This May, Villa Park’s newest medic unit hit the road, Medic #82. It is the latest in Villa Park’s aggressive replacement plan for aging fire apparatus, which Villa Park’s 2014 Strategic Plan designates as the no. 1 long-term routine goal. Last year, Villa Park received a much-needed, new fire engine, funded in large part by a FEMA grant, allowing the Village to retire a 26-year-old engine. The Strategic Plan aims to keep fire engines on a 21-year lifecycle (14 years in frontline service and seven in reserve) and medic units on an 18-year cycle (six years in frontline service, three years in reserve, then chassis replacement before another nine-year cycle). By replacing the chassis, the Village saves nearly half the money it would cost to replace the entire vehicle. While replacing outdated equipment is a priority, the plan also aims to save taxpayers money, balancing fiscal responsibility with providing emergency services. Learn more about Villa Park’s Strategic Plan here.