Chicago’s firefighters are expressing serious concerns regarding proposed policy changes that dictate how they should respond to fires, with fears that the new guidelines could lead to delays in response time and ultimately endanger the lives of civilians.
This policy shift, announced on June 18 in a department-wide memo, alters the strategies that firefighters utilize when arriving at the scene of a blaze.
Currently, the policy allows the first firefighting unit—whether a truck, engine, or squad—to assess the situation and establish operations before taking action to combat the fire if necessary.
Under the new proposed policy, however, the first company on the scene would be required to remain outside the building until a battalion chief or another commander arrives.
This order directs the initial crew to designate an ‘incident commander’ responsible for providing radio instructions and organizing ‘defensive operations.’
Defensive operations focus on containing the fire to its original building or area to safeguard firefighter safety.
Firefighters often refer to this approach as ‘hit it hard from the yard,’ meaning they attack the fire from outside the building.
The new directive states that firefighters can only enter a building if there are ‘clearly visible victims who are in imminent danger’ or if they receive confirmation of individuals trapped inside.
As a result, firefighters are instructed to stay outside until the arrival of a battalion chief.
Patrick Cleary, the head of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 and a retired firefighter, stated that this policy change would significantly hinder the capabilities of the city’s four-person rigs.
Cleary pointed out that the requirement for one firefighter to serve as incident commander means fewer personnel are available to enter the building.
With one firefighter designated for incident command, another handling the pump, and a third managing the hydrant, only one firefighter would be left to venture inside.
Typically, it is mandated that at least two firefighters enter a building together, creating a potential safety concern under the new guidelines.
Cleary criticized the policy by saying, ‘It’s asinine.’
He added, ‘They’re saying now, “Well, we need someone outside the building from the get-go, so we’re going to take one of the people off your rig, and he’s going to serve in that role until the battalion chief gets there.” That could be a minute. That could be five minutes. That could be 10 minutes.’
Currently, while many of the department’s engines and trucks operate with five-person crews, up to 35 units per day are staffed solely by four-person crews.
Cleary advocated for a full staffing model, suggesting that all engines and trucks should be equipped with at least five personnel.
A firefighter who spoke to Block Club on the condition of anonymity shared similar frustrations.
The firefighter conveyed that the proposed policy would effectively restrict the actions of first responders, forcing them to wait an uncertain amount of time for a commanding officer to arrive.
‘It’s putting handcuffs on the people on-scene and waiting for a chief to get there,’ the firefighter remarked.
He expressed concern that the order would likely be disobeyed, citing its unrealistic nature.
The proposed changes were initiated after an investigation by the Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Agency into the death of firefighter Kevin Ward in 2023.
The agency cited the Chicago Fire Department for five repeated serious violations and mandated a variety of workplace safety improvements to prevent firefighters from operating alone in buildings and to enhance radio communication coordination.
Despite the 18 months that have passed since the original report, records obtained through a Block Club records request revealed that the Fire Department has yet to address the majority of these violations.
Due to these delays, the state’s Department of Labor has opened a ‘failure to abate’ investigation against the department.
Larry Langford, a spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department, stated that the proposed policy changes from the June 18 order are still under review.
While the initial order indicated a scheduled implementation date of June 28, Langford clarified that this date was incorrect.
A document shared with Block Club last week confirmed that the policy changes have been postponed until ‘field training’ is completed and a revised order is issued.
‘It’s being looked at for additional input and maybe clarity,’ Langford said, emphasizing that the policy is not dead, but simply not ready for implementation.
Langford declined to comment on the Illinois OSHA investigation or the delays associated with the remediation process.
However, the department faces intense financial pressure to implement changes, as indicated in correspondence from Illinois OSHA.
The agency has insisted that the Fire Department must adopt a version of the proposed policy changes to comply with the OSHA violations and avert further fines.
Records show that the department has already incurred $30,000 in fines related to Ward’s death and could face additional penalties if changes are continually postponed.
Additionally, the department risks mandatory, random follow-up inspections and increased monetary penalties should Illinois OSHA determine it needs to place the department in a Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
Erik Kambarian, Illinois OSHA Chief, warned in a January 26, 2024, letter to the Mayor’s Office that the Chicago Fire Department’s repeated violation history may lead to inclusion in this program if further infractions occur.
The past few years have proven particularly hazardous and fatal for the Chicago Fire Department, with a record of at least five firefighter deaths in the line of duty in 2023—an alarming rate not seen since 1998.
