Posts Tagged Barrington Fire Department

Palatine Rural FPD begins communication with the two Barrington fire departments

Sep 13

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | 1 Comment

The Daily Herald has an article about the administrative changes which need to be addressed regarding automatic aid agreements between the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District and the Barrington Fire Department and Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District.

Palatine Rural Fire Protection District’s board of trustees has voted to terminate its automatic-aid agreement with the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District and the Barrington Fire Department.

Palatine Rural Chief Hank Clemmensen said the move becomes effective Dec. 31, giving all parties ample time to work out “possible” new agreements before Countryside officially splits from Barrington to operate as an independent fire department.

“We’ll need two auto-aid agreements after Jan. 1,” Clemmensen said. “Now we can sit down with both agencies to renegotiate.”

Palatine Rural’s vote to end the agreement is somewhat of a formality.

Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie said the village had already planned to work out a new agreement with Palatine Rural that recognizes the separation from Barrington Countryside.

Clemmensen emphasized that any future auto-aid agreement, which is designed to provide immediate initial responses to an emergency by the closest fire station regardless of jurisdiction, would need to be fair and equitable for all sides.

Currently, Palatine Rural’s jurisdiction generally covers the eastern two-thirds of Inverness. Western Inverness and north of Dundee, including the area by Ela Road just 1.5 miles north of the Palatine Rural station, are in Countryside’s district. Clemmensen said Palatine Rural responds to those areas with an engine for most calls, essentially subsidizing service. A fee could help make up the difference when there’s not much opportunity for reciprocation of service. “My board doesn’t feel we’re getting the same return,” Clemmensen said. “It’s not fair to our residents to support another fire district for daily operations.”

A Barrington Countryside spokesman said the district isn’t surprised or concerned with the termination, and added that both districts are discussing other options for aid should any be necessary considering the Countryside’s increased staffing in 2014.

Clemmensen maintained it would “behoove” residents of western Inverness to have Palatine Rural always respond since its station is closer. However, he said he can’t take resources away from his own district’s residents. If a satisfactory auto-aid agreement can’t be reached with Barrington Countryside, he said an alternative could be for Palatine Rural to expand its jurisdiction. For that to happen, residents of Barrington Countryside would have to petition for a referendum to annex into Palatine Rural.

thanks Dan

Tags: automatic aid agreements between fire department, Barrington Countryside Fire Protection Distric, Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie, Barrington Fire Department, Palatine Rural Chief Hank Clemmensen, Palatine Rural Fire Protection District

Barrington Fire District offers to hire laid off firefighters

Aug 27

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 3 Comments

The Daily Herald has an article about the Barrington & Countryside FPD offering to hire all 19 pf the laid off Barrington firefighters.

The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District will offer jobs to all 19 firefighters to be laid off by the village of Barrington on Jan. 1 at their current union-level salaries and earned vacation time.

But these firefighters have to take advantage of their preferred status by applying before Aug. 31.

“We know how valuable these employees are,” fire district President Tom Rowan said. “We helped to train them.”

What the fire district won’t offer — at least not immediately — are the pension plans these firefighters have had as members of the Barrington Fire Department’s union. The employees will start 401(k) plans instead.

The finalization of the fire district’s 2014 staffing plan Monday came one week after the village of Barrington did the same.

Both agencies are preparing to end the long-running contract in which the village provided staffing for the 48-square-mile fire district just beyond its borders.

The fire district will employ an increased staff of 34, largely through private contractor Paramedic Services of Illinois. District trustees have been working with the firm to ensure that Barrington’s laid-off firefighters can be hired at their current salaries.

Yet to come is the division of the equipment the agencies co-own, as well as determination of the exact nature of their cooperation after Jan. 1.

Fire district trustees are skeptical of the automatic-aid agreement Barrington is proposing that would ask both agencies to take primary responsibility for calls closest to their respective stations, regardless of which jurisdiction they’re actually in.

Fire district trustees say they want to be assured they’re getting roughly as much help as they’re giving.

Barrington village officials say firefighters based in the village have responded to calls in the district about 2.5 times as often as the reverse over the last four years.

