Article highlights changing trend in fire service as responses for EMS continue to grow

Excerpts from MySuburbanLife.com:

Chief Tony Huemann of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District has always had a passion for firefighting, ever since he was a child. He dreamed of running into a burning building and saving lives. While his career has given him plenty of opportunities to do just that, the nature of the job has changed over time. With better fire safety measures and an increased focus on emergency medical services, actual fire calls have become less frequent.

Firefighters today are more than just rescuers; they're also paramedics, often required to hold advanced medical training before even applying for the job. This shift means that modern firefighters must be highly educated and continuously trained—not just to handle fires, but to respond to a wide range of medical emergencies. As a result, their daily responsibilities now reflect a broader role than ever before.

In the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, EMS responses have consistently outpaced fire calls for over two decades. According to district data, medical calls made up 53% of total responses in 2001, rising to 68% by 2012. Meanwhile, fire responses dropped from 47% to 32% during the same period.

Crystal Lake’s fire and rescue department, which merged its fire and EMS services in 1980, has seen a significant shift as well. Last year, the department responded to nearly twice as many EMS calls compared to 2000, while fire calls dropped from 169 in 2003 to just 56 in 2014.

Nationally, the trend is similar. The National Fire Protection Association reports a 58.5% decline in fire calls between 1980 and 2013, while medical aid requests surged by 323% in the same timeframe. Kenneth Willette, manager of the association’s public fire protection division, noted that improved fire codes and building safety standards have contributed to this decrease. “We’re becoming much safer when it comes to fires,” he said. “Modern fire suppression systems and stricter regulations have made a big difference.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also highlights another key factor: the aging population. As more people grow older, they tend to require more medical care, which is expected to drive growth in firefighter employment. The bureau projected a 7% increase in firefighter jobs from 2012 to 2022, driven largely by the need for emergency medical support.

Woodstock Fire Chief Ralph Webster acknowledged the changing landscape. “We’re looking at how we can reallocate resources to better meet the needs of our community,” he said. “Our job has evolved, and we need to adapt accordingly.”

As the demand for emergency medical services continues to rise, the role of the firefighter is shifting once again—no longer just about putting out fires, but about being ready to save lives in any situation.

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