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Kankakee honors dispatchers and firefighters after Dec. 29 rescue; mayor announces APBA championships through 2029
Summary
Chief LaRoche and the city recognized telecommunicator Rachel Barber and multiple firefighters for their roles in a Dec. 29 house fire rescue that removed four residents; Mayor Curtis also announced Kankakee will host APBA national championships through 2029.
Kankakee City Council used part of its Feb. 2 meeting to recognize the city’s emergency responders and to share positive tourism news.
Chief LaRoche told the council that on Dec. 29 the dispatch center received a report of a structure fire at 1361 South Kensington with occupants trapped on the second floor. Telecommunicator Rachel Barber handled the call and relayed critical information to responding units, Chief LaRoche said, and ambulance and engine crews performed immediate size-up and victim removal. Chief LaRoche said four occupants were removed and transferred to triage within minutes, crediting the combined actions of dispatch and responding firefighters with saving the family.
The council presented an assistance award to Rachel Barber and unit citations and firefighter excellence awards to Ambulance 1 personnel (identified in the minutes as Firefighter Josh Wisher and Firefighter Trevor Allen) and other members of the shift who responded that night, including Captain Chris Foss (incident commander), Lieutenant Jake Bellotto, and listed engine and ambulance crews. Chief LaRoche described the sequence of response and praised the coordination between crews and dispatch during a high-stress call.
In related public-safety updates, the public safety committee reported the police department is budgeted for and currently employs 67 officers; the fire department is budgeted for 51 and currently employs 48. The fire department reported five December fires with an estimated loss of $42,000 and said it installed 106 carbon-monoxide detectors in owner-occupied residences through a community development program.
Mayor Curtis also announced that the American Powerboat Association (APBA) awarded Kankakee the national championships again through 2029 and that Kankakee was named 'Race Site of the Year' at a recent Powerboat Racing Awards event — developments the mayor said will bring visitors and strengthen partnerships with the park district, county and chamber.
The council did not record extended debate on the awards or the mayor’s announcements; the meeting then proceeded to consent and other business.
