Captain worries broken garage door at Chicago firehouse is affecting response times
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago fire captain is worried a broken garage door is slowing down fire crews on the city's Northwest Side.
As CBS 2's Noel Brennan reported Tuesday, it has been more than a week now – and repairs still haven't been made to the Engine 89, Truck 56, and Ambulance 46 firehouse at 3945 W. Peterson Ave., just off Pulaski Road and alongside North Park Village.
The Chicago Fire Department said there is no cause for concern. But Brennan spoke to a captain who feels otherwise.
For eight days and counting, it has been a frustrating routine for the firehouse. Fire truck 56 is parked out on Peterson Avenue outside the firehouse all day – and then it moves to another firehouse overnight.
It is all because of a broken garage door that hasn't been fixed.
Fire Capt. Dan Koenig, who said he cannot talk on camera, told the garage door broke on Tuesday, Dec. 19. First it was a spring – and then it was a busted chain.
As a result, the fire truck and ambulance that usually park inside the firehouse can't get in or out very easily. The workaround has been parking those vehicles elsewhere overnight.
From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., the fire truck stages at a firehouse in Portage Park – three miles away. The ambulance stages at a firehouse in Forest Glen – two miles away.
These relocations have been routine for eight days and counting.
The captain he is concerned about delays in emergency response. He said it is a firefighter's job to serve and protect, and a broken garage door impedes his ability to do so.
It is the job of the city's Department of Assets, Information and Services to fix the door. We reached out to that city department and Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th) for insight into why it takes so long to get a garage door at a firehouse fixed.
Late Tuesday, we received this statement from the Fire Department:
"The Chicago Fire Department and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications work hand in hand to assure every neighborhood in Chicago receives excellent coverage for fire and EMS response. In part, this has led to Chicago being rated at the highest level on fire response and its companion water supply network by the Insurance Institute.
"Recently a garage door on Engine 89's house failed and needed repair. The service company has determined that new parts will have to be installed but must be shipped as they are not in stock locally.
"Pending repairs, Engine 89 Truck 56 and Ambulance 46 will continue to use the house as quarters during the day and evening hours, but at bedtime the units and crews of Truck 56 and Ambulance 46 will be moved to other houses that can accommodate the vehicles. Both the truck and the ambulance will return to their home house before breakfast each day.
"The OEMC is aware of the late-night moves and will monitor the situation in real time to ensure the neighborhoods around Engine 89's house are well covered by the strategic dispatch of these and other units to maintain our normal response times."
CFD will also seek expedited installation of parts to return Engine 89's door to full operation as soon as possible.
The CBS 2 Investigators have been tracking response times by the Chicago Fire Department for years.
The Fire Department also was using an outdated system – and missing data – making it impossible to determine accurate response times.