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O'Fallon fire chief warns of rising costs, shrinking reserves and need for future apparatus as calls climb
Summary
Chief White told the Public Safety committee the department's dual municipal/district model serves ~45,000 people, call volume has risen to roughly 1,300 incidents, capital reserves are low and rising equipment and training costs make future vehicle purchases and outfitting new firefighters a budgetary priority.
Chief White told the Public Safety committee that O'Fallon's fire department — a dual municipal and fire‑protection district model — now serves about 45,000 residents across roughly 45 square miles and has grown from about 39 rostered firefighters in 2019 to roughly 60 today.
"We are a combination department," Chief White said, outlining a small full‑time core (five staff), paid‑on‑call volunteers and part‑timers who provide most of the response. He said the department ran about 1,300 calls in the most recent year and that many of those are nonlife‑threatening or…
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