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Denis McGuire, Jr. came across an interesting article in the *Chicago News Cooperative* that challenged the city's decision to keep the current staffing levels for the fire department, which maintains five-member teams per fire engine. Drawing comparisons with other major cities and their respective firefighting operations, the article highlighted a growing trend toward reducing the number of personnel on each crew to just four members. While acknowledging the significant decrease in fire-related fatalities in Chicago, the piece argued that this drop should not be taken as justification for cutting costs by downsizing firefighting teams.
In 1976, when Robert Hoff joined the Chicago Fire Department as a firefighter, there were 156 fire-related fatalities in the city. By the time Hoff became commissioner in 2010, that number had dropped dramatically to just 27. Similarly, the total number of fires responded to by the department also fell sharply over those years. Despite these improvements, the staffing levels within the department have remained relatively unchanged. Meanwhile, cities like New York and Los Angeles have been making budget cuts to fire services amidst economic challenges.
A survey conducted by the *Chicago News Cooperative* across the nation's ten largest cities revealed that Chicago invests heavily in its fire department compared to similar-sized urban centers. With one firefighter for every 637 residents, Chicago boasts a higher ratio of firefighters per capita than all but one other major U.S. city—Houston. Additionally, the department ranks third in terms of firehouse density, trailing only New York and Philadelphia, given its extensive coverage area of approximately 230 square miles and over 90 fire stations.
"Reducing the size of our firefighting workforce would be a mistake," said Larry Langford, the fire department's spokesperson, in response to the article. He emphasized that the reduced fatality rates are partly due to maintaining adequate staffing levels, enabling firefighters to search for victims while simultaneously combating blazes and preventing further spread of flames to adjacent structures.
Langford explained that the decline in fire-related deaths nationwide can be credited to advancements such as sprinklers, fire alarms, and smoke detectors. City records indicate a notable decrease in structural fires—from nearly 5,700 incidents in 1996 to fewer than 2,500 in 2008. However, he noted that medical emergencies requiring fire department assistance have increased during the same period.
Langford stressed the need for larger crews in Chicago due to the prevalence of high-rise apartments, multi-story schools, and nursing homes. Even in residential neighborhoods characterized by single-story homes, proximity between dwellings necessitates more robust staffing. According to research cited by Langford, teams of four firefighters are only 65% as effective as five-member crews. "Those extra minutes saved translate directly into lives and property preserved," he concluded.
For the full article and additional data, click here.
This article raises important questions about balancing financial constraints with public safety considerations, especially in a city like Chicago where firefighting resources remain vital despite declining fire incidents.