Denis McGuire, Jr. came across an article published in the *Chicago News Cooperative* that raised concerns about the city’s decision to keep fire department staffing levels at five firefighters per truck. The piece compared Chicago’s approach with that of other major U.S. cities, where many have reduced their crews to four members. While acknowledging a significant drop in fire-related deaths in Chicago, the article argues that this decline is not a reason to cut staffing or firehouse numbers.
According to the article, in 1976—when Robert Hoff first joined the Chicago Fire Department—156 people died in fires throughout the city. By 2010, when Hoff became the department’s commissioner, that number had dropped to just 27. At the same time, the total number of fires the department responded to has also fallen sharply over the years. Despite these improvements, the staffing level in Chicago has remained largely unchanged, even as other major cities like New York and Los Angeles have been reducing fire protection budgets due to economic pressures.
The *Chicago News Cooperative* conducted a survey of the country's 10 largest cities and found that Chicago ranks among the top in terms of resources dedicated to its fire department. With one firefighter for every 637 residents, the city has more firefighters per capita than all other large U.S. cities except Houston. Additionally, Chicago has the third-highest density of firehouses among the 10 largest cities, behind only New York and Philadelphia.
Larry Langford, the fire department’s spokesperson, emphasized that the reduction in fire deaths and incidents shouldn’t be used as a justification for cutting back on staffing. He pointed out that having enough personnel allows firefighters to conduct searches while simultaneously battling flames and preventing them from spreading to neighboring buildings.
He also noted that the overall decline in fire deaths is part of a national trend driven by factors such as sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, and improved fire alarms. City data shows that the number of structure fires dropped from nearly 5,700 in 1996 to under 2,500 in 2008. However, medical calls to the fire department have risen during the same period.
Langford explained that Chicago’s unique urban layout—including high-rise apartment buildings, multi-story schools, and nursing homes—requires larger fire crews. Even in residential areas like the bungalow belt, he said, homes are often closely packed, making it necessary to have more firefighters than the minimum standard.
Studies cited by the department suggest that four-person crews are only 65% as efficient as five-member teams. “That means minutes saved can translate into lives and property protected,†Langford said.
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