Between 2021 and 2023, the department reported 20 significant injuries requiring hospitalization or amputation.
In comparison to similar jurisdictions, the number of firefighter fatalities in Chicago has been disproportionately high.
It stands out as the only municipality in the state to have reported firefighter deaths from 2021 to 2023.
The ten most populous U.S. cities collectively recorded only seven firefighter deaths during that same timeframe, with five occurring in Chicago alone.
The alarming rate of fatalities has prompted repeated investigations by Illinois OSHA, particularly following the death of firefighter Kevin Ward in 2023 while tackling a blaze in Norwood Park.
Aside from Ward, the city lost veteran firefighter Capt. David Meyer, age 54, who suffered injuries while responding to an intentionally set fire in April.
In a January 2024 letter addressed to the city, Illinois OSHA underscored the dangers firefighters encounter on the job, attributing them to weak standard operating procedures, insufficient training, inadequate firefighter supervision during emergencies, and lack of enforcement of existing policies.
Additionally, the letter pointed to the lack of active health and wellness measures for firefighters and a general resistance to cultural change within the department.
Documents obtained by Block Club indicated that Ward succumbed to complications from smoke inhalation after entering a burning structure alone.
The agency identified five serious, repeated violations concerning this incident, each carrying a penalty of $10,000.
One significant violation was linked to inadequate radio communication between crews at the fire, jeopardizing the safety of the firefighters inside.
‘Employee interviews and other evidence revealed that several interior firefighters were unaware of the operating radio channel for the incident and did not hear vital radio transmissions,’ the report stated.
The remaining violations involved firefighters operating solo within the building without maintaining contact, exposing them to respiratory and thermal hazards.
In correspondence to Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois OSHA emphasized the necessity for the city to take corrective actions regarding ten workplace safety measures to avoid fines.
The report provided several recommendations to improve safety, including ensuring that the first arriving fire officer takes charge from the outside before any aggressive interior operations begin.
Furthermore, OSHA suggested that the Fire Department elevate its policy requiring firefighters to enter, stay, and exit buildings together to an ‘inviolable cardinal rule.’
A six-month deadline was issued for addressing the violations and settling any associated fines.
As per documents obtained from Illinois OSHA, the Fire Department and the agency reached a partial agreement on May 9, 2024, that resulted in the removal of two of the cited infractions.
The Fire Department incurred a $30,000 fine on June 17, 2024, as the settlement also mandated the establishment of the two-man entry rule policy.
Additionally, ongoing ‘progress reports’ are required to be submitted every 30 days until all issues have been rectified.
However, in the 18 months post-citation, the department has failed to address the other violations satisfactorily.
Though progress reports indicated changes to the radio policy, efforts to enhance the command structure for interior firefighters stagnated around early 2025.
Most recently, District Chief Jonathan Zaentz submitted a request on May 9 for a 90-day extension to address the violations, citing unexpected leadership turnover and low staffing levels as the reasons for the delay.
Zaentz wrote, ‘I have unfortunately run up against the clock assuming there was oversight above me capable of responding to these concerns.’
A letter dated June 5 confirmed that Illinois OSHA denied Zaentz’s extension request and subsequently initiated a ‘failure to abate’ investigation against the Fire Department.
The oversight agency possesses the authority to impose fines of up to $1,000 per day for each outstanding violation.
Given that the investigation can be reopened every 30 days for non-compliance, the Fire Department stands to face significant financial repercussions.
Illinois OSHA spokesperson Paul Cicchini noted that the Fire Department can contest the findings from the failure to abate investigation, though official fines won’t be issued until the investigation concludes.
‘We will continue to offer to work with the Chicago Fire Department and any fire department in the state in the interest of firefighter health and safety,’ Cicchini stated.
While both current firefighters and the union leader acknowledge that the proposed policies stem from a genuine concern for firefighter safety—especially in light of recent fatalities—they feel the investigations have pressured the department to change policy primarily to minimize liability rather than effectively train firefighters for their roles.
The anonymous firefighter expressed this sentiment: ‘They’re more worried about the liability of accidents and OSHA investigations and policy and the cost of tanks and air masks than they are about actually training us to do our job.
What they’re doing is minimizing the department’s liability by not allowing us to attack the fire in the way we’re trained.’
Overall, the ongoing debate surrounding these proposed changes reflects a complex interplay between safety, liability, and effective emergency response within the Chicago Fire Department.
image source from：blockclubchicago
