Dolton firefighters sound alarm on safety, leadership

Firefighters in Dolton, Illinois are sounding the alarm over safety concerns and what they say are leadership failures within their department.

Protest outside village hall

Outside Dolton Village Hall on Monday, a group of firefighters protested, claiming their equipment is unsafe and their interim chief is unqualified for the job.

According to the firefighters' union, the department has only a handful of working air packs, used by firefighters to breathe in heavy smoke. The others, they say, are broken.

A video provided by the union appears to show neglected and defective fire engines. The department is currently down to one functioning engine, forcing them to borrow a neighboring town's vehicle for effective responses.

The union has filed a lawsuit challenging the qualification of Interim Fire Chief Quention Curtis, who was appointed by Mayor Jason House in October. The union claims Curtis lacks the state-required training and education for the position.

Curtis responded, saying he is in the process of completing the necessary coursework and actively addressing equipment concerns. He pointed to $35,000 in repairs made in the last 60 days.

Dolton residents have spoken both for and against Curtis' appointment, with some expressing support for the chief and others siding with the firefighters' union.

Mayor House defended his decision, stating that he has slashed overtime pay for firefighters by $30,000 a month. The village attorney maintained that Curtis meets all criteria to serve as chief.