Alsip fire chief outlines grants, inspection shortfalls and ambulance procurement options
June 09, 2026 | Alsip, Cook County, Illinois
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At the June 8 committee meeting the Alsip fire chief detailed several near‑term priorities: a state equipment grant, a regional FEMA radios grant application, trouble meeting annual inspection targets because of staffing declines, and a looming vehicle‑replacement decision over ambulances and engines.
On grants, the chief said the village received an $18,577 Office of the State Fire Marshal equipment award to replace a gear extractor and dryer at Station 2. He also said the department is hosting a regional FEMA application to replace portable radios and that the grant deadline was June 26; the chief explained budget documents will reflect grant assumptions so the village can cover shared costs if needed.
The chief described inspection capacity problems: a year‑to‑date reduction in staff has left the inspection team effectively at four active inspectors (one on workers' comp), creating a significant risk that annual inspections will not be completed. Trustees and the chief discussed whether inspection responsibilities should be explicitly required in the collective bargaining agreement or otherwise backfilled by a part‑time inspector; the chief noted previous attempts to hire part‑time coverage had been blocked by the board in an earlier cycle.
On ambulance procurement, the chief laid out two options: order a new ambulance (roughly 26–28 months lead time) with a full warranty or rechassis the oldest unit (cheaper but takes a vehicle out of service for 90–120 days and carries vendor quality risk). "We run at least two ambulances out all the time," the chief said, noting the village routinely has multiple ambulances in service and that vendor vetting is essential for remounts because some providers have delivered poor work. Trustees discussed advertising bids for both remount and new options (advertise July 1, open bids in August) and asked staff to return prices for comparison.
The chief also warned that prices for new engines have risen (roughly 5–7% since October) and lead times remain long (42–48 months), so the village is flagging long‑term capital needs. Separately, the chief recommended adding a Knox 4500 shunt (remote shutoff) requirement for newly installed EV charging stations to give firefighters a safe, reliable means to shut off power during incidents; trustees discussed two current locations (IBW and Pilot) and estimated device costs around $1,200, with installation costs varying by site.
What happens next: trustees asked staff to prepare bid specifications and timing details for ambulance options, requested a vehicle inventory with ages for fire equipment, and agreed to further discussion on inspection staffing and collective bargaining language. No binding procurement decisions were made at the committee meeting.
On grants, the chief said the village received an $18,577 Office of the State Fire Marshal equipment award to replace a gear extractor and dryer at Station 2. He also said the department is hosting a regional FEMA application to replace portable radios and that the grant deadline was June 26; the chief explained budget documents will reflect grant assumptions so the village can cover shared costs if needed.
The chief described inspection capacity problems: a year‑to‑date reduction in staff has left the inspection team effectively at four active inspectors (one on workers' comp), creating a significant risk that annual inspections will not be completed. Trustees and the chief discussed whether inspection responsibilities should be explicitly required in the collective bargaining agreement or otherwise backfilled by a part‑time inspector; the chief noted previous attempts to hire part‑time coverage had been blocked by the board in an earlier cycle.
On ambulance procurement, the chief laid out two options: order a new ambulance (roughly 26–28 months lead time) with a full warranty or rechassis the oldest unit (cheaper but takes a vehicle out of service for 90–120 days and carries vendor quality risk). "We run at least two ambulances out all the time," the chief said, noting the village routinely has multiple ambulances in service and that vendor vetting is essential for remounts because some providers have delivered poor work. Trustees discussed advertising bids for both remount and new options (advertise July 1, open bids in August) and asked staff to return prices for comparison.
The chief also warned that prices for new engines have risen (roughly 5–7% since October) and lead times remain long (42–48 months), so the village is flagging long‑term capital needs. Separately, the chief recommended adding a Knox 4500 shunt (remote shutoff) requirement for newly installed EV charging stations to give firefighters a safe, reliable means to shut off power during incidents; trustees discussed two current locations (IBW and Pilot) and estimated device costs around $1,200, with installation costs varying by site.
What happens next: trustees asked staff to prepare bid specifications and timing details for ambulance options, requested a vehicle inventory with ages for fire equipment, and agreed to further discussion on inspection staffing and collective bargaining language. No binding procurement decisions were made at the committee meeting.
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