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Editorial on the Barrington FD & FPD split
The Lake County News-Sun recently published an editorial examining the ongoing tensions between the Barrington Fire Department and the Barrington Countryside Fire District. The piece highlights a growing concern over how these two fire departments are managing their responsibilities, funding, and jurisdictional boundaries.
When fire departments get caught up in disputes over which department gets which equipment, or who covers which costs, residents are left wondering if the real mission of saving lives and protecting property is being compromised. After all, the purpose of a fire department isn’t to argue over budgets—it’s to respond quickly and effectively when emergencies arise.
Efficient fiscal management is expected from local fire departments, but when they start fighting over jurisdiction and resources, it can create unnecessary tension among residents. In Barrington, this issue has been simmering for years, with communities debating who should pay for what in the 45-square-mile area surrounding the town.
In contrast, Antioch resolved similar issues by merging its emergency services, eliminating confusion and redundancy. But in Barrington, civic leaders took a different path—choosing to go their separate ways instead of finding a collaborative solution.
This year, the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District officially severed ties with the village, and the move was largely driven by financial concerns. As a “paper district,†it had been paying Barrington to protect its affluent suburbs. However, Barrington officials claimed they were covering services they weren’t using, leading to the decision to cut the connection.
The first real test of this new arrangement came on April 9, when a house fire broke out at 1025 S. Grove St. The Countryside fire trucks arrived in 5 minutes and 35 seconds, while Barrington’s closest station was just minutes away. Despite having a reciprocal service agreement, Barrington crews were never called.
According to the Barrington fire chief, two minutes can be the difference between life and death in a residential fire. He criticized the Countryside department for refusing to let his team assist, saying they were told to "mind their own business." This incident raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the separation and whether it might actually be putting people at risk.
While the split may have resolved some administrative conflicts, it has created a more dangerous situation—one where response times could be delayed, and cooperation between departments is now questionable.
Residents around Barrington are now watching closely, hoping that the lessons from this event will lead to better coordination and a stronger commitment to public safety. After all, no one wants to see a fire department become more focused on politics than on protection.