Ambulance 61 is the newest ambulance in the Fire Department’s fleet.  Delivered in February of 2002, this mobile intensive care unit is the primary response vehicle for paramedics within the career division.  In addition to all of the necessary EMS equipment carried on this vehicle, this unit also carries protective clothing, SCBAs and some firefighting equipment for the two-member crew assigned to the ambulance.  Department ambulances are generally replaced after ten years of emergency service due to the mileage and extensive wear and tear.

Ambulance 63 is the Department’s 2nd line mobile intensive care unit.  Purchased in 1998, this vehicle served as the primary response unit until February of 2002.  Like Ambulance 61, this vehicle carries all of the advanced life support equipment required for emergency medical service and equipment for firefighter/paramedics who may ride on this vehicle.  As the Department’s 2nd response EMS unit this ambulance stills sees a lot of activity, staffed as needed by career or POC personnel.  This unit is scheduled for replacement in 2008.

Support/Multi-Purpose

Unit 51, a 2003 Ford F-350 pick-up truck with a utility body, was acquired late in  2002.  This vehicle was purchased with a number of tasks in mind, not the least of which was the transportation of the Department’s Fire Safety Trailer.  Prior to the purchase of this vehicle the Department used car 73 for this purpose.  Though heavy-duty and multi-purpose in nature, car 73 lacked the power and suspension to adequately tow and maneuver this large trailer.

Car 73 is a 1993 Chevrolet Suburban purchased to provide transportation for the crew of engine 51, the department’s last engine without enclosed jump seats.  This vehicle also served as a tow vehicle for both the department’s fire safety education trailer and its fire safety activity trailer.  This vehicle was also the first support vehicle of it’s type the department had ever purchased new.  Prior to this the department only recycled old police cars as support vehicles a process that continues in a limited fashion today.  This was also the first 4-wheel drive vehicle in the departments fleet since the retirement of the 1949 REO, a capability vital in severe snow and during off road situations.

Administrative

Car 71, a 1998 Ford Taurus, was purchased to replace a recycled police car the Fire Administrator previously used.  This vehicle is primarily assigned to the Fire Administrator to attend the numerous meetings required of his position throughout the Village and the region.  This vehicle is also equipped with emergency warning devices so that the Fire Administrator can respond to emergency calls within the Village as well.

Car 72 is the last of the Department’s recycled police cars, a 1998 Chevrolet Caprice.  This vehicle is used by the fire inspectors on an as needed basis and for personnel to use to attend out of the area training classes.

Car 74, a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe, is currently assigned to the Fire Captain for administrative and emergency response purposes.  The Captain responds to structure fires and multi-vehicle accidents within the Village and to some structure fires outside the Village as a Safety Officer.  The Captain also attends meetings and training classes throughout the Village, MABAS division and region.  This vehicle also serves as the command post at many Fire Department incidents, allowing communication on two radio frequencies at the same time thanks to a recycled fire service radio.

Fire Prevention Trailers

The activity trailer was the Department's first fire prevention trailer and was constructed by Fire Department members on the frame of the former foam generator trailer.  This trailer allows participants to pretend to be firefighters while extinguishing a simulated fire in competition with other participants.  Much smaller than the Fire Safety Trailer, this vehicle makes appearances at youth day, block parties and other special occasions.

The Fire Safety Education Trailer was purchased with the help of a grant from the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) received with the assistance of State Senator Debbie Halvorson.  Almost 40 feet long this trailer has a simulated kitchen, bedroom and bleacher style seating for getting the fire safety education message across to children and adults alike.  Participants can learn about basic fire safety, exiting the home in an emergency and what to do in the event of severe weather.  To our knowledge, this is the only trailer with this feature in the south suburban area.