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Antioch looks into merging fire & EMS
The Lake County News-Sun recently published an article discussing the potential merger of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with the Antioch Fire Department. This comes as a result of ongoing concerns about the operations of the Antioch Rescue Squad (ARS), which has been under scrutiny following a state investigation.
Antioch officials have extended ARS’s contract for an additional 90 days to ensure continued oversight and compliance with recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health. The extension allows time for ARS to address internal issues that were uncovered during the investigation, including allegations of unprofessional conduct, breaches of patient confidentiality, misuse of medications, and even incidents where paramedics were found working under the influence of alcohol. These problems have been partly attributed to a lack of strong leadership within the non-profit organization.
Village Trustee Ted Poulos emphasized the importance of maintaining continuous oversight, stating, “I don’t want to go for any period of time without a contract.†He expressed concern that a gap in the contract could leave the village without control over ARS’s operations.
Village Administrator James Keim prepared a detailed 14-page report titled "Village of Antioch EMS Delivery Report," in which he outlined the need for change. While acknowledging the hard work of ARS staff, Keim recommended merging rescue services with the fire department to improve efficiency and service quality. He pointed out that neighboring communities such as Fox Lake, Grayslake, Lake Villa, Newport, Round Lake, and Salem, Wis., already operate their EMS through fire departments, offering higher levels of paramedic support.
According to Keim’s research, ARS currently employs 21 paramedics and 14 EMTs, while the fire department has 32 paramedics and 12 EMTs. Combining the two would create a larger, more capable team—53 paramedics and 26 EMTs—exceeding the average of 40 paramedics and 21 EMTs found in other similar communities.
The First Fire Protection District, which serves the township, has also renewed its 90-day contract with ARS. Over the next few months, both the village and the fire protection district will explore ways to better coordinate rescue services, including the possibility of a full merger.
Keim stressed that while he supports the continuation of ARS, he believes a unified command structure would be the most effective way forward. “I am not recommending the demise of ARS, but instead reaching a middle ground on the best way to provide services going forward,†he said.
Fire Chief John Nixon, who oversees the fire department, has expressed support for extending the ARS contract, though he noted that his team could quickly take over rescue operations if needed.
The article highlights a critical moment for Antioch as it evaluates how to best serve its residents with efficient and reliable emergency care.
The complete article is HERE.
Thanks, Jeff.