But fire district Trustee Tom Long said the staffing changes to be implemented on Jan. 1 make any such historical data irrelevant.

While the fire district’s stations in Barrington Hills and Lake Barrington are currently staffed by three people each, in 2014 they each will have a full crew of five or six at all times, Long said.

Previous posts can be found HERE.

Tags: Barrington & Countryside Fire Protection District, Barrington Fire Department, Barrington Fire Department staffing, Barrington Fire district President Tom Rowan, Barrington FPD terminates their contract with the Village of Barrington, Barrington to lay off 19 firefighters, fire district and village split in Barrington, Paramedic Services of Illinois

Barrington village determines new FD staffing model

Aug 20

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 1 Comment

The Barrington village board met last night and had a full house in attendance. One item on the agenda was a staffing proposal for the Barrington Fire Department as of january 1, 2014 when the agreement with the Barrington & Countryside FPD expires. The Barrington Courier-Review has an article outlining the new staffing and the meeting surrounding the vote.

In a momentous step to restructure the fire and emergency services in the Barrington area, the Barrington Village Board voted unanimously Monday to lay off 19 firefighter-paramedics at the end of the year.

The layoffs result from the termination of a long-standing intergovernmental agreement that had the village department and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District working together over an area of more than 50 square miles.

To reduce operational costs from personnel and equipment and rein in future insurance and pension obligations, Barrington has opted to focus on its five-square-mile territory. The protection district, which decided to terminate the agreement effective Jan. 1, 2014 will continue to serve 46 square miles in the surrounding communities.

With the 7-0 vote Monday, Barrington trustees put an end to months of emotional debate by making official a plan to start next year with a department of 19 firefighter-paramedics.

“The new staffing plan costs a little more than minimal staffing, but that will be money well spent if it provides additional services and increases public safety in Barrington,” said Village President Karen Darch in a statement after the vote. “However, in the long term, we are removing a major burden from taxpayers — the burden of paying skyrocketing pension and disability payments for employees that have served outside our community.”

He noted an $80,000 difference in annual costs between the options. Trustees ultimately decided to go with a staff of 19, with 19 layoffs.

“With enhanced EMS service, we are better equipped to respond to our most frequent calls for service — those that come from residents in need of emergency medical attention,” said Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie. “Instead of relying on response from miles away, we can dispatch a second ambulance right from our own firehouse. This means we can get help to where it’s needed faster and reduce response times when we have overlapping calls.”

Before trustees made their decision Monday, several residents and stakeholders pleaded with the board to reconsider.

Char McLear, a retired assistant fire chief in Barrington, called the move an arrogant and self-serving attack on the fire department. “This is the real world and there is no room for politics,” McLear said. “This is politics, not fiscal responsibility. “I’m outraged at your irresponsible actions in regards to the fire department. We in this village have to live with the ramifications of your decision.”

In response to the layoffs, the protection has expressed an interest in hiring as many laid off Barrington emergency responders as possible through its contract with Paramedic Services of Illinois, a private company. However, those hired by PSI face the possibility of working outside their current pension plans.

In explaining the staffing decisions, Darch noted that keeping 18 personnel on staff would cost the village about $80,000 more a year above the fire department’s planned budget for 2014. She added that the extra two firefighters would, however, give the department more flexibility.

Personnel would operate out of Fire Station 1 on three shifts, each with a dedicated shift commander.

Village officials began discussing the separation in 2012 amid disagreements with the district regarding the hiring of additional personnel and the purchase of new equipment.

The report stated that the fire department’s automatic aid agreements with the Lake Zurich Fire Department, the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District and the Long Grove Fire Protection District would stay in place. For mutual aid, the fire department would still be part of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, as it has been for several decades.

Other posts on this topic can be referenced HERE and HERE.

Tags: Barrington, Barrington & Countryside Fire Protection District, Barrington & Countryside FPD, Barrington Fire Department, Barrington FPD terminates their contract with the Village of Barrington, Barrington to lay off 19 firefighters, Barrington Village President Karen Darch, fire district and village split in Barrington

Barrington village to determine future staffing

Aug 18

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | 2 Comments

The Daily Herald has an article about the pending status of the relationship between the Village of Barrington Fire Department staffing.

