Homewood, Illinois
Last December the Homewood Fire Dept. in Cook County lost the certification of one of its two ambulances (Firegeezer REPORT). It was primarily a staffing problem because the Cook County medical director requires all ALS units to have two paramedics on board with 24-hr. staffing.
Since the village has slashed the Fire Dept’s. staffing by nearly 30%, they couldn’t maintain the 2nd ambulance. Next, the FD certified the fire engine as an ALS first-responder because they always have at least two (and usually 3) paramedics on the unit (Firegeezer story HERE).
This left the townsfolk unhappy because they have always been paying for two ambulances to cover their area. Also, the neighboring FD’s started complaining because it led to an excessive number of mutual aid calls for transport.
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Last night the village board brought up the option of hiring a private ambulance firm to run the 2nd ambulance, but they voted that proposal down. Fire Chief Alan Schullo, who no doubt would rather have his own firefighters reinstated instead of being replaced by contractors, was happy with the vote.
“There’s [sic] issues about longevity, proper training and familiarity of the area with contracted workers,” Schullo said. “It’s a benefit to Homewood residents to have our firefighters answering their calls.”
The village board, which is becoming reminiscent of Alice’s Tea Party, still refuses to make a decision on whether to keep things as they are or to hire 6 fulltime FF/paramedics. Their next plan, maybe, is to let the citizens vote on it this November. Thus it will have been a full year since the problem arose before they get around to solving it. Maybe.
The SouthTown Star tells what’s going on HERE.
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