PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – After three months with the Peoria Heights Fire Department, Interim Chief Tony Ardis is leaving.
The announcement was made at Tuesday night’s Village Trustees meeting.
Ahead of his departure, Ardis has been tasked with telling the board what the department’s weaknesses are, and how to move forward.
Ardis says the department is not in a good place with manpower and backup when it comes to structure fires.
“The way it’s set up now, if a structure fire comes in the Village of Peoria Heights, and a box is called, we get one engine from Peoria…plus a battalion chief from Peoria. And, then the outside agencies bring equipment. In no way, shape or form, is that safe,” Ardis says.
The interim fire chief says the Village’s firefighters need additional support from surrounding departments, including Peoria, for their safety and for the safety of residents.
Ardis presented the trustees with two options…contracting with the Peoria Fire Department, which he knew they would not approve, or entering into an agreement with Peoria Fire.
“Now what that means is this…if a structure fire comes in, if a cardiac arrest comes in, or if a vehicle extrication comes in, Peoria (Fire) will be dispatched at the exact same time as Peoria Heights (Fire),” Ardis says.
A date for Ardis’ last day has not been released.
The Village trustees must now determine how much they want to pay Ardis’ replacement, and what qualifications they will require for the job.
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