Emergency calls for the Des Plaines Fire Department will be handled by a different dispatch service starting as soon as fall 2026.
The city council has formally reaffirmed its intent for the fire department to be served by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police 911 center, which already handles emergency calls for the Des Plaines Police Department.
The sheriff’s 911 center is inside the Illinois State Police District Chicago headquarters at 9511 W. Harrison St. in Des Plaines. In addition to Des Plaines police, it handles calls for about 20 other agencies, including the sheriff’s office, Metra police, Park Ridge police and the Cook County Forest Preserve police.
It recently began working with fire departments, Des Plaines Fire Chief Matt Matzl told the council Monday, Aug. 18.
The Des Plaines Fire Department has used the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center in Northbrook for 911 service since 2014. That organization has provided “quality service,” Matzl said, but having one service handle the city’s police and fire calls eliminates call transfers, improves coordination between the departments during emergencies and reduces city costs.
Third Ward Alderman Sean Oskerka praised the move to the sheriff’s 911 center. He’s especially pleased that it will eliminate call transfers, which should improve response times in emergencies.
“I don’t think people really understand how long 2 minutes is or 3 minutes is until you really have to stretch that out when you’re doing CPR or putting a tourniquet on somebody or trying to help somebody until actual help arrives,” he said during the . “It’s going to be great for our residents.”
The fire department will be able to switch 911 centers as early as September 2026, Matzl said.
The city is expected to pay the RED Center about $990,000 for fire department 911 service this year, Matzl said.
Police 911 services through the sheriff’s center are expected to cost about $1.6 million this year, a city spokesperson said.
A cost estimate for consolidated services with the Cook County sheriff’s 911 center wasn’t available.
The city council has formally reaffirmed its intent for the fire department to be served by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police 911 center, which already handles emergency calls for the Des Plaines Police Department.
The sheriff’s 911 center is inside the Illinois State Police District Chicago headquarters at 9511 W. Harrison St. in Des Plaines. In addition to Des Plaines police, it handles calls for about 20 other agencies, including the sheriff’s office, Metra police, Park Ridge police and the Cook County Forest Preserve police.
It recently began working with fire departments, Des Plaines Fire Chief Matt Matzl told the council Monday, Aug. 18.
The Des Plaines Fire Department has used the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center in Northbrook for 911 service since 2014. That organization has provided “quality service,” Matzl said, but having one service handle the city’s police and fire calls eliminates call transfers, improves coordination between the departments during emergencies and reduces city costs.
Third Ward Alderman Sean Oskerka praised the move to the sheriff’s 911 center. He’s especially pleased that it will eliminate call transfers, which should improve response times in emergencies.
“I don’t think people really understand how long 2 minutes is or 3 minutes is until you really have to stretch that out when you’re doing CPR or putting a tourniquet on somebody or trying to help somebody until actual help arrives,” he said during the . “It’s going to be great for our residents.”
The fire department will be able to switch 911 centers as early as September 2026, Matzl said.
The city is expected to pay the RED Center about $990,000 for fire department 911 service this year, Matzl said.
Police 911 services through the sheriff’s center are expected to cost about $1.6 million this year, a city spokesperson said.
A cost estimate for consolidated services with the Cook County sheriff’s 911 center wasn’t available.
