Excerpts from a Southtown Star article about changes in Chicago Ridge:
For the first time in many years, the Lombard Avenue fire station in Chicago Ridge soon will be staffed with full-time firefighters and also will provide ambulance service, now that the village and fire union have agreed to hire several part-time firefighters.
The agreement means the station, 10658 Lombard Ave., will be staffed at all times by two full-time firefighter/paramedics, starting in about three weeks, along with a yet to be determined number of part-timers, who also must be certified as paramedics. Sheets said response times for calls east of Ridgeland Avenue will be shorter through the new staffing at the Lombard Avenue station, which for years has not been manned.
Fire Chief George Sheets said using part-timers will enable the village to provide better fire and emergency medical services that it otherwise could not afford while also give the fire department more flexibility in handling multiple calls.
Chicago Ridge has 13 full-time firefighter/paramedics with a median salary of $65,000, and using part-timers will be much more cost-effective because of reduced overtime and … not paying health benefits and pensions.
The staffing of the Lombard Avenue station means the fire department will have two stations operating. The other station, 10063 Virginia Ave., opened in 2009.
thanks Dan
#1 by JIm T on February 3, 2015 - 2:37 PM
Mike, you are dead wrong. Experience and dedication have nothing to do with working every 3rd day. I know plenty of full timers who cant find a way out of a one way street, and plenty of part timers who are some of the best fireman out there. Most fulltimers started at part time, POC of volunteer. So climb down from your union card. You get what you put into this job regarldess of the capacity in which you serve it
#2 by Wayne on February 2, 2015 - 9:44 PM
A lot of the time people who are part time ff/medics are full time elsewhere, whether it’s another fire department or a private ambulance. And besides, if the Ridge doesn’t boot anyone, full time or part time, who can’t hang and provide the best care possible then they aren’t doing a good job with their personnel decisions anyhow.
#3 by Mike on February 2, 2015 - 9:16 PM
Nothing against part timers here but there is a level of experience you get from being full time. As a part timer your hours are limited and you’re not on a regular schedule which means you’re learning curve is slower then that of someone who does this every 3rd day. This job is a profession and not just a hobby as much as people seem to think it is.
#4 by cmk420 on February 2, 2015 - 7:56 PM
nugget–It seems like you have something against part-time medics? Yes or no? While I may not be one, they still have to go through the same medical training as anyone who is a full-time medic. I mean, are the residents really going to care if they are receiving treatment from PT medics or FT medics? As long they are receiving the proper care & treatment, it should not matter.
#5 by nugget on February 2, 2015 - 1:16 PM
this is just an all around hastily thought of plan by the mayor and his puppet chief. Do more with less. The citizens of this town will unfortunately be the ones that suffer when part-time medics show up at their door, or when no one shows up because one call empties both stations. Plus I hope those rigs never have anything mechanically wrong with them….because you have no reserves….If I lived in that town I would be at every city council meeting demanding the mayor and chief to leave town.
#6 by Mike on January 31, 2015 - 5:15 PM
There is an agreement between the union and village to hire qualified part time firefighter paramedics. My guess is they would have to pass all the same testing at the full time firefighters have to pass.
#7 by Jim on January 31, 2015 - 1:43 PM
Wait so it says the station on Lombard will be manned with 2 full timers, and they only have 13 as It is, (4 on each shift) how’re they gonna make that happen ? Hiring more full timers ?
#8 by manny on January 31, 2015 - 11:40 AM
Are they keeping the pierce saber?
#9 by MABAS 21 on January 31, 2015 - 10:08 AM
Wow…that’s wonderful! So that will leave The Ridge with no reserve engines or ambulances after April. Great thinking!
#10 by cmk420 on January 31, 2015 - 7:43 AM
Too bad they are only accepting part-timers that are paramedics, otherwise I would applying for a position there. Oh well . . .
#11 by Jim on January 31, 2015 - 1:44 PM
Does it count if you’re a paramedic student? Lol
#12 by al on January 31, 2015 - 3:18 AM
the quint will be after fdic in april….6512 and 6533 will be at station 2……after the quint is delvired 6513 will move there and 33 gets traded in.
#13 by Michael M on January 30, 2015 - 11:47 PM
What Ambulance will they use out of the second station? When will the quint be delivered?