Fredonia fire chief defends department, explains ladder‑truck replacement and urges exploration of a fire district

The Fredonia Fire Department’s chief used a lengthy address to the Village Board May 27 to defend departmental staffing and spending, explain the recent ladder‑truck replacement, present apparatus‑life guidance and urge the board and community to study creating a consolidated fire district.

The chief opened by reading the department mission: “The Fredonia Fire Department is committed to providing emergency and non‑emergency service to protect lives, property, and the environment of the community that we serve,” and said the department had been the target of recent criticism. “This community deserves explanations, and they deserve to know why decisions are being made,” the chief said.

Apparatus replacement: the chief said the department replaced an aging ladder (Bronto/Snorkel‑style) apparatus because it had reached an age at which parts and major refurbishments were impractical. He referred to National Fire Protection Association guidance urging that frontline apparatus be expected to provide about 15 years of service and that vehicles well beyond 25 years be retired, and said the department’s previous ladder would have required an estimated $400,000 refurb to be reliable. While the department purchased a used 1997 ladder truck as an interim measure, the chief said the older used vehicle is not a long‑term solution because it is “dry” (no onboard water) and requires additional personnel and apparatus when used.

On staffing and budgets: the chief urged a fact‑based conversation about relative budgets and staffing. He compared published budget lines from 2014 to the current budget, noting that in 2014 the police budget was about $1.52 million and the fire budget about $739,000; by the latest approved budget he cited police department appropriations of about $2.004 million (less $28,000 in budgeted revenue) and fire department appropriations of about $1.596 million (less roughly $1,000,090 in budgeted revenue). The chief said the fire department’s expenditures had increased modestly over a decade compared with larger increases in the police budget.

Recommendation and next steps: the chief urged a “solution‑focused approach” and asked the board and county to explore a fire district to combine resources, reduce redundancies and create a more sustainable structure for emergency services. He said Fredonia already works with mutual‑aid partners and that a district could formalize shared services, ownership and operational responsibilities.

Recognition for life‑saving care: the chief also presented certificates of distinguished service to two department members. Firefighter‑paramedic Tyler Bayless and firefighter‑EMT Mike Gustafson were cited for their May 7 response to a patient with an inferior ST‑elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and prompt advanced life support and transport; the chief said the patient was discharged in stable condition two days later.

What was not decided: the board did not take a formal vote on creation of a fire district at the meeting. The chief requested an executive‑session discussion later in the meeting on an unrelated bargaining‑unit memorandum of understanding and asked the board to treat future discussions about departmental finances with factual, transparent analysis.