An article in the Chicago Sun-Times highlights growing concerns over rising overtime costs within the Chicago Fire Department, as aldermen press Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago for answers. The department is expected to spend $43 million on overtime this year—more than double the originally approved amount—due to legal challenges tied to past discrimination lawsuits that hindered hiring efforts.
According to a top mayoral aide, the Fire Department faced significant legal hurdles that prevented it from recruiting new firefighters, leading to an unsustainable reliance on overtime. This issue has been exacerbated by a shortage of personnel, with over 400 firefighters set to retire in 2013 alone. Currently, the department has only 4,700 employees, far below its full strength of 5,100.
The city’s 2013 budget allocated $20 million for overtime, but Commissioner Santiago admitted that actual spending will exceed $43 million. He explained that legal issues with the city’s Law Department had effectively blocked hiring for years, forcing the department to rely on overtime to maintain staffing levels.
Santiago announced plans to start training 150 new firefighters at the academy in November, with additional classes following to address ongoing vacancies and future retirements. However, some aldermen are questioning why more action wasn’t taken earlier, especially given the minimum staffing requirements that led to a major strike in the 1980s.
Ald. Scott Waguespack raised concerns about whether the Fire Department had considered the impact of not hiring more firefighters, noting that the current overtime burden has spiraled out of control. First Deputy Fire Commissioner Charles Stewart admitted no formal calculation was done, but Santiago emphasized that the issue was repeatedly raised with city officials.
The problem isn’t just about hiring. The city also faces aging equipment, with fire engines and trucks significantly older than their intended lifespan. Ambulances, too, are well beyond their expected service life, prompting the city to purchase 25 new units this year.
Despite these challenges, Santiago assured aldermen that the department meets state response time standards, averaging 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, raising concerns about accuracy in reporting.
Ald. Anthony Beale urged Santiago to work closely with the inspector general to ensure the 9th Ward doesn’t end up last in response times, emphasizing that even seconds can mean the difference between life and death.
With mounting pressure from both the city council and the public, the Fire Department continues to navigate complex legal, financial, and operational challenges as it works to restore balance and improve service efficiency.
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