Reduced Manpower Likely to Result in Longer Response Times and Higher Risk

Recent decisions made by the Carpentersville Village Board regarding fire department staffing have raised concerns about public safety. These cuts are expected to significantly increase response times, putting residents at greater risk.

Village officials have announced plans to reduce manpower by up to four positions per shift, leading to a noticeable decrease in the department's operational capacity. With these changes, the daily staffing level at the Carpentersville Fire Department will fall below what neighboring towns provide. Currently, when fully staffed, the department can have up to 12 firefighters on duty, but this only happens around 50 days a year.

"This is deeply concerning," said Lt. Richard Nieves, president of Carpentersville Local 4790 of the International Association of Firefighters. "Since 2008, our staffing has dropped from having 13 firefighter/paramedics available on any given day to just eight. By comparison, Streamwood, a similar-sized town nearby, maintains a full complement of 15 firefighters daily, dropping to a minimum of 10 even during budget constraints. They achieve this with approximately $465,000 less in funding than Carpentersville."

"The bottom line here is simple: slower response times are inevitable. That means lives and property will suffer. It’s reckless for those running our village to make such drastic cuts while ignoring the potential consequences."

In their 2010-2013 contract, firefighters agreed to modest raises to preserve staffing levels. Over the course of the agreement, they also accepted concessions worth up to $465,000 to help maintain professional standards. However, during the same period, the village hired additional management personnel at higher salaries.

"Our members worked hard to negotiate a daily minimum crew size, aiming to ensure public safety," Nieves explained. "But the village rejected our efforts and instead pushed for further reductions. They’ve expressed interest in cutting back on the use of fire engines altogether. It seems clear now that they’re prioritizing cost-cutting over public safety."

"We proposed an alternative plan that would have kept our staffing at 12 firefighters per day, 365 days a year, yet the village dismissed it outright. Their rejection leaves us with a situation where an engine will be unavailable at least 53 times annually, leaving Station 2 with only two firefighters on duty. This effectively halves our operational capability, particularly on the eastern side of town."

"Our current average response time is under four minutes, but it will undoubtedly rise. Brain damage can begin after just three to four minutes without oxygen, and modern homes burn faster than ever, doubling in intensity every minute. We handle roughly 3,500 calls annually; even minor delays could have catastrophic effects."

"Additionally, insurance ratings will likely worsen, moving away from the current ISO Level 3. Such a downgrade would erase any supposed savings passed along to homeowners. In reality, the village is playing a dangerous shell game, transferring funds from one area to another while endangering both lives and property."

Thankfully, there’s still hope for change if the community speaks up. Lt. Nieves encourages residents to voice their concerns to local leaders before it’s too late.

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