Monday should end more than a month of suspense for two Barrington firefighter-paramedics over their future employment with the village.

They are the ones caught between two possible courses of action by the village board that night — to lay off 20 or 22 firefighters on Jan. 1.

The layoffs will take place in conjunction with the end of the village’s contract to provide service to the larger, 48-square-mile Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District which serves communities surrounding Barrington itself.

In mid-July, village trustees heard two recommendations from consultant Bill Balling on the Barrington Fire Department’s future needs. His preference is a plan that would employ 18 personnel — laying off 20 — but would increase the village’s fire protection costs by about $80,000 per year.

But he also identified a workable plan to employ 16 people — laying off 22 — which would result in a slight decrease from today’s costs.

The layoffs will be based on seniority — as per the firefighters’ union contract — which allows 20 of them to already know they have to seek new jobs next year. The other two understandably remain on edge.

The fire district is hoping to hire as many of the laid off firefighters as it can through its new contract with private firm Paramedic Services of Illinois. But such employment would be without a pension plan and possibly at a much lower salary.

Find the complete article HERE.

Previous posts can be found beginning HERE and HERE..

Tags: Barrington & Countryside Fire Protection District, Barrington Fire Department, Barrington Fire Department staffing, Barrington FPD terminates their contract with the Village of Barrington, fire district and village may split in Barrington, fire district and village split in Barrington

Barrington & Countryside FPD update

Jul 23

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 3 Comments

The Daily Herald has an article labeling the split between the Village of Barrington and the Barrington & Countryside FPD as a done deal:

Barrington village officials told the Daily Herald editorial board Monday that the proposed split between the Barrington Fire Department and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District on Jan. 1 is now past the point of no return.

Fire district trustees entirely agree.

Barrington Village President Karen Darch and Village Manager Jeff Lawler explained why they believe the coming separation is in the best interest of both local governments.

The village will see the reduction of pension and potential disability costs for 20-22 firefighters used exclusively by the fire district, which is currently pursuing an expansion of services for its own 48-square-mile area.

Since about the 1950s, the fire district has contracted for services from the geographically smaller village — but the mutual benefits of that arrangement have been gradually disappearing for both agencies, Darch argued.

Firefighters, though, have strongly disagreed throughout the separation process, maintaining that public safety will be hurt by the loss of efficiency brought by one united department.

Fire district President Tom Rowan said he and his fellow trustees want to save as many firefighter jobs as possible by encouraging their re-employment through the district’s new private contractor — Schiller Park-based Paramedic Services of Illinois.

The hiring of that contractor and new administrator Jeff Swanson last week make going back to the old arrangement with Barrington virtually impossible, Rowan said.

“We hired our new fire chief/administrator and he has a three-year contract,” Rowan said. “We are going to separate (from the village). We don’t see reconciling at this point.”

The village wants to sign an automatic-aid agreement with the district, but district trustees want to hold off until the village decides on Aug. 19 whether it will employee a staff of 16 or 18 people.

District trustees said they want to make sure any agreement they sign with a neighboring department is mutually beneficial.

Rowan said he’s also eager to work out the division of the equipment both agencies co-own well ahead of New Year’s Day when the fire engines, tankers and ambulances will physically change hands and fire stations.

The district covers parts of Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington, South Barrington, Inverness and unincorporated Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.

A previous post on this can be found HERE.

Tags: Barrington Countryside Fire Protection, Barrington Fire Department, Barrington Fire Department staffing, Barrington Fire district President Tom Rowan, Barrington Village Manager Jeff Lawler, Barrington Village President Karen Darch, fire district and village split in Barrington, Jeff Swanson, Schiller Park-based Paramedic Services of Illinois

Barrington & Countryside FPD update

Jul 18

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | 1 Comment

The Barrington Courier Review has an article about the split between the Village of Barrington and the Barrington & Countryside FPD.

Barrington, fire district to proceed separately

BARRINGTON — A consultant’s report presented Monday night to the Barrington Village Board revealed that 20 firefighters and paramedics could be laid off when the village and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District begin operating as separate entities on Jan. 1, 2014.

