Overview - Gurnee Fire Department
Overview - Gurnee Fire Department
The Fire Department currently protects approximately 60,000 people in a 30 square mile area, with a daytime population in excess of 150,000. Areas protected by the fire department are divided between the Village and Warren-Waukegan Fire Protection District, as well as the city of Park City, Illinois.
Although the daytime population remains fairly constant throughout the year, Six Flags (which is seasonal May-December) accounts for approximately 3,000,000 visitors a year. Tourism and employment throughout the Village of Gurnee account for the bulk of the remainder of our daytime population.
The department provides 24-hour fire and rescue services. All firefighters are also required to be licensed paramedics. The department headquarters (Fire Station 1) is located at 4580 Old Grand Ave. Fire Station 2 is located at 6581 Dada Dr. Fire Station 3 is located at 5330 Manchester Dr., #3.
The Village of Gurnee is currently ranked at a class 3 ISO (Insurance Services Offices) rating. (In Illinois, the Village of Gurnee ranks in the top 14.5%). The ISO ratings help to establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties. This is done by ranking a city's fire suppression abilities on a scale of 1 (best) to 10 (worst). The Fire Department is also part of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) which systematically provides increased emergency resources to neighboring towns during an ongoing emergency.
In calendar year 2019, the department responded to 7,171 calls, of which approximately one-third were fire and two-thirds were EMS based, including rescue calls, car accidents, and specialized rescues.
The department has five major divisions:
- Fire Administration
- Fire Prevention
- Training and Information Services
- Emergency Services
- Support Services
The fire department is headed by the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Training/Medical Officer, three Battalion Chiefs, and nine Lieutenants. The department has 48 full-time civil service FF/PM, two civilian Inspectors, one Chaplain, and one Management Analyst. Our organizational chart has a breakdown of current employees and positions.
In addition to the day to day operations of firefighting, EMS, and training in both areas, the Fire Department is also proactively involved in Fire Prevention, Public Education, Public Safety, Gurnee Days, and Specialized Rescue (including Dive Rescue, Hazardous Materials, High Angle, Confined Space, Trench, and Structural Collapse).
