Illinois Emergency Response Policy

Emergency Response Policy

• This policy ensures safe and appropriate responses to emergencies while prioritizing the safety of both firefighters and the public.
• The policy requires compliance with Illinois laws and regulations during emergency response operations.

Definitions

• An “authorized emergency vehicle” refers to the fire department's vehicles, as defined by Illinois law.
• “Emergency response” encompasses a wide range of situations including:
  • Fire, explosion, or violent rupture
  • Human rescue or entrapment
  • Illness or injury
  • Hazardous materials release
  • Flooding
  • Acts of violence
  • Explosives or bomb threats
  • Terrorism
  • Natural disasters
  • Other situations posing threats to life or property.

Emergency Calls

• Fire personnel responding to an emergency must proceed immediately, activate emergency lighting equipment, and utilize sirens as deemed necessary, adhering to Illinois state law.
• Even while operating emergency lights and sirens, drivers must operate with caution and consideration for the safety of everyone.
• Emergency lights and sirens should only be utilized when responding to an emergency call, or when circumstances indicate an immediate emergency response is necessary.
• Personnel not authorized for emergency response with lights and sirens must abide by all traffic laws and proceed without the use of emergency lights and sirens.

Multiple Emergency Vehicle Responses

• When multiple apparatus respond to a situation, operators must maintain awareness of other emergency vehicles and prioritize caution.
• Drivers must acknowledge that vehicles yielding to one emergency vehicle may not expect additional emergency vehicles to follow.

Initiating an Emergency Response

• If a Lieutenant deems an emergency response to a call as appropriate, they are required to immediately notify Dispatch.

Responsibilities of Responding Personnel

• Authorized emergency vehicle operators must prioritize safety and exercise sound judgment while driving.
• Drivers must reduce speed at intersections and come to a complete stop at blind intersections or intersections with traffic signals or stop signs.
• A full stop is also required at any intersection where the driver believes they cannot safely account for traffic or when vehicles have not yielded the right-of-way.
• After a full stop, an emergency vehicle can proceed only when it is safe to do so.

Emergency Vehicle Operation

• Emergency vehicle operators may, while operating lights and sirens, legally take certain actions:
  • Park or stand anywhere necessary
  • Proceed past red lights or stop signs, but only after a safe, cautious slow down.
  • Exceed speed limits, as long as it does not endanger life or property.
  • Disregard direction of movement or turning regulations.
• The decision to continue an emergency response rests with the assigned officer or the emergency vehicle operator.
• If conditions such as heavy road traffic don't permit safe emergency response, the response may proceed without lights and sirens at the legal speed limit.
• In such cases, dispatch must be promptly informed.
• Emergency responses can also be discontinued upon the instruction of any supervisor.