Posts Tagged Rally scheduled to oppose closing of Glenview Fire Station 13

Glenview Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from the Journal-Topics.com:

Glenview Fire Station 13 will remain in operation after village trustees directed the fire chief and village manager to change course and operate the fire department with a five-station footprint at a special village board meeting Monday.

The change came after a crowd of about 300 rallied in front of the fire station last Saturday, yard signs saying “Save Fire Station 13” began cropping up all over town, and more than 50 people called into Monday’s Zoom-based village board meeting.

Residents, mostly from the east side, and firefighters not only from Glenview but other communities, called into the meeting, many with heartfelt personal stories of calling 911 and having firefighters respond to medical emergencies and even house fires. Several residents living near Station 13 pleading for the station to remain open recounted how they called 911 and could hear the sirens blaring as crews left the station before they got off the phone.

After the public comment period, village trustees agreed to move forward with a five-station plan. Several trustees then supported the use of jump companies village-wide. 

On the expanded use of jump companies, Glenview Professional Firefighters Association Local 4186 Union President Jesse Gallagher said he had concerns. Most Glenview firefighters are also certified paramedics, but he said how fire crews gear up to respond to a fire or medical call are different. 

“The challenge is the next call,” Gallagher said. “What we leave with is what we have. We often go straight from one call to another.” He said when a first call is a medical call and the second is a structure fire, that can create difficulties. He said paramedics would bring fire turnout gear with them on an ambulance run, but would not return to the station to swap vehicles.

Many callers were critical of what they said was a lack of transparency in making such an important decision. 

Village President Jim Patterson said the decision made on closing Station 13 at the Tuesday, Feb. 2 meeting could be made without village board approval as it was an operational decision, but said the issue was posted on that board meeting’s agenda. The issue was posted as a discussion of a consultant’s report on fire department operations. Trustees acknowledged shortcomings in the area of transparency and communication on the issue.  

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Glenview Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from Chicago.cbslocal.com:

A large crowd rallied outside Glenview Fire Station 13 Saturday in a last-ditch effort to keep it open. Neighbors said closing the fire station at 831 E. Lake Ave. in Glenview will jeopardize community safety. Firefighters and residents think they will have to wait longer when they pick up the phone to call 911 for a fire truck or an ambulance.

Glenview Village President Jim Patterson said a study found Fire Station 13 and its single engine are active about 30 minutes during a 24-hour shift – one of the slower stations in town. Firefighters there will be moved to other stations. That study also found that closing Station 13 comes with a savings of $1.25 million for the village. Patterson said he does not believe it will be that high.

The president of the Glenview Firefighters Association said the village has called for a special Board of Trustees meeting on Monday night to discuss the fate of the firehouse. If the closure is approved, it could happen as early as next month.

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Glenview Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from nbcchicago.com:

Residents in Glenview will rally this Saturday in an attempt to save a Fire Station 13, saying that the move would put their safety at risk. Village officials plan to close the station on April 1, rerouting resources from the station to four other stations within the community.

The local firefighters’ union has reservations about the plan, citing a potential impact on public safety, and residents say that outside consultants have also come out in opposition to the plan, stoking worries that the closure could put their safety at risk.

Village officials, who voted unanimously to close the station, say they understand the concerns of the public, but say that the closure will help to better allocate resources around the village. There are plans to increase the number of ambulances available in the community, but it’s the closure of the station that is generating more attention.

From Glenview Prof. Firefighters Assoc. IAFF Local 4186:

Ain’t No POWER Like The POWER of the PEOPLE,
cause the POWER of the PEOPLE Don’t Stop!!!

We have learned that a resident-organized rally in support of saving Fire Station 13 is scheduled for Saturday. We are happy to share the details below for all who may be interested.

We feel that this type and level of community based action to save Fire Station 13 is what the Village Board, Village leadership and Trustee candidates need to pay attention to.

The residents want their voices to be heard and their fire station to be kept open. We support our residents in their mission to keep Fire Station 13 open!

Rally scheduled to oppose closing of Glenview Fire Station 13

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