Rockford firefighters and area nurses perform home visits

It's a bit ironic, but fire departments are working to reduce the very need for their services—just like social service agencies. While many municipalities require smoke detectors in new homes, local fire departments often offer free ones to residents of older homes and conduct home safety inspections to spot potential fire risks. In commercial buildings, especially high-rises, automatic sprinkler systems are now mandatory. Even the number of wildfires caused by discarded cigarettes has dropped by 90% according to the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station.

The result? Fewer fires across the country. Rockford is no different. In 2014, the city reported 638 structure and non-structure fires, a 20% decrease from 796 in 2005. However, despite this decline, the Rockford Fire Department has seen a steady increase in call volume—rising by about 3% annually. Last year alone, they handled 26,010 calls, with only 2.45% related to actual fires. A staggering 80% of those calls were for EMS or search and rescue operations.

This growing trend is largely driven by the aging Baby Boomer population. For example, between January 1 and September 30, 2014, just 20 individuals accounted for 192 emergency room visits at SwedishAmerican Hospital. To address this, the Rockford Fire Department partnered with SwedishAmerican Hospital to launch a pilot program called Mobile Integrated Healthcare. The initiative targeted a group of around 20 “frequent fliers”—people who made multiple 911 calls and relied heavily on ambulance services.

Bob Vertiz, the EMS coordinator for the Rockford Fire Department, worked alongside two nurses trained in case management and social work. They visited these individuals at home, checking for fire hazards while ensuring patients were following their medication schedules and attending medical appointments. They also addressed any other health concerns raised by the patients.

“Most of these people have real health issues,” said Knott. “The goal of this program is to connect them with the right care. Just picking someone up and taking them to the hospital isn’t always the solution. We need long-term support, and that’s what this program offers.”

The results of the pilot program are expected to be shared at the November Rock Stat meeting. While expanding the program may involve short-term costs, it could lead to significant savings over time. Each ambulance and fire truck response to a medical call can be expensive, so reducing unnecessary trips could benefit both the city and its residents.

“We’re not just focused on money,” Knott added. “Our priority is patient care.”

Heather Schafer, CEO of the National Volunteer Fire Council, noted that volunteer fire departments are also seeing similar trends. With fewer fires and more EMS calls—often 80% of their workload—many departments are struggling with limited resources. “Firefighters are being cross-trained, and funding is a big challenge,” she said. “Training, equipment, and apparatus all add up—like a lot of chicken dinners.”

Cherry Valley Fire Protection District Chief Craig Wilt explained that his department has 15 full-time and 30 paid-on-call firefighters. He said that EMS calls make up 75–80% of their total call volume. “As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, we expect even more EMS calls in the future,” he said.

To manage the rising demand, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center offers free paramedic training. However, certification can take up to two years, which means other firefighters must cover shifts, leading to overtime costs. “One way to cut down on that expense is to hire only those who are already certified as paramedics,” Wilt said.

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