much lower than the $5.05 per mile for the ladder truck. It would also preserve the more expensive vehicles and streets for a longer period of time.

Members of the City Council voiced their interest, as it will lead to more efficient responses from emergency services and also be more financially conservative for years to come. Some members noted that they were also interested in seeking out additional ways to save money in the department. Deuter credited Fire Chief Bill Anaszewicz for looking into the fleet’s usage over the past several months.

The request came at a time where several nearby fire and police departments have lost longtime members to tragedies. The Itasca Fire Department lost officer Frank Nunez, and the Chicago Fire Department lost two union paramedics and ambulance driver Aaron Buckley. Skokie lost 21-year firefighter Aaron Buckley, who during his time held nearly every position in the force. Kirkland recently lost Ken Clark, and Franklin Park lost Dominic Rubino. The departments held ceremonies to honor their fallen comrades, with local departments helping cover calls so crew members could attend.