Inter-Department Agreement to Reduce Risk Of Service Delays Caused by Freight Trains
The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District (BCFPD) has strengthened its automatic aid agreement with the Lake Zurich Fire and Rescue Department to reduce the risk of emergency response delays caused by freight trains running through the heart of the District, Deputy Fire Chief John Feit reports.
The agreement, which required the simultaneous dispatch of personnel from both departments in response to fire-related emergencies, has been expanded to include all critical care calls for emergency medical service.
District officials took action in the wake of Canadian National Railway Corporation’s purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) Railway. Canadian National has rerouted six freight trains up to 10,000 feet long onto the EJ&E rail line, which runs across key District intersections. The number of trains will increase over the next few years, increasing the odds of District personnel experiencing delays in their efforts to respond to emergency calls.
“The modified agreement is essential to maintaining delivery of rapid emergency medical service to residents throughout the District. If our vehicles are delayed at a crossing by a freight train, units dispatched from Lake Zurich automatically become the primary response team,” Feit explains. “For the services we provide, a delay of minutes can mean the difference between life and death.”
The District is currently tracking the frequency and duration of the increased freight train crossings. Officials will use this information, along with data compiled by the Village of Barrington, to develop operational practices that maintain the integrity of District services.
“Monitoring and tracking data will help the District plan for specific needs,” Feit says. “We’re looking for patterns that offer a clear picture of how to best utilize fire department resources as the frequency of freight trains we encounter continues to grow.”
Information on BCFPD operations and activities may be found at www.bcfpd.org, or by calling 847/304-3600.
The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, in coordination with the Barrington Fire Department, protects the lives and property of residents within the District by providing emergency fire and medical service. The BCFPD serves portions of Barrington Hills, South Barrington, Lake Barrington and Inverness; and unincorporated Cook, Lake and McHenry Counties.