Development News for Kankakee, Illinois

Fire Department Reports May Activities, Staffing, New Engine, and Call Volume

The Fire Department presented their May activity report, including staffing, overtime, bills paid, vehicle maintenance, and call volume. The department ended May with 47 personnel against a budget of 51, with two retirements and two promotions during the month. Overtime totaled 572 hours, costing $33,796.11, due to vacancies and new firefighter training assignments. Vehicle maintenance costs were nearly $11,000, largely for Engine 6 repairs, with significant savings attributed to in-house repairs by the vehicle maintenance committee. A new Engine (Engine 5) was received, purchased with FEMA grant money and city funds, and is expected to be in service soon. An aerial unit is still on order. The department responded to 622 calls in May, a slight decrease from previous years, with 356 being medical calls. Two structure fires caused an estimated $65,000 in damage. EMS billing for April collected $256,275.4, and fiscal year 2026 EMS collections neared $4 million. The fire prevention bureau conducted 160 inspections and 12 smoke detector inspections. The community risk reduction report noted 25 CO detectors installed year-to-date. Training included recertification and death scene preservation. A hazardous waste pickup day held in April was a success, with plans for a similar event next year.