An article published on Reporteronline highlights the ongoing tensions between the Chicago Ridge Fire Department and local officials over several critical issues, with firefighters describing a severe staffing crisis. The fire department’s union is particularly concerned about the current staffing levels and how they are impacting both safety and service quality in the community.
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 stated that the idea of staffing a second fire station with existing personnel is not only impractical but also dangerous. “To staff a firehouse with two people is unsafe, reduces services to the entire town, and just simply doesn’t make sense,†he wrote.
In a recent interview, Schmelzer criticized the lack of communication between Fire Chief George Sheets and the firefighters, calling it a serious issue. “There is no communication. We’re coexisting. We’re doing things under threat of discipline,†he said. He added that the working environment has shifted from teamwork to a “dictatorship†under the current leadership.
Mayor Chuck Tokar announced that the plan to reopen the Lombard Avenue fire station by Christmas has been postponed until the end of January. However, he defended the decision, stating that the station will be open for 12 hours a day during peak call times. He explained that the location near the residential area makes it more efficient than the industrial park station, and that using the Lombard station for ambulance services could reduce reliance on neighboring communities—something residents currently have to pay for.
Despite these claims, union leaders like Schmelzer argue that the new plan has serious drawbacks. “Under the new plan, fire protection is eliminated within the entire town every time we get an ambulance call,†he wrote. The plan requires two ambulances to respond to each call, effectively halting all fire response capabilities in the village. “To blindly place all of the village’s already limited resources into an ambulance response is short-sighted at best,†he said.
Schmelzer also pointed out that two firefighters retired in 2014 and were never replaced, adding to the strain on the department. “We run with a four-person minimum per shift, as anything less than that would be unsafe,†he said. He noted that many firefighters have over 10 years of seniority and often take time off, leading to frequent overtime and further stressing the system.
Mayor Tokar emphasized that he represents the taxpayers, while Schmelzer insisted that decisions should involve input from the union. Meanwhile, the department is also facing criticism over the purchase of a new quint—a fire apparatus that includes a pump, water tank, hose, aerial device, and ladders. This purchase forced the removal of an aerial truck and two pumper trucks, one of which is rusted and in need of major repairs. The vehicles will be sold to help fund the $685,000 quint, with a $350,000 state loan covering most of the cost.
“To spend three quarters of a million dollars on a vehicle that will, according to the new response plan, only be staffed with two people seems like an improper use of resources,†Schmelzer said, highlighting his concerns about the allocation of limited funds.
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