During a separate meeting Monday night, the Fire Protection District announced former New Lenox fire chief Jeff Swanson as its interim administrator.

Speaking at the Village Board meeting, William Balling, from WRB Consultants, outlined two options for the Barrington department. The first option recommended a total staffing of 16 sworn personnel, including 14 operations and two administrative positions. That staffing plan would result in 22 layoffs. The second option recommended a total staffing of 18 personnel, including 16 in operations and two administrative positions.

In either case, the staffing change would be a considerable decrease from the 39 sworn personnel under the expiring intergovernmental agreement with the Fire Protection District.

“We need to retool and redesign,” said Balling. “We think this is a logical progression.”

Balling recommended staffing the Barrington station with 18 personnel, which would cost about $80,000 more per year than the 16 staff model.

The board is expected to make a decision at its next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 19.

In explaining the downsizing, village leaders cited the much smaller geographic area — about five square miles — that village firefighters will serve starting in 2014. Village Manager Jeff Lawler said Fire Station 1, located in Barrington, receives about five to six calls a day, most of which are emergency medical calls.

As part of the reorganization, the village intends to reduce the number of personnel on ambulances and other apparatus from three to two.

Lawler said this will provide Station 1 with greater flexibility.

“What it’s doing is it’s aligning the assets and personnel at Station 1 with the most common calls, which are EMS calls,” he said.

During his presentation, Balling said many neighboring cities including Arlington Heights and Palatine have adopted a two-person ambulance model.

“Two-person ambulances are not a new phenomenon,” he said, adding that there could be flexibility on that number if needed.

Last month, the district proposed that the village lease 18 Barrington firefighters to the district for a two-year period. During that time, the district would consider a tax levy referendum to fund pensions and health care costs for the firefighters.

Village President Karen Darch cited legacy costs, including pensions and disability liabilities that could cost taxpayers millions, as a reason not to lease the 18 firefighters.

On Monday night, Darch outlined the department’s budget, including current operations, infrastructure, employee pensions and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. Her goal was to explain that every dollar that goes into pension funds is a dollar that cannot support those other service areas.

“We have a responsibility to spend the revenue that comes into this village wisely,” Darch said.

But many residents in the board room audience expressed concern that the level and quality of emergency services will suffer after the separation.

“Without a doubt, putting money before safety is a horrible choice,” said Barrington resident Carrie Raia, expressing concern about longer response times.

Residents also expressed concern about first responders getting caught behind trains that run through town. Darch, however, said Barrington has a cooperative relationship with Lake Zurich Rural Fire Protection District, which supports Barrington operations when needed.

But residents remained undeterred in criticizing the board for the proposed reductions in personnel.

“This is a catastrophe now and I don’t know if we can stop it or not,” said Barrington resident Char McLear, who served as assistant to the Barrington fire chief before retiring.

Balling explained that his report was based on incident coverage, station availability and location, operational staffing, apparatus and mobile equipment, infrastructure, and automatic and mutual aid agreements and special response times.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” he said.

Also on Monday night, the Fire Protection District’s board approved a new contract with the private firm Paramedic Services of Illinois to provide emergency personnel in 2014.

The district board also discussed the possibility of levying a new tax to fund pensions applied to career firefighters furloughed from the village. The levy could appear on the March 2014 primary ballot at the earliest.

“The district has to put that question to the voters,” said Robert Buhs, a consultant and executive director of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association.

Our last post can be viewed HERE.

