FAQ: Who provides my fire and paramedic services?

The Barrington Fire Department provides services to all of the Village of Barrington and the Barrington countryside Fire Protection District. The B.C.F.P.D. covers much of the surrounding Barrington Area. However, there are actually nine fire departments covering the Barrington mailing addresses.

If you are outside of the limits of the Village of Barrington, you can tell who provides your fire and paramedic services by looking at your property tax bill. The bill will identify the fire district you are covered by.
In general, the Barrington Area is covered as follows:

Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District:

• All of Barrington Hills with the exception of:
  • The N. Side of Plum Tree Rd., W. of Ridge Rd. (Fox River Grove F.P.D.)
  • The S. side of Plum Tree Rd., W. of Rock Ridge Rd. (Fox River Grove F.P.D.)
  • Areas N. of Spring Creek Rd. and W. of Meadow Hill (Fox River Grove F.P.D.)
  • Areas S. in Kane County (Algonquin F.P.D.)
• All of South Barrington with the exception of:
  • The S. end of Pentwater (East Dundee F.P.D.)
  • All of Windemere (Hoffman Estates Fire Dept.)
  • Star Ln. up to Saucer Circle & Saucer Circle in Magnolia Pointe (East Dundee F.P.D.)
  • Areas S. of the entrance to the South Barrington Club (Hoffman Estates Fire Dept.)
• Lake Barrington with the exception of:
  • Areas N. or E. of Kelsey and River roads (Wauconda F.P.D.)
  • Areas in McHenry County (Fox River Grove F.P.D.)
• Inverness:
  • Areas E. of Ela Rd. & N. of Palatine /Rd. (Palatine Rural F.P.D.)
    • Braymore
    • Harrowgate
    • The far W. end of Abbotsford in Chevoit Hills
    • Shetland Hills
    • Whispering Pines
    • The Sanctuary
    • Inverness West
    • Inverlake
    • The W. end of Glencrest
    • Hillshire Estates
    • Cedar Knoll
• Unicorporated Cook County:
  • Areas E. of Barrington and W. of Deerpath
    • The "College Streets" N. of Cornell
    • Hillcrest Acres
    • Fielding Place
    • Barrington Trails
• Unincorporated Lake County:
  • Areas near Rt. 59 S. of Scott Rd.
  • Fairhaven
  • Cuba Rd. E. of 59 to Sylvander
  • Cuba Rd. W. of 59
  • Harbor Rd.
  • Hart Rd.
  • Old Barrington Rd. to Country Estates Rd.
  • Country Estates Rd.
  • Countryside Ln.
  • Flynn Creek Rd.
  • Prestwick
  • 18th St. through 24th St., Highland Rd., & Taylor St.
  • Brandt Rd., Merton, and Scott Ave.
• Unincorporated McHenry County:
  • Hill & Dale Farm

Lake Zurich Fire Protection District:

• Biltmore
• North Barrington
• Deer Park
• Areas N. of Scott Rd. & E. of 59

Wauconda Fire Protection District:

• Lake Barrington Shores
• Lake Barrington not covered by the B.C.F.P.D
• Timber Lakes
• Tower Lakes
• Wynstone
• Fox River Valley Gardens
• Areas N. of Miller Rd.

Fox River Grove Fire Protection District:

• Barrington Hills N. of Spring Creek Rd. not covered by the B.C.F.P.D.
• Lake Barrington in McHenry County

Algonquin Fire Protection District:

• Barrington Hills in Kane County

Carpentersville Fire Protection District:

• Barrington Hills near the corner of 68 & Bateman.

East Dundee Fire Protection District:

• The South end of Pentwater in South Barrington.
• Star Ln. to Saucer Ct. in Magnolia Pointe (South Barrington)
• Rt. 59 S. of Penny Rd.

Hoffman Estates Fire Protection District:

• Windemere in South Barrington.
• Barrington Rd. S of the entrance to the South Barrington Club.

Palatine Rural Fire Protection District:

• All of Inverness not covered by the B.C.F.P.D.

FAQ: How many firefighters and paramedics work for the Fire Department?

The Barrington Fire Department employs 36 full time firefighter/paramedics, one secretary, one Fire Prevention Officer, one Deputy Chief, and one Chief. In addition, there are approximately 14 part-time firefighters who answer calls on a per-call basis.


FAQ: How many fire stations are there?

The Barrington Fire Department currently staffs three stations. Station #1 is located at 400 N. Northwest Hwy. (Rt. 14) near the Library in the Village of Barrington. Station #2 is located near the intersection of Routes 62 & 68 in Barrington Hills. Station #3 is located in Lake Barrington.


