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Kankakee fire chief reports staffing shortfall, apparatus timeline and electric-vehicle safety outreach
Summary
At the June 3 public safety meeting, Fire Chief LaRoche reported staffing at 45–47 personnel, vehicle maintenance and repair costs, plans for a used ambulance to enter reserve service in July, and described unique firefighting challenges tied to electric-vehicle batteries; council approved $79,204.66 in fire bills.
Fire Chief LaRoche told the Kankakee City public safety meeting on June 3 that the department is staffed below budgeted levels and is working to fill vacancies while managing vehicle maintenance, EMS billing and a public outreach effort about electric-vehicle fire hazards.
LaRoche said, “Right now, we have 47 for the month of May, we had 47 firefighters, full time career. We are now at 46. We had had, firefighter resign on May 30. We are budgeted for 51.” Later in the report he said the department has 45 active personnel (reflecting staff off on long-term injury and other assignments).
The chief reviewed bills and vehicle repairs for May. He reported total bills of $79,204.66 for the month and said vehicle maintenance expenditures were $8,331.69 (correcting an earlier figure given in the meeting). The council approved the fire bills; Alderman Navarro moved to approve, Alderman O'Brien seconded, and a roll-call vote recorded ayes from several members and the motion carried.
LaRoche discussed apparatus and reserve planning. The department is preparing a used ambulance received from Northern Suburbs for reserve service and expects it to enter reserve service in July. He said the new engine and aerial units ordered in 2023 are expected to arrive in the fall of 2026 (he estimated 15–18 months), creating a multiyear replacement timeline. The department surplused a tower ladder and is seeking vendors or scrappers to purchase it for parts or scrap.
On EMS, LaRoche reported 432 patient-contact EMS calls for May and described monthly transports, primary call types and billing collections through April 2025: “So far for 02/2025, EMS billing collected through January through April was $1,458,454.26.” He also said the department received $4,906.80 through the fire billing company for a recent period and expects finalized May EMS billing figures next month.
LaRoche described a new community-risk-reduction initiative to place identification stickers on garages to flag the presence of electric vehicles and to educate residents about EV battery fire hazards. He said EV battery fires are difficult to extinguish and can produce toxic smoke and sustained heat: “With the electric vehicles, mainly the batteries, they're very difficult to extinguish. Not only the toxic smoke that they put off, but they put off a significant amount of heat and fire. When they do take off, they combust rapidly.” The chief said the sticker program is free and intended to help firefighters identify potential hazards during responses.
What was decided: the council approved the fire department bills totaling $79,204.66. LaRoche’s report generated direction to continue EMS billing reconciliation, prepare the used ambulance for reserve service, market the surplus tower ladder, and continue community outreach on EV risks.
LaRoche closed by summarizing training, fire prevention activity (63 inspections in May, 23 smoke detectors and 10 carbon monoxide detectors installed), and that a household hazardous-waste pickup day is delayed pending the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scheduling; the department expects that event in early fall.
