Neighbor News
Lake Forest Firefighters Missing 8-9: An Investigation
12,000 OT hours. Baker Tilly says hire NOW. $26/household fix. EARLY ACCESS interview
**Lake Forest Firefighters Missing 8-9: A Mom's Investigation**
By Amy Pais-Richer for Lake Forest Podcast
It’s Time for Lake Forest to Serve Those Who Serve Us
Find out what's happening in Lake Forest-Lake Blufffor free with the latest updates from Patch.
When the alarm sounds in Lake Forest, it isn’t technology that responds. It’s a handful of men and women — **sometimes just eight covering the entire city** — who leave their families behind and put their lives on the line for us.
**Why People Matter More Than Machines**
Find out what's happening in Lake Forest-Lake Blufffor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Technology can enhance response times, improve safety gear, and help with planning. But in the moment of crisis — inside a burning building, during a medical emergency, on slick roads at night — it’s **human choices** that save lives. No algorithm can feel fear, compassion, or make split-second decisions when everything is on the line.
**Lake Forest’s Growing Gap**
Lake Forest is investing **millions** to renovate a new fire/police station. But while infrastructure spending grows, the fire department is stretched to its breaking point: **as few as eight firefighters cover the entire city**, a single structure fire consumes every available responder, and **national safety standards like “two-in/two-out” are often impossible to meet**.
Call volume has **increased 19%** since 2021, reaching **over 4,100 calls** this past year. This sharp rise reflects the expanded service area now covered by Lake Forest firefighters after Knollwood and Highwood dissolved their departments.
At the same time, **15 members — roughly 25% of the department — have left** in the past year due to retirement, disability, or transfers.
Each firefighter is averaging **400+ overtime hours per year**, with recovery days eliminated — conditions they describe as **“turn-of-the-century working conditions.”**
**A Simple Fix**
The **Baker Tilly Organizational Assessment (June 2024)** — commissioned by the city — recommends **hiring 8–9 more firefighters** to restore safe staffing.
**The cost? Just $26 per household per year — the price of one takeout order.**
**What You Can Do**
1. **EARLY ACCESS to the exclusive interview** on Lake Forest Podcast:
(Full public drop Sat 4 AM)
2. **Attend City Council Nov 4** — demand the Baker Tilly report be released and staffing funded.
3. **Share this** — tag a neighbor.
Lake Forest prides itself on excellence. Let’s extend that to the people who keep us safe every day.
**Amy Pais-Richer**
Author, Investigative Writer, Lake Bluff Mom