FAQ: How many firefighters & paramedics are at each station?

There are three firefighter/paramedics assigned each day to Station #2 and four or five at Station #1 including the Shift Commander.


FAQ: What are the little green signs for?

Many of the addresses in the Fire District are based on Postal Rural Route numbers. This has resulted in house numbers being out of sequence in many areas. In addition, there are numerous homes with duplicate house numbers or which have addresses that indicate a street different than their actual location.

In an effort to more efficiently locate homes in the Fire District, the District instituted Project H.E.L.P. (Home Emergency Location Plan). Commonly referred to as the "grid system", this type of system is used widely by Fire Protection Districts to provide an orderly method for identifying homes.

A number is assigned to each home based on its location from State and Madison streets in Chicago. The numbers in our area are either North or West numbers depending upon the overall direction of the street. In much of Lake County, these numbers were assigned by the County and are used as mailing addresses as well. In the remainder of Lake County and in Cook and McHenry Counties, the numbers were assigned the the Fire Department and are used for emergency reference only.

When the resident uses this number, it greatly speeds the process of finding the home in an emergency.

The cost of this program is paid for by the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District.


FAQ: Why did a fire engine come to my house when I needed an ambulance?

Most ambulance calls can be handled by two paramedics. However, when the call is more serious, or if the patient is large, or must be carried up or down stairs, more help is often needed.

When staffing permits, four firefighter/paramedics staff an engine and an ambulance. Both vehicles respond to all calls. The engine crew assists the ambulance crew until they are no longer needed, and if necessary, one of the engine paramedics goes with the ambulance to the hospital and is picked up by the engine later. If the "extra" paramedic is not needed, the engine returns to service. These engines are equipped with medical equipment, and since they are staffed with firefighter/paramedics, they can quickly respond to another ambulance call and initiate treatment until a 2nd ambulance can arrive.

When staffing is less, three firefighter/paramedics staff either the engine or the ambulance. If the call sounds serious in nature, the Shift Commander responds in a separate vehicle to assist.


FAQ: What are the flood lights on the stop lights about?

In 1999, an Opticom system was installed in the Barrington Area. Each emergency vehicle was outfitted with a special emitter, and each stoplight with a special receiver. When an emergency vehicle with its warning lights on approaches an intersection, the light recognizes the vehicle and turns the intersection to green in the direction the vehicle is traveling. So the driver knows he or she has "captures" the light, the flood light on the stop light blinks in the direction of travel. In the opposite directions, the floodlights glows solidly to indicate to other emergency vehicles that another vehicle is approaching the intersection in the opposite direction.

The cost for this system was split between the Village of Barrington and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District.


FAQ: How do you put out fires with no fire hydrants?

Almost all of the homes in the Fire District are in non-hydranted areas. To deal with that, the Fire Department has done several things.

First of all, each engine has a minimum of 750-800 gallons of water on board (as compared to the City of Chicago which typically have about 300 gallons). A single, small fire hose flows about 100 gallons per minute, so the larger tank "buys" some time to set-up water from other sources.

Next, each engine is equipped with 1100 feet of 4" hose. This hose is the size of a small water main, and can be laid on the ground to connect one engine to another.

In addition to purchasing engines with larger tanks, the District also owns a 3000 gallon tanker. This tanker is equipped with a 3000 gallon portable tank which can be placed on the ground and quickly filled through a large chute.

In the event of a fire, the 1st engine (the "attack" engine) typically starts dropping its 4" hose at the end of the driveway and begins fighting the fire with its tank water. The 2nd engine (the "supply" engine) positions itself at the end of the dropped hose and connects the hose to its pump. The supply engine can then send the attack engine its tank water…"buying" some more time. When the tanker arrives, the tank is placed on the ground near the supply engine and is filled. The supply engine can now draw from this portable tank while the tanker goes for more water.

Since one tanker making trips for water is too slow (it must typically drive several miles to a hydrant, connect to it, wait 5-10 minutes for the tank to fill, then drive back), other tankers are brought in from neighboring fire departments. The bigger the fire, the more tankers are brought in.

More complicated situations may require the use of additional engines to lay and supply additional 4" hose, or may require that more than one portable tank be used.

The Barrington Fire Department participates with neighboring departments in training in rural water supply techniques and has proven that they are capable of maintaining a water flow of 1000 gallons per minute for two hours. These efforts have resulted in the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District having an insurance ISO rating of 5, instead of the typical 9 given non-hydranted areas (the lower the number, the better). This rating results in an approximate 40-50% reduction in insurance premiums for most residents.


FAQ: Why don't you use the water from my swimming pool, or the lake in my back yard?

