Alderman Raises Concerns Over Chicago's New Defensive Firefighting Policy

    June 25, 2025
    Chicago Fire Department changed their SOG following an OSHA recommendation on limiting initial interior attack operations.

    The Chicago Fire Department's new defensive attack policy has an Alderman concerned about the safety of residents and questioning whether they will be held liable for deaths as firefighters are not allowed inside when they arrive.

    According to the policy, crews staffed with four firefighters - about a quarter of the on-duty companies - will only be allowed to enter the structure if a victim is visible until a second firefighting crew arrives on scene.

    “What happens if there is a victim in there that we did not go and save? What if there’s a person whose family member was in there, and they saw the firemen just standing there because this new policy doesn’t allow them to go into the building?” 15th Ward Alderman Raymond Lopez asked WGN9. “How many lawsuits will the city of Chicago taxpayers be on the hook for because of this policy?”

    The new SOGs outline that the first-due fire officer must stay outside the building to command the incident until a chief officer can assume command, while the driver operates the pump and a firefighter establishes a water supply. That leaves just one firefighter for fire attack and search efforts on the four-person crews.

    “There’s going to be a lot of buildings burning down and potential death,” Chicago Fire Fighters Local 2 President Patrick Cleary told the television station.

    The policy states firefighters can only go inside if they see a victim or a bystander tells them someone is inside the building.

    According to Cleary, the new policy stems from an OSHA report following the 2023 line-of-duty death of Lt. Kevin Ward. Ward and two others were trapped in the basement of a house fire and he later died of injuries he sustained in that fire.

    “Because of all the deaths we have had, OSHA told them, You need to make changes,” Cleary said. “And for some reason, they think that this is a good change. This is going to make manners even worse, not better.”

    About the Author

    Peter Matthews | Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director

    Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.        

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