Fire chief outlines staffing, calls and equipment plans; council approves $82,593.04 in fire bills
September 04, 2025 | Kankakee City, Kankakee County, Illinois
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Fire Chief LaRoche told the City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 3 that the fire department remains below budgeted staffing levels, is handling a high call volume and is beginning procurement for a new engine and aerial ladder. The council approved the department’s monthly bills in the amount of $82,593.04.
“Actually operating with 44 full‑time personnel,” LaRoche said when summarizing staffing; the department is budgeted for 51 full‑time positions for fiscal 2026 but has vacancies and several staff out on medical or light duty. LaRoche told council members the department also has four part‑time interns and that the recent application period produced 67 applicants for entry‑level testing.
LaRoche gave a summary of August operations: the department responded to 673 calls in the month, 403 of which were medical; it had one confirmed structure fire, a mattress fire at 348 North Dearborn that caused about $15,000 in damage; and year‑to‑date fire loss for calendar 2025 stood at $229,000. LaRoche said the department paid about $12,400 in vehicle repairs for August and that the majority of vehicle maintenance was for routine fleet work. He reported that a new engine (Engine 5) was out of service for warranty and body repairs in Indianapolis but that production for a replacement engine has started and the city expects a delivery within about a year; a new aerial ladder is expected in late 2026.
On billing, LaRoche said the department received $3,257 in fire‑billing proceeds in August and noted EMS billing for July totaled $459,174 with $2,479,490 collected for the 2025 year to date. The chief reported roughly 673 calls for the month with the majority medical; he said overdose counts were lower than some prior months.
Council members asked a few clarifying questions about line items. Alderman Ozinga asked about a “public education” line of roughly $1,800, which LaRoche said covered public‑education materials distributed at school events. After discussion, Alderman Jones moved to approve the fire bills in the amount of $82,593.04; Alderman Navarro seconded the motion and the council approved it by voice vote.
LaRoche also told the council the department is using temporary measures to manage staffing gaps, including overtime and reassigning personnel, and that he expects new apparatus deliveries to reduce reliance on older equipment. He said the department is coordinating with the Red Cross on smoke‑detector distribution and that the bureau conducted 146 life‑safety inspections and seven public‑education events in August.
No ordinance, budget amendment or capital appropriation for the new engine or aerial was made or approved at this meeting; LaRoche described the procurement status and production timeline without a formal funding vote.
“Actually operating with 44 full‑time personnel,” LaRoche said when summarizing staffing; the department is budgeted for 51 full‑time positions for fiscal 2026 but has vacancies and several staff out on medical or light duty. LaRoche told council members the department also has four part‑time interns and that the recent application period produced 67 applicants for entry‑level testing.
LaRoche gave a summary of August operations: the department responded to 673 calls in the month, 403 of which were medical; it had one confirmed structure fire, a mattress fire at 348 North Dearborn that caused about $15,000 in damage; and year‑to‑date fire loss for calendar 2025 stood at $229,000. LaRoche said the department paid about $12,400 in vehicle repairs for August and that the majority of vehicle maintenance was for routine fleet work. He reported that a new engine (Engine 5) was out of service for warranty and body repairs in Indianapolis but that production for a replacement engine has started and the city expects a delivery within about a year; a new aerial ladder is expected in late 2026.
On billing, LaRoche said the department received $3,257 in fire‑billing proceeds in August and noted EMS billing for July totaled $459,174 with $2,479,490 collected for the 2025 year to date. The chief reported roughly 673 calls for the month with the majority medical; he said overdose counts were lower than some prior months.
Council members asked a few clarifying questions about line items. Alderman Ozinga asked about a “public education” line of roughly $1,800, which LaRoche said covered public‑education materials distributed at school events. After discussion, Alderman Jones moved to approve the fire bills in the amount of $82,593.04; Alderman Navarro seconded the motion and the council approved it by voice vote.
LaRoche also told the council the department is using temporary measures to manage staffing gaps, including overtime and reassigning personnel, and that he expects new apparatus deliveries to reduce reliance on older equipment. He said the department is coordinating with the Red Cross on smoke‑detector distribution and that the bureau conducted 146 life‑safety inspections and seven public‑education events in August.
No ordinance, budget amendment or capital appropriation for the new engine or aerial was made or approved at this meeting; LaRoche described the procurement status and production timeline without a formal funding vote.
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