Excerpts from wandtv.com:

The Champaign City Council approved changes to a city ordinance that will give the Champaign Fire Department command of actives scenes. Fire Chief Gary Ludwig says these changes are sensible.

Nine times out of ten, the fire department beats the ambulance. That’s notable since more often than not they are responding to medical calls, not fires. That’s why the fire department wants command of scenes that multiple units respond to.

“Everyday we go on car accidents and sometimes multiple fire companies are on the scene, we also have an ambulance on the scene, sometimes multiple ambulances on the scene,” Chief Ludwig says. “As a result of that, there has to be somebody in charge that has coordination of the scene ,not only for safety purposes but also for logistical and operational purposes.”

This is the first update to the ordinance in 30 years.

Tags: Champaign Fire Chief Gary Ludwig, Champaign Fire Department, fire department to maintain command at active scenes