Fire chief highlights zero civilian fire fatalities last year, smoke-detector push and equipment needs

Lincoln Park — Fire Department leadership told the City Council on May 12 that the department responded to 2,298 runs over the most recent four-month reporting period and emphasized a multi-year smoke-detector distribution effort that officials credit with reducing civilian fire deaths.

Fire department briefing and data - Total calls (last four months): 2,298 - EMS calls: 1,915 - Fire calls: 26 (17 building fires, 8 vehicle fires, 1 dumpster fire) - Other hazardous calls: 39 (gas leaks, wires down, carbon monoxide incidents) - False alarms / good-intent calls: 74 - Mutual aid given: 9; mutual aid received: 54 (including responses to 9 fires and 45 rescues) - Fire-related civilian injuries/fatalities: the chief reported zero civilian fire-related fatalities in calendar year 2024 and three firefighter injuries during the quarter.

Smoke detectors and prevention work The chief attributed the 2024 zero-civilian-fatality milestone to the department’s smoke-detector initiative in partnership with the CDBG program. The department and partners procured and installed more than 5,000 smoke detectors; the chief said those devices were replaced and installed by on-shift personnel and FSET (Fire and Safety Enforcement Team) members during outreach visits. "I think this is tangible evidence that the fire code enforcement team work is not only effective, it saves lives," the chief said.

Training, specialty teams and operations The department reported roughly 425 hours of documented training this quarter (excluding daily in-station training). Paramedics must document continuing education per state guidelines; the department also reported internal training in advanced…