The Daily Herald recently published an article regarding the ongoing rift between the Village of Barrington Fire Department and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District. According to reports, the two entities officially parted ways at the start of the New Year, but not without some last-minute hiccups.
One of the main issues arose when the 48-square-mile fire district took possession of 19 firefighters who had been let go by the Village of Barrington at midnight on December 31st. However, these firefighters were unable to bring their custom-fitted safety gear with them, which created quite a stir. As a result, the fire district had to quickly borrow equipment from the nearby Fox River Grove Fire Protection District just a few days prior to the split. They also began exploring leasing options for future months.
Village Manager Jeff Lawler explained that the problem stemmed from the fact that the fire district did not hire the laid-off firefighters directly but instead engaged them through a private contractor called Paramedic Services of Illinois. He stated, “This gear is taxpayer property, and we cannot simply hand it over without the appropriate legal process.†Lawler mentioned that this matter had been discussed with fire district officials in early December, and he couldn’t comprehend why they hadn’t resolved it earlier.
Tom Rowan, president of the Barrington Countryside board, countered by saying that the conversation Lawler referenced seems to be remembered only by the Village of Barrington. He emphasized that due to the shared ownership of all equipment during their long-term partnership, it was agreed that assets would be equally divided, similar to how the vehicles were handled.
Barrington Countryside Fire Chief Jeff Swanson weighed in, noting that while adherence to regulations is important, safety should always come first. Although there may have been a legal way to sort out the division of equipment gradually, the firefighters needed access to their gear immediately, especially on such a critical day like New Year’s Day.
Currently, Barrington Countryside employs a total of 34 firefighters through Paramedic Services of Illinois. Of these, only the 19 laid off from the Barrington Fire Department were impacted by the disagreement over equipment. Fortunately, new custom gear specifically ordered for these personnel is anticipated to arrive in the spring, and they will rely on leased equipment until then.
Apart from this hiccup, both organizations claim they have managed their operational duties seamlessly post-split. The Barrington Fire Department’s area of responsibility has now been reduced to just the village’s five square miles.
Rowan noted that morale remains strong within the fire district’s new team, highlighted by their thorough cleaning of all their equipment right after taking possession from the Village of Barrington late Wednesday morning.
Barrington Countryside provides coverage for sections of Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington, South Barrington, Inverness, and parts of unincorporated Cook, Lake, and McHenry counties.
On a separate note, here’s what we know about the apparatus distribution:
The Village of Barrington Fire Department retains:
- One engine
- The quint
- The battalion buggy
- Two ambulances
Meanwhile, the Barrington Countryside FPD holds:
- Two engines
- The squad
- A tanker (plus a newly acquired tanker)
- Two ambulances
As of now, we are still unclear about the ownership of the brush unit.
While this situation highlights initial challenges, both parties seem committed to moving forward independently while ensuring public safety remains paramount. It's clear that communication and collaboration will play key roles in smoothing out any remaining wrinkles in their separation journey.
RANA Fluoropolymer Lined Filter Housing are all manufactured by advanced lining technology, which are widely used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
RANA commits to offering high-quality fluoroplastic PTFE, PFA, ECTFE sheet lined filter for each buyer, RANA pride on helping your company to improve the production efficiency, reducing cost losses and increasing profits.
PTFE Lined Filter,PFA Lined Filter Housing,Teflon Lined Cartridge Housing,Fluoropolymer Lined Filter Housing
JIANGSU RANA FLUORINE MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD , https://www.ranatank.com