The Ottawa Fire Department is facing a staffing crisis. Fire Chief Brian Bressner says the normal amount of staff for the department would be 27 firefighters. But right now the department has 20 and could lose more because of firefighters moving on to other departments or quitting altogether. Deputy Fire Chief Mike Mill says firefighters will also come to train in Ottawa, but then will leave for a bigger fire department because of better pay and less calls. Mill says because of the lack of staff, there are things he can’t do from an operational standpoint.
Not only is there not enough staff, Bressner says the amount of calls is going over 700 a year since 2015 and the time it takes can be up to eight minutes depending on where the call is. Both men spoke to the Ottawa City Council about their five year plan to try and recruit people to stay at both fire houses. Commissioner James Less says there are two federal grants the city can try to apply for to get for the fire department at the next city council meeting. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant would provide funding to help increase or maintain the amount of trained firefighters needed.
Bressner and Mills also discussed recruiting people out of high school so they can be trained to be firefighters by 21. That way the might decide to stay in the city. Mayor Dan Aussem says Illinois law requires a person to be 21 before they can be hired by a fire department.
Brian Bressner and Mike Mills speak to the Ottawa City Council about status of the fire department.