In an “historic” move that could trigger a transformation in how small suburban municipalities deliver emergency services, Calumet Park has outsourced its fire department to a private contractor in an effort to cut costs, village attorney Burt Odelson said. The board voted unanimously Nov. 8 to approve a separation agreement with its firefighters union and to enter into a five-year contract with Kurtz Ambulance Service to provide fire suppression and ambulance services to the village, he said.
- PUB DATE: 11/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Tribune

Family members of the deceased man Bellingham Fire Department employees practiced performing endotracheal intubations on in late July have filed three separate claims for damages seeking more than $15.5 million from the city of Bellingham, according to records from the Bellingham City Attorney’s office.
- PUB DATE: 11/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bellingham Herald

Gavin McMenama was having a bad day at his job just before Christmas when he checked his mail and discovered a thick package from the Lexington Fire Department. This wasn’t the type of package he was accustomed to seeing. After receiving rejection paperwork 13 times from the fire department, he was all too familiar with that sort of letter.
- PUB DATE: 11/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Lexington Herald-Leader (Kentucky.com)

Firefighters from the Los Angeles city fire department had just returned to their station after responding to the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif. when they saw smoke filling the sky. Roughly 12 hours after responding to one horrific incident, they were on their way to another.
- PUB DATE: 11/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: OPB.org

The city could more wisely spend the $1.1 billion it costs to provide emergency medical services, a budget watchdog group says, in part by reducing the role fire engines play in responding to 911 calls — and then considering whether it really needs all of its engine companies. In a new report, the Citizens Budget Commission recommends ultimately reducing the number of engine companies, which for years has been a political nonstarter.
- PUB DATE: 11/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News