Crystal Lake City Council approves purchase of custom fire engines

The Crystal Lake City Council decided to buy three custom fire engines at its meeting Tuesday, ending a disagreement over what type of trucks to buy that had led firefighters and their families to pack the Crystal Lake City Hall in 2019.

The city had been looking to replace some of its older vehicles for a few years now, although disagreements over whether the city should buy custom or commercial fire engines had prolonged the issue.

The trucks set to be replaced were bought in 2002, 2006 and 2007, according to city documents.

Some firefighters said custom engines are the safer choice of the two. Commercial fire engines, they argued, don’t have airbags and are prone to rolling over. Their water pumpers also cannot reach the 1500 gallons per minute firefighters currently are used to.

Staff review found that although custom fire rescue vehicles have some options not offered by commercial engines, these options are not required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or National Fire Protection Association, according to council documents. However, firefighters said they wanted an engine that goes beyond the bare minimum standards.

The dispute came to a head at a 2019 City Council meeting when firefighters and their families packed city hall to speak out against a proposed commercial fire engine purchase. It was eventually tabled.

These arguments were reiterated at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, where the board voted, 5-2, to purchase the custom fire engine instead of the commercial one.

“The city has purchased custom chassis fire engines to this point, all we’re asking is that you maintain that level of safety,” firefighter and paramedic Brian Marino said during public comment.

Marino’s voice wavered with emotion as he addressed the City Council.

“As we sit here, discussing firefighter safety, the sirens you hear are our brothers and sisters going out to fight a fire, possibly risking their life for somebody else,” Marino said. “At the end of the day, we will risk our lives for this community. But we will not do it unduly just in the interest of saving a few dollars, especially when there is an option for the Foreign Fire Insurance Board to fund that difference.”

Two of the custom fire engines will cost $548,911 each and one will be $554,411 for a total purchase price of $1,652,233. Two of the commercial fire engines would have been $388,408 each, and one will be $393,908 for a total price of $1,070,724.

The Foreign Fire Insurance Board will contribute about $240,755 to pay for the custom fire engines.

Council member Ian Philpot said while he understands people’s concerns, he doesn’t think city staff would consider a purchase if safety was not considered first.

He added that as a City Council member, he has the responsibility to go with the lower-priced option.

“I think the ongoing costs to the city are too high for us to consider,” said Philpot, who voted no.

Council member Cathy Ferguson, also a no, said she took exception to the argument that the city would ever put people in danger knowingly.

“In this role, I have to take not only your desires but the city’s desires, the staff that we hire for a reason to be the experts,” Ferguson said. “We’re in the best possible situation that we could provide for you.”

However, council member Ellen Brady said she would be happy to support buying a custom truck if the Foreign Fire Insurance board was covering some of the cost.

“We ask our firemen to go out no matter what the weather is because people have chosen to go out when they shouldn’t. We then send our firemen and paramedics out onto the streets to save us,” Brady said. “The customer is safe, but if they’re willing to contribute to the difference, then let them have the vehicle that maybe is a little safer.”