Fire Department

Established in 1892, the Village of La Grange Fire Department is steeped with pride and rich in tradition.

The Fire Department has a staffing complement of 19 full-time Firefighters (Chief and three 6 man shifts) which operates out of a single fire station located at 300 West Burlington Avenue.

The Fire Department has an annual operating budget of $1.6 million and is provided with state-of- the-art fire fighting and emergency response equipment. Adding in pensions ($633,000), and liability insurance ($66,000), the total budget for the La Grange Fire Department is $2.3 million for Fiscal Year 2003-04.

In 2002, the department responded to 1,879 calls for service including 1,163 emergency service calls and 716 fire calls. The department participates in a well developed mutual aid system (MABAS 10). Dispatching for the department is performed by the La Grange Police Department Telecommunications Center.

The Fire Department's command structure includes a Fire Chief, three Fire Captains and three Fire Lieutenants. There are no exempt ranks. The remaining twelve personnel are Firefighters, most of whom are Firefighter-Paramedics. In addition to serving as shift commanders, each Captain is assigned one of three functional areas of administrative responsibility: training, fire prevention and vehicle maintenance. One of the Captains also serves as the Village's ESDA Director. Lieutenants are also assigned certain mission-critical areas of responsibility such as EMS Coordinator. Firefighters are assigned certain operational responsibilities based on talent, leadership potential and interest.

This outstanding corp of men and women has been produced by the Village's three-person Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. In contrast, the position of Fire Chief is appointed by the Village President, with the consent of the Village Board, and based on a recommendation from the Village Manager. (The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, by Illinois Statute, is responsible for the hiring, promotion and discipline of public safety personnel).

The Fire Lieutenants and Firefighters are organized and are represented by the International Association of Firefighters, Local 2338. The current four-year collective bargaining agreement expires on April 30, 2004. The IAFF has represented Local 2338 since 1985. Prior to that, the Local was an association since at least the early 1970s.

A watershed event occurred in February 2000 when the Department began to provide in-house paramedic services. Prior to that, the Village relied on a private contractor to provide advanced life support service. This effective use of dually-trained personnel resulted in an annual cost savings of $125,000 to the Village.

More recent accomplishments include:

• implementation of a physical fitness program
• reprioritzation of non-emergency departmental activities in light of the in-house paramedic program; specifically the elimination of public education in a regular classroom format
• implementation of infant and child car seat inspections
• installation of a vehicle exhaust system
• hiring of an additional Firefighter-Paramedic in 2001 to balance out the third shift
• in concert with a planned retirement, conducted an advanced hiring to achieve diversity within the department
• purchased a new ambulance
• adopted auto aid agreements with several adjacent fire jurisdictions and membership in the Combined Agency Response Team (CART)
• joint purchase of an air compressor with the La Grange Park Fire Department

Future projects for the department include the following:

• accreditation
• complete open ISO evaluation to improve the Village's current rating of >4'
• rehabilitation of space and facilities within the Fire Station
• introduction of new engine into the department's fleet
• purchase and management of state-of-the-art regional training trailer acquired by a grant through the Federal Fire Act
• evaluation of contemporary EMS-Fire service model in light of homeland security (e.g. - first responders)

Statement of Purpose

The La Grange Fire Department is a professional, highly trained and motivated part of the Village. The Department consists of 18 full time employees, 10 paid-on-call firefighters and one part-time secretary.

The Fire Department, through an aggressive program of fire suppression, emergency medical service, fire prevention, fire code enforcement and public education, seeks to prevent the loss of life, reduce the effects of personal injury or illness, and minimize property loss.

FY 2003-04 Key Objectives

1. The Department will continue to support and improve the in-house paramedic program through the continued training of current personnel and by hiring highly qualified personnel as openings are created.
2. The Department will allocate resources as available to complete the performance indicators of the self-assessment portion of the accreditation process.
3. The Department will increase its efforts to develop an improved inter-agency cooperation to seek more areas where functional consolidation may be established.
4. The Department will continue to seek additional grant funds to support the initial federal grant and to provide enhanced services to the community.
5. The Department will complete the physical exams required for the fitness program and will develop and initiate the wellness/fitness portion of the program.
6. The Department will initiate a routinely scheduled inter-department meeting with the other Village service departments (Police and Public Works) to develop cross agency training programs, improve rapport, and share resources.
7. The Department will continue to revise and redistribute the Village Disaster Plan and will plan and execute a disaster exercise.
8. The Department will prepare for and arrange for the I.S.O. reevaluation to achieve the desired goal of I.S.O. Class 3.
9. The Department will work with the Village Manager and Finance Director to determine if additional sources of revenue are available and to ensure existing sources are fully used.

VIEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Services offered by the Department include:

Emergency: Emergency Medical Services - advanced life support (ALS) with two modern ambulances. Fire Suppression - Two first line fire units - one pumper and one aerial ladder - plus one fully equipped reserve pumper. Hazardous Materials Response - to spills, leaks or accidents involving hazardous chemicals. High-Elevation Rescue - for persons stuck on water towers, antennas and building. Below Grade Rescue - when victims are trapped in open excavations. Confined Space Rescue - of persons caught in sewers, underground pits, or other areas requiring special training and equipment to enter. Carbon Monoxide Alarms - we can investigate the cause of the activation and provide a loaner back up alarm for your peace of mind. Technical Rescue - people trapped in machinery or other situations. Fire Investigation - trained members who investigate every fire in our Village.

Non-Emergency:

• Public Education - fire safety classes - both scheduled in schools and on request.
• Home Fire Inspections - upon request.
  Commercial Fire Inspection - at least one time each year in every commercial occupancy.
• Fire Station Tours - call for information or to schedule.
• CPR classes - call for schedule.
• Block Party Program - have a fire truck at your next block party - call for information.
• Fire Prevention Week - Open House - every October during Fire Prevention Week.
• Juvenile Firesetter Assistance - confidential and professional assistance for parents and children.

For more information, please call the La Grange Fire Department at 708-579-2338 any day between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Click here to e-mail Chief Fleege

Hazardous Waste

Home Pick-Up Program for Hazardous Waste Steps:
1. Call the Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at 1-800-449-7587
2. A collection date will be scheduled and a HHW kit sent to you.
3. The waste is picked up for a $10.00 co-pay fee.
4. The waste is transported for recycling or disposal.

You can dispose of up to 75 pounds of waste including:

• Paint
• Car Batteries
• Used motor oil
• Poisons
• Spray cans
• Other material