Chicago Ridge Fire Department (update)

The Chicago Ridge Fire Department is currently in conflict with village officials over several critical issues, including what the firefighters’ union calls a “staffing crisis.”

Chris Schmelzer, president of the Chicago Ridge Firefighters Union, expressed frustration in an email sent to Trustee Bruce Quintos on December 13, which was obtained by the Reporter. He wrote, “We are currently facing more problems than I can count.” Among the top concerns, he highlighted the idea of staffing a second fire station using only current personnel, calling it “absurd.”

“Staffing a firehouse with just two people is unsafe, reduces services for the entire town, and doesn’t make sense,” Schmelzer said. During an interview, he also criticized the lack of communication between Fire Chief George Sheets and the firefighters, calling it a serious issue.

“There’s no real communication. We’re just coexisting. We’re doing things under the threat of discipline,” Schmelzer said. He added that the department has shifted from a team environment to something resembling a “dictatorship.”

Mayor Chuck Tokar announced that the plan to reopen the Lombard Avenue fire station by Christmas has been delayed until the end of January. However, he defended the decision, stating that the station will be open 12 hours a day during peak call times.

The station was chosen because it's closer to the residential area than the industrial park location. Additionally, having ambulance service at Lombard would reduce reliance on neighboring communities, saving residents money, according to Tokar.

However, the union raised concerns about the impact on fire response. Schmelzer explained that under the new plan, two ambulances would respond to every call, leaving no one to handle fire emergencies. “That means 100% reduction in fire response every time there's an ambulance call,” he wrote. “It’s short-sighted to put all our limited resources into ambulance response.”

He also pointed out that two firefighters who retired in 2014 were never replaced, adding to the strain on the department. “We operate with a minimum of four people per shift, as anything less would be unsafe,” Schmelzer said. “Two of the three shifts are already staffed with four people, leading to overtime whenever someone is off.”

With most members having over 10 years of seniority and accumulated time off, many are scheduled to be off regularly, resulting in consistent overtime. “Don’t believe everything you hear,” Schmelzer said, emphasizing that decisions should involve the union. “I understand their position, but I represent the taxpayers,” Mayor Tokar responded.

The union also criticized the village’s recent purchase of a quint—a fire truck equipped with a pump, water tank, hose, aerial ladder, and ground ladders. This purchase forced the removal of an aerial truck and two pumper trucks, one of which is rusted and needs major repairs, according to Fire Chief Sheets.

The vehicles will be sold, with proceeds helping to cover the cost of the $685,000 quint. The village expects to receive $250,000 from the sale, and a state loan could cover the remaining $350,000. However, Schmelzer questioned the wisdom of spending nearly $700,000 on a vehicle that would only be staffed by two people under the new response plan.

Thanks, Dan

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