Auto Spare Parts Near Me,Auto Spare Parts And Accessories,Silicone Car Molds Molds,Car Door Panel Mould Weifang Yida Mould Co.,Ltd , https://www.wfyidamold.com
Another historical account shared by Phil Stenholm regarding the Evanston Fire Department:
The Evanston Fire Department (EFD) began offering ambulance services to the City of Evanston back in 1976. However, it's worth noting that firefighters in Evanston had already been responding to "inhalator" calls since 1913.
Prior to 1976, the Evanston Police Department (EPD) handled ambulance duties, using a horse-drawn ambulance as early as the 1890s. In 1916, the EPD upgraded to an automobile ambulance, which was stationed in a bay east of the firehouse at 807 Grove Street. From 1958 onwards, the EPD implemented the "Police-Fire Cooperative Plan," training police officers to also act as firefighters. These cross-trained officers patrolled in station wagons—referred to as Car 31, Car 32, and Car 33—at the time, each equipped with a stretcher, an inhalator, first aid supplies, fire extinguishers, axes, and turnout gear. These two-man police units responded to inhalator calls, ambulance runs, and fires, in addition to their regular policing duties. Eventually, these units were downsized to single-person operations, though the EPD continued to provide ambulance service with its remaining patrol wagons.
Meanwhile, the EFD maintained three staff cars—F-5 (Training Officer) at Station #1, F-1 (Chief’s Buggy) at Station #2, and F-3 (Fire Prevention Inspector) at Station #5—that were outfitted with stretchers and served as backup ambulances when the EPD’s resources were stretched thin.
In the summer of 1974, the Illinois Department of Health loaned the EFD a Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) for a 90-day trial period. At the time, the EFD lacked paramedics, and the MICU didn’t come equipped with advanced life support (ALS) gear, but it gave the department a chance to serve as the city’s primary ambulance provider temporarily. Everyone involved was pleased with the results, especially the police officers who were eager to stop handling ambulance duties.
Encouraged by this success, the EFD launched its paramedic program at St. Francis Hospital in 1975, aiming to transition fully to fire department–run ambulance services by 1976. Initially, Mayor Jim Staples preferred keeping the ambulance service under the EPD, believing it ensured round-the-clock availability. However, Police Chief William McHugh convinced him otherwise, pointing out the EPD’s increasing focus on rising crime rates left little room for ambulance responsibilities.
The first ambulance—a 1975 Dodge van MICU with ALS equipment donated by Evanston’s Washington National Insurance Company—entered service at Station #1 in January 1976. It was initially staffed by three firefighters: two paramedics and one paramedic trainee. Squad 21’s manpower was reduced to just a driver. Ambulance 1 covered all EMS calls across the city, handling calls independently within its district and with engine support elsewhere.
On arrival, the senior paramedic onboard would assess whether the call required basic life support (BLS) or advanced life support (ALS). If ALS was needed, Ambulance 1 would handle it; otherwise, a police station wagon or one of the auxiliary fire department wagons would take over for transport purposes, allowing Ambulance 1 to return to service quickly.
By 1976, the City Council approved the purchase of a second MICU ambulance, planning to staff both vehicles with two-person crews (both paramedics) and retire Squad 21 entirely.
In November 1976, tragedy struck when Ambulance 1 was severely damaged in a collision at Church and Ridge while en route to a call on Dewey Avenue. All three firefighters onboard, along with a nurse from St. Francis Hospital, were injured. Since Ambulance 2 hadn’t yet arrived, the Skokie Fire Department lent one of its older Cadillac ambulances to Evanston. Although it wasn’t an MICU, the Cadillac served as Ambulance 1 until the new Ambulance 2 arrived a few days later. Afterward, Evanston bought the Cadillac and kept it as a reserve ambulance.
Ambulance 2 entered service in January 1977, operating alongside the refurbished 1975 Dodge van MICU (now Ambulance 1) at Station #1. Both ambulances were ALS-equipped and staffed with two paramedics. Ambulance 2 handled all "first-call" EMS runs, while Ambulance 1 focused on fire calls and backup EMS runs when Ambulance 2 was unavailable.
The original Ambulance 1 (the 1975 Dodge van MICU) was eventually repaired and returned to service in 1977, but the response strategy remained unchanged—Ambulance 2 continued to take all first-call EMS runs. The Cadillac ambulance became Ambulance 3, a manned BLS unit that was staffed only when a third ambulance was necessary. Advanced Life Support gear was added to Ambulance 3 in 1978.
In 1980, two new Ford modular MICU ambulances joined the fleet. The Cadillac ambulance and the 1975 Dodge van MICU were retired, and the 1977 Dodge modular MICU became Ambulance 3.
At this point, Ambulance 1 and Ambulance 2 were divided between stations: Ambulance 1 stayed at Station #1, while Ambulance 2 moved to Station #2. The dividing line for their jurisdictions was Dempster Street, aligning with the division between Truck 21 and Truck 22. Ambulance 3 remained at Station #1, staffed by personnel from Truck Co. 21 when needed.
Within a year, both frontline ambulances reunited at Station #1, with Ambulance 1 serving calls east of Asbury and Ambulance 2 covering west of Asbury. Ambulance 3 shifted to Station #2 and was manned by personnel from Truck Co. 22 when needed.
In 1982, the response strategy changed again. Ambulance 1 and Ambulance 2 alternated calls—one would respond, followed by the other, creating a rotation system. This allowed crews to anticipate which ambulance would be "on deck" for the next run, giving the other some downtime. This setup proved beneficial given the high call volume.
Around this time, Ambulance 3 moved back to Station #1, staffed by personnel from Truck Co. 21.
In 1986, Ambulance 2 relocated to Station #4, while Ambulance 1 covered calls in Station #1 and Station #3 areas. Ambulance 2 responded to calls in Stations #2, #4, and #5, with Ambulance 3 acting as a ready reserve at Station #1. The EFD leadership believed separating the two frontline ambulances would improve citywide paramedic response times.
To achieve this goal, the "jump company" plan was introduced in 1989. Engine Companies 21, 22, and 25 became "jump companies," each consisting of four members with two paramedics, functioning as a combined engine-ambulance unit. Engine Companies 23 and 24 stopped responding to EMS calls, and Truck Co. 21 was no longer tasked with staffing the third ambulance.
Unfortunately, the "jump company" plan didn’t work out due to prolonged periods of inactivity for these units, leaving the city short on engine coverage. By the following year, the plan was mostly abandoned. Ambulance 21 and Ambulance 22 reverted to two-paramedic units at Stations #1 and #2, respectively. Engine Companies resumed their primary roles, and Truck Co. 21 moved to Station #3, renumbered as Truck Co. 23. Ambulance 23 joined the station, manned by personnel from Station #3 when needed.