Tags: Barrington & Countryside Fire Protection District, Barrington & Countryside FPD, Barrington Fire Department, Barrington Fire Department staffing, Barrington FPD terminates their contract with the Village of Barrington, Barrington Village Manager Jeff Lawler, Barrington Village President Karen Darch, fire district and village may split in Barrington, fire district and village split in Barrington, former New Lenox fire chief Jeff Swanson, from WRB Consultants, Lake Zurich Rural Fire Protection District, Paramedic Services of Illinois, pensions and disability liabilities that could cost taxpayers millions, tax levy referendum to fund pensions and health care costs for the firefighters, William Balling

Inverness house fire goes to 3 alarms for Palatine Rural FPD (more)

Jul 17

Posted by Admin in Fire, Firefighters working, Firefighting Video | Comments off

Video from Larry Shapiro of the house fire in Inverness that went to 3 alarms on Tuesday evening

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Inverness house fire goes to 3 alarms for Palatine Rural FPD

Jul 16

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service Photos, Firefighters working, Firefighting Video | 4 Comments

This from Larry Shapiro:

For the second time in a week, Palatine Tower 85 is used at a multiple alarm fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Homeowners at 14 Carnoustie Lane in Inverness called the Palatine Rural FPD and reported fire in the attic of their house shortly before 5PM on Tuesday. The large home is located in an area without hydrants roughly 1/2 mile from the fire station. First arriving companies attempted an interior attack and were forced to retreat and change to a defensive strategy. Heavy fire took hold of the attic and self vented through the roof as the alarm was escalated for additional units and water tankers. Two Palatine Rural firefighters from the initial attack company were subsequently transported to an area hospital.

After the roof collapse as seen from the rear. Larry Shapiro photo

View from Sector B. Larry Shapiro photo

Another line is stretched to the Rolling Meadows engine. Larry Shapiro photo

The Rolling Meadows engine with a line off. Larry Shapiro photo

A tanker shuttle was initiated as Palatine Tower 85 was put to work with an elevated master stream. The temperature as companies arrived was 94 degrees with a heat index near 100 degrees. A 2nd alarm was struck for additional tankers and then a 3rd alarm was requested when all companies in the staging area had been depleted.

Firefighter colls off. Larry Shapiro photo

Units in the staging area. Larry Shapiro photo

Cary tender dumping. Larry Shapiro photo

Prospect Heights Tanker 9. Larry Shapiro photo

Heavy fire burning in the garage. Larry Shapiro photo

Companies included engines from Palatine Rural, Palatine, Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Barrington, Lake Zurich, Carpentersville, Roselle, Elk Grove Village, Elk Grove Township, and Mount Prospect. Trucks came from Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates, Wheeling, and Des Plaines. Tankers working included Palatine Rural, Long Grove, Prospect Heights, Roselle, Cary, Fox River Grove, Rutland-Dundee, Wauconda, and Crystal Lake. Departments with ambulances included Palatine, East Dundee, Crystal Lake, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Bartlett, and Arlington Heights.

The Palatine reserve engine is being used by Palatine Rural. Larry Shapiro photo

The tanker from Fox River Grove dumps at the portable tanks. Larry Shapiro photo

Roselle Tender 561 at the portable tanks. Larry Shapiro photo

Tender from Rutland-Dundee FPD. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

A hand line was dedicated to monitor hot embers that landed on a neighbor’s cedar shake roof which caused some concern early into the operation.

The house sustained severe damage. Larry Shapiro photo

Palatine EMA using former Palatine FD ambulance. Larry Shapiro photo

Mutual aid companies were being released around 8PM and the alarm was struck-out just before 9PM.

More images can be viewed HERE.

A video will be posted tomorrow.

Fires in Long Grove and Barrington 7-13-13

Jul 14

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Service Photos, Fire Truck photos | Comments off

This from Larry Shapiro:

Two Lake County (Division 4) departments had small fires during the hot afternoon on Saturday.

The Long Grove Fire District responded to smoke in the building at 2316 Nichols Road in unincorporated Cook County at 3:30PM. Companies found a fire in a 1st floor storage room which was extinguished quickly. They then proceeded to check for extension throughout the 3-story apartment building. Mutual/auto-aid companies came from Lake Zurich, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Barrington, and the Palatine Rural FPD.

fire at 2316 Nichols Road Long Grove Fire Deistrict

Larry Shapiro photo

The Barrington Fire Department responded at 4:30PM for a fence on fire next to a building at 171 Walton Street. The fire communicated to the building and threatened a commercial building on the opposite side along with overhead power lines. The fire damaged the first building and was kept from the other building. Mutual aid companies came from East Dundee, Palatine Rural, Cary, and Fox River Grove.