The Daily Southtown has an article questioning the future of the Dixmoor Fire Department:
The future of the Dixmoor Fire Department is uncertain, but no decision was made Wednesday night by the village board at a meeting to discuss the village’s financial problems and how to best overcome them.
Residents, firefighters and members of the Service Employees International Union Local 73 packed the meeting room at the village hall amid rumors that the fire department might be disbanded.
thanks Chris
#1 by Matt on June 3, 2013 - 12:22 PM
The discussion on merging fire departments started in Blue Island a few years ago when the mayor was proposing the combination of a number of the departments surrounding Blue Island to the east and directly south. The discussions ended up being the mayor alone speaking and did not result in anything at that time as none of the surrounding towns were interested.
#2 by Dennis on June 3, 2013 - 11:01 AM
Blue Island’s truck runs out of the middle bay at Station# 1. It is currently O.O.S. for PM.
#3 by Mike Mc on June 3, 2013 - 10:46 AM
Thanks. There must be an annex door that I did not see.
#4 by Brian on June 3, 2013 - 10:18 AM
It squeezes into station 1!!!
#5 by Bill on June 3, 2013 - 8:49 AM
Blue Island Truck runs out of Station 1 .
#6 by Mike Mc on June 2, 2013 - 10:47 PM
Brian: Thanks for the directions to locate Station 2. The bridge closures threw me for a loop. What happened to Blue Island’s tower ladder?
#7 by Mark on June 2, 2013 - 9:32 AM
I wonder where the money went this time. I was there when they couldn’t explain what had happened to the $500K + they owed Harvey for water.
#8 by Luke on June 1, 2013 - 2:24 PM
Can a town of 3500 residents with less than 2 square miles really justify spending 1.4 million on police, fire, and public works? Consolidation of local government services is the only viable option left. Unless people are willing to shoulder a higher tax burden (hell is more likely to freeze over before that happens), governments will need to be creative and work together.
#9 by Dennis on June 1, 2013 - 10:28 AM
Ok so to answer the question…Blue Island Fire Dept does have 2 stations that are manned 24 hours.
I was at this meeting a year ago. The men and women of the fire department are not the ones to blame for this. The village has made many and I mean MANY bad decisions in regards to spending money and now wants to focus the cuts on the Fire Dept. What this article is not mentioning is that the Fire Dept is not the only one they’re looking to get rid of. The total expense for public safety for the Village of Dixmoor last year was 1.4 million. That’s police, fire, and public works. So the board is trying to decide what route to take.
Now the contract part … Because of the layout of the village and the many railroad lines that cut them off from almost all their neighbors, it would be dangeroues to disband the fire dept and contract with another dept. Like most of the fire depts in the country, all the ones around Dixmoor are short staffed and unable to handle more than two calls at a time in their own town, let alone try to handle Dixmoor as well. This is the first of many meetings so there will be more on this.
#10 by Mark on June 1, 2013 - 4:49 AM
An alliance similar to the West Suburban Fire Alliance is unlikely to ever happen. Financial problems aside, the real issue would be control. Too many people, either Fire Chiefs, Trustees, Mayors, etc. would want to be in charge and a consensus would never be achieved. Progressive thinking isn’t something that most of the leaders in the South Suburbs subscribe to, especially the politicians.
#11 by cmk420 on May 31, 2013 - 8:30 PM
Perhaps something along the lines of what is happening in DuPage County with the “West Suburban Fire Alliance.” Will be interesting to see what happens.
#12 by Brian on May 31, 2013 - 2:14 PM
Blue Island Station 2 was located on Division (south of the Canal) North of Broadway. Not sure if it is still in operation or not
#13 by Mike Mc on May 31, 2013 - 10:32 AM
If they contract out, would Posen be the most likely source?
Does anyone know how much it might cost to out source?
Unrelated District 22 question, does Blue Island still have a second firehoues east of Western Avenue or has it been torn down? The last time I drove through, I could not find it.
Thanks in advance for any responses.
#14 by Brian on May 31, 2013 - 10:13 AM
With the financial problems of Dixmoor and several other South Suburban towns (Dolton being one very recent example in the news), would consolidation into a large Fire District make sense or be in the future?