Flossmoor Fire Department news
Here’s a more detailed take on the recent developments from hfchronicle.com:
Earlier this month, the village board of Flossmoor approved a collaborative arrangement with Park Forest. This partnership allows their respective fire departments to share a fire engine that has been taken out of active duty and placed in reserve status. Fire Chief Chris Sewell explained that over time, this collaboration will enable Flossmoor to cut down on its vehicle replacement schedule by one fire truck. This reduction translates into savings of approximately $1 million over the next 30 years, given that the cost of a new fire engine now exceeds $500,000.
Currently, Flossmoor operates with three fire engines, each expected to serve for 20 years. With the new agreement in place, they will transition to maintaining just two active trucks. This change means the replacement cycle for these vehicles will extend to once every decade, aligning with a similar timeline adopted by Park Forest. When one of the towns replaces a fire engine, the older unit will be put into reserve status for a period of five years. During this time, both communities will still have two frontline engines available for regular use. The reserve vehicle can then step in whenever a frontline engine requires routine maintenance or repair.
This partnership ensures compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, which mandate 20 years of frontline service for fire vehicles and an additional five years in reserve status. Both Flossmoor and Park Forest must meet a 3,500-gallon-per-minute pumping capacity requirement set by the Insurance Services Office (ISO). To achieve this, they continue to operate with three engines each, ensuring they can handle emergencies effectively.
Chief Sewell noted that the alignment between Flossmoor and Park Forest made this deal feasible. Both communities share similar infrastructure layouts and firefighting needs. Additionally, Park Forest has a Capital Replacement Fund akin to Flossmoor’s own, which facilitates long-term planning for essential municipal equipment. Their shared participation in the Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency (IRMA), an insurance pool for local governments in northeastern Illinois, further strengthens this partnership. Sewell emphasized that if either town withdraws from IRMA, the agreement might falter.
It’s worth mentioning that Flossmoor already collaborates with Homewood and Hazel Crest on an ambulance-sharing program. These partnerships highlight how smaller municipalities can pool resources to enhance public safety while managing costs efficiently.
Thanks again to Dennis for sharing this insightful piece!
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