From the IAFF Local 4790 website:

Manpower Cuts Threaten Carpentersville Residents’ Safety

Increased Response Times Could Cost Lives

A recent decision by the Carpentersville Village Board to cut fire department staffing is raising serious concerns about public safety, according to recent studies on emergency response. The move could significantly delay critical services, putting lives at risk.

Village officials have informed firefighters that they plan to reduce staffing by up to four positions per shift, which will directly impact the department's ability to respond effectively. This reduction will bring Carpentersville’s daily staffing levels far below those of neighboring communities, many of which maintain higher standards of service with similar or lower budgets.

“This is a troubling and unnecessary move that threatens the safety of our entire community,” said Lt. Richard Nieves, president of Carpentersville Local 4790 of the International Association of Firefighters. “Since 2008, we’ve seen our staffing drop from 13 firefighter/paramedics to just 8 on any given day. Even at full strength, we rarely exceed 12 firefighters, and that only happens about 50 days a year.”

“Compare us to a nearby town like Streamwood, which maintains 15 firefighters daily and never drops below 10. They provide similar levels of fire and EMS protection while spending $4.6 million less than Carpentersville. That’s a clear example of how inefficient this decision is.”

“The bottom line is that response times will increase, and that means more lives could be lost. This is a dangerous gamble made by the village leaders who are supposed to protect us.”

In their 2010–2013 contract, 33 firefighters accepted minimal raises to help keep staffing stable, even agreeing to forgo $465,000 in salary and benefits over the life of the agreement. Meanwhile, the village added staff in upper management with significant pay increases during the same time period.

“Our members have been trying to secure a minimum staffing level to ensure public safety, but the village refused to accept our efforts,” Nieves said. “Instead, they pushed for cuts. Now, they’re talking about shutting down fire engines, and it seems they're willing to do it at the expense of residents' safety.”

“We proposed an alternative that would have kept 12 firefighters on duty every day, 365 days a year, but the board turned it down. As a result, one engine will be out of service at least 53 times a year. Station 2, located on the east side, will only have two firefighters, turning it into a ‘jump company’ that can’t respond to multiple calls. This represents a nearly 50% reduction in service.”

“Our current average response time is under 4 minutes, which is critical in emergencies. Studies show that brain death can occur within 3-4 minutes after someone stops breathing, and modern fires grow twice as fast every minute. Any delay in response could be fatal.”

“We respond to around 3,500 calls a year. Even a small increase in response time could have a major impact on the community. Insurance ratings could jump from ISO 3, which would cost homeowners more in the long run than any savings the village claims to be passing on.”

“This isn’t just a financial issue—it’s a matter of life and death. What we’re seeing is a classic shell game: money is being moved around, not saved. And the real cost is paid by the people who rely on the fire department to protect them.”

Thanks, Dan

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