We’re back with another #Friday5!!

As previously explained, #Friday5’s is where we answer questions from people in the district to give everyone the best information possible about the upcoming referendum. No question is off limits, and the answers can be fact-checked by anyone looking for the truth.

The Bourbonnais Fire Protection District board remains wholly committed to getting the truth out there and being honest about rumors that may manifest regarding this tax rate proposal. Therefore, if you ask a question or make a statement on social media, email, or board meetings, we will answer the questions IN WRITING so you can freely hold us to our word.

Remember, these are YOUR questions, statements, and other communication we have collected via email, read on social media, or found on websites regarding the Nov. 5 referendum. We will pull these questions and statements directly from wherever we find them and write answers for everyone to read.

Now, without further hype – welcome to our FIFTH #Friday5:

Q: Vote NO to tax increase. The firefighters won’t see it on the paycheck.

A: As we stated since the beginning, the purpose of the tax increase is to hire and retain qualified paramedics and firefighters and stop our key specialists trained in Bourbonnais from heading off to higher-paying jobs in other locations. The number one way to retain these qualified specialists is to offer more money and compete with higher-paying jobs in neighboring towns. So, using this logic, it's clear the firefighters will see an increase in their paychecks because we need to pay them more.

But, hey – you shouldn’t just take our word for it. Go ahead and ask any member of our fire department you may come across if what we are saying is true. I’m sure (if they aren’t busy) they’ll happily tell you the money will go directly to cover an increase in salaries to help keep these fine men and women working in Bourbonnais where they belong.

Q: I want to lett everyone know how great our Fire Department is and they have our vote for any tax increase next election. Tonight, tornado sires are going off quick response to every call tonight then pour rain and windy and here they are at a huge electrical fire on Armour GREAT JOB!! BPPD AWESOME WORK WITH TRAFFIC AS WELL

A: Thank you for your kind words. From 6:00 am on Monday, July 15 to 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 16 the fire district responded to 30 calls. Of the 30 calls, 19 of those calls occurred during the large storm event the community experienced. One of those calls included a call to move 60 senior citizens to a cooling center because the power went out and left these seniors vulnerable. It was quite a crazy night!!
Q: Why does a fire truck or ladder truck follow an ambulance call?

A: This one causes many people to scratch their heads, so hopefully we can clarify and answer this question once and for all.

Fire trucks and various fire apparatuses are dispatched according to a list of six qualifiers as dictated by the Department of Public Health. These decisions are not made by the fire district, but rather are based on the information provided by the caller when phoning in an emergency.

For example: if a caller says, “My husband is having a heart attack and isn’t breathing,” an ambulance and a second engine are required to drive to the scene, per standards established by the Department of Public Health. That second truck is required to carry specific equipment enabling the paramedics to prepare for any possible scenarios that may spring up.

Now, why is it sometimes a ladder truck? It comes down to the rig available at the station when the call comes in. So, for example, should there be two calls simultaneously, the main utility truck will be dispatched to the first call, but the ladder truck will be dispatched to the second call because that rig holds similar equipment to the utility truck.

Now, the BPFD only brings a second truck at times dictated by the Department of Public Health. These calls usually involve someone in full cardiac arrest, if they aren’t breathing, if someone is choking, etc. So, in instances where we only need to send an ambulance, we only SEND an ambulance as directed by the IDPH. But, on occasions where two trucks are required, we send two trucks.

Q: It never stops. Over and over and over again…… BFPD, I understand you need more funds. But property taxes are so damn sky high, thats a ridiculous ask. I hope every fire protection district who keeps putting tax raising referendums on the ballots continue to get voted down.

A: We’ve pretty much answered all of these. We all hate taxes, and no one enjoys paying them. But you’re taking this one step further and saying those men and women tasked with saving lives should not be paid what they deserve. If a referendum for ALL fire protection districts across the United States gets voted down, the whole fire service industry will not survive. This means one day, someone you love – be it a wife, child, parent, grandparent, or yourself – will call for an ambulance, but the fire district that serves your area will not arrive.

Understand, everyone will need an ambulance at some point in their life. We’d like to have the most experienced, highly trained paramedics on that ambulance during that life-or-death ride to the hospital. But, by voting down ALL fire district referendums forever, there’s a real good chance there won’t be a trained professional – or even an ambulance – available to keep you alive.

Q: why are we just now hearing about this?

A: The short answer is we don’t know. This is the sixth time the fire district has gone out for a referendum in the last five years and the media has covered each of the previous failed referendums extensively. The news has been all over social media and we have been putting out these Friday 5’s for five weeks now (In total, we’ve released eight news releases regarding this referendum.) I’d argue most people know about it at this point, so I’m perplexed on why you haven’t heard about this until now. But, to get yourself up to speed, please look over the last four Friday 5’s and understand the facts of what is taking place.

See you all next week!!