An article in the *Chicago Sun-Times* highlights the growing overtime costs faced by the Chicago Fire Department, as aldermen question Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago about the department's financial and staffing challenges.
According to a top mayoral aide, the Fire Department is expected to spend $43 million on overtime this year—more than double the original budget. This surge is linked to legal issues stemming from past discrimination lawsuits that blocked the hiring of new firefighters. The situation has led to a severe shortage of personnel, forcing the department to rely heavily on overtime to maintain operations.
In 2014, the city will hold its first firefighter entrance exam in eight years, aiming to address the growing gap in staffing. Overtime costs have risen sharply, from $13.5 million in 2011 to an estimated $35.3 million this year. Despite the mayor’s 2013 budget allocating $20 million for overtime, the actual spending is expected to hit $43 million.
Commissioner Santiago explained that legal hurdles with the Law Department had previously prevented the department from hiring new firefighters. “We couldn’t hire,†he said during City Council budget hearings. “But we’ve resolved those issues now.â€
Starting November 18, 150 trainees will begin their academy training, with additional classes following soon after. Santiago believes this plan will help fill current vacancies and manage future retirements. He estimates 245 firefighters will retire in 2013, and the department currently has only 4,700 out of a full-strength 5,100 employees.
Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd) raised concerns about why the Fire Department didn’t push back more on staffing issues, especially given the minimum-staffing requirements that led to the 1980 strike. The firefighters’ contract mandates at least five people per fire apparatus, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed reducing this to nine instead of ten for certain units, a move the union strongly opposes.
Waguespack asked whether the department had considered the impact of not hiring due to legal restrictions. First Deputy Fire Commissioner Charles Stewart admitted no formal calculation was done, but Santiago emphasized that the issue was repeatedly brought up with city officials. “We kept telling them we needed help,†he said.
The Fire Department also faces challenges beyond staffing. Equipment is aging, with fire engines averaging over 11 years old—well beyond their intended lifespan of six years. Fire trucks are 15 years old on average, far exceeding the ideal 7.5 years. Ambulances, which should last 2.5 years, have been in service for 6.2 years.
Santiago confirmed the city plans to purchase 25 new ambulances this year and has already re-chassised four others.
Despite these challenges, the commissioner assured aldermen that the department meets state response time standards: 3 minutes and 35 seconds for fires and 5 minutes and 5 seconds for medical emergencies. However, a recent report by Inspector General Joe Ferguson criticized the department’s response times, claiming they fall short of national standards.
This prompted Alderman Anthony Beale (9th) to urge Santiago to work with the inspector general to ensure the 9th Ward isn’t last in response times. “Seconds matter when lives are on the line,†Beale said. “Fix this problem before next year.â€
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