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Fire Chief Roach reports hires, engine delivery timetable and April 18 hazardous-waste event
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Summary
Chief Roach told the committee the fire department is staffing about 46–48 firefighters (budgeted for 51), recently hired two firefighters, expects a new engine by late April or early May, and announced a hazardous-waste pickup day April 18 in partnership with Representative Haws and DPW.
Chief Roach briefed the Kankakee City Public Safety Committee on April 7 about staffing, equipment and community programs in the fire department. "For the month of March, we had about, between 46 and 48 firefighters," Roach said, noting the department is budgeted for 51 and has hired two new firefighters, Firefighter Colin Petticombe and Matthew Stitch.
Roach described a mix of short-term staffing gaps and upcoming promotions: a captain is expected to resign May 2, which will trigger promotions from an existing list and the city will present new hires and promoted personnel to the city council in the coming months. He said the department is working with HR and the union to expand hiring options and anticipated a new captain’s list to be active in May.
On equipment and expenses, Roach identified several notable invoices and the department’s monthly bills of $87,653.17. He said vehicle maintenance for the month totaled roughly $7,700 and that in-house maintenance efforts had saved the city about $5,500 in shop labor. Regarding new apparatus, Roach said the new engine should arrive in late April or early May and a new aerial unit is expected between October and November, with training and equipment fitting to follow before the units enter service.
Roach also outlined storm-response costs: the department recorded about 840 overtime hours for the month totaling $44,481.33, with roughly $6,000 attributable to storm response. An alderman asked whether FEMA reimbursement was possible; Roach said he did not believe the county met thresholds required for reimbursement and the police deputy chief confirmed a similar understanding.
Chief Roach announced a hazardous-waste pickup day scheduled for April 18 in the DPW parking lot, coordinated with Representative Haws and the DPW, and encouraged residents to register online. "There's a flyer on page 32," Roach said, and staff will coordinate traffic control and collection logistics with DPW and police.
The committee approved the fire department bills later in the meeting; Roach closed by describing training, prevention activity and community outreach planned for the coming months.