Swimming pools and lakes are not reliable sources of water in case of a fire. If it's winter, the pool is likely to be empty or frozen. The lake may also be frozen or be shallow and muddy near the shore. To "draft" water from a static source of water (as opposed to having it "pushed" to the engine from a fire hydrant), requires the use of stiff suction hose. Physics limits the distance that water can be pulled in this manner.

Each engine is equipped with 20 feet of hard suction hose. To be able to use a lake or a pool, we have to be able to drive a 30,000 pound fire engine to within about 12 feet of the water's edge. If it is snow covered or the soil is wet, we risk getting the engine stuck and rendering it useless. In addition, pools have a very limited water supply, and lakes are muddy and prone to clogging the pumps.



FAQ: What is a "dry hydrant"?

A dry hydrant is the pre-piping of a lake or pond out to a roadway. In many areas in the District, the nearest water supply may be a lake or pond. To be able to use this as a water supply, a large PVC pipe is laid into a deep area of the lake. This pipe extends back out to the street and is fitted with a "head" which allows a fire engine to connect its suction hose to it. The engine can then pull water from the lake and can pump it through 4" hose to other engines at the fire scene.

Since the pipe is set low in the lake, freezing is not a problem. In addition, the head is fitted with a strainer to help keep from clogging the engine.

If you believe you have a lake or pond which would be good for a dry hydrant, please contact the Fire Department. We will determine if the water is suitable for a dry hydrant and will provide information for the its construction. The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District will supply the "head" end of the dry hydrant.


FAQ: How much training is required to be a paramedic?

Before you can be a paramedic, you must become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). This course is typically 100-150 hours and requires a 6 month internship before you can be accepted to a paramedic class. The EMT class covers the basics of anatomy and physiology and includes extensive first aid training including the use of oxygen and CPR. In some jurisdictions, the EMT's may also be trained in starting IV's and in the use of defibrillators.

Paramedic training is comprised of 1200 hours of classroom and skills training. Paramedics are trained in reading EKG's, starting IV's, and administering medications. In addition, advanced training is received in maintaining airways including intubation and cryothryrotomies. Advanced training is also received in treating many serious medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, shock, breathing disorders, and allergic reactions. Additional training is received in the care of severe trauma.

Each paramedic must receive a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education each year to remain certified.


FAQ: How much training is required to be a firefighter?

The Barrington Fire Department will train part time "paid-on-call" firefighters starting with an initial 40 hour basic firefighting course and weekly training. As able, these paid-on-call firefighters will work toward State Certification as a Firefighter II.

The full time firefighter/paramedics are all trained to the Firefighter II level. This certification requires approximately 400 hours of training.

Once completed, most firefighters will continue on to other certifications such as Fire Apparatus Engineer, Firefighter III, Fire Officer I & II, and Hazardous Materials Operations. Each of these certifications requires 40 hour modules of training, insuring that the active firefighter will never be bored.


FAQ: How can I become a firefighter?

If you live in the Village of Barrington or the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, the Barrington Fire Department would gladly consider you for its paid-on-call staff. The Department will provide all training and equipment, and will pay you for each time you respond to a call. If you think you are interested, please contact the Fire Department for an interview.

If you are interested in full time employment, you must be a State Certified Firefighter II and State of Illinois Certified Paramedic to apply to the Barrington Fire Department. Competitive testing of these applicants is performed every two years.

If you do not already have this training, consider applying for a paid-on-call position first. You may also check with other departments in the area. Many do not require training prior to employment.


FAQ: My doctor is not at Good Shepherd...will you take me to his hospital?

Maybe.

Several factors must be taken into account when we are asked to transport a patient to a hospital that is not the closest.

First of all, it is mandated by the State that we transport to the closest hospital unless there is a clear reason to go elsewhere. Even when there is a clear reason to transport to a further hospital, there are limits on the additional transport time that will be tolerated. We must receive permission from the closest hospital to transport to the alternate hospital.

Most importantly, is the patient's condition. If we are concerned with the stability of the patient, we will transport to the closest facility without exception. These patients need to be stabilized immediately at the nearest hospital, and can be transferred later to the preferred hospital.

Other factors we consider involve our ability to continue serving our residents. If there is no pertinent reason for transporting to the further location, such as for minor injuries, we will transport to the closest hospital. This will allow us to return to service faster. Similarly, if we have multiple calls in progress, and will end up leaving the jurisdiction uncovered, we will have to transport to the closest facility.

We realize that patients feel more comfortable being treated at their preferred hospital. Please call us even if you want to go to a different hospital. The paramedics will evaluate the situation and explain the options. If we can accommodate your wishes, we will try hard to do so.