Wisconsin Firefighters Shocked By Rude Welcome At One Illinois Homecoming Parade

Firefighters from Beloit, Wisconsin were booed at a homecoming parade in South Beloit, Illinois recently, and now the big question is; why?!?

Major Fire Department Changes in South Beloit, Illinois

In case you haven't heard, Firefighters from Beloit, Wisconsin and now staffing the fire department in South Beloit, Illinois, and obviously, many Illinois residents are NOT happy about it.

As a former fire fighters wife, daughter, and granddaughter, I had so many questions after I saw the news about the City of Beloit taking over operations of South Beloit Fire Department. The biggest question I had was; why this is happening, and the second one I had was; how does this work?

This agreement involves two different states, so right away it seems pretty complicated, but really it's not.

An article from mystateline.com says;

a decade’s worth of staffing shortages has led the city to seek help to staff the department full-time.

Basically, South Beloit has been struggling for years to find enough part-time firefighters to cover calls, (which is an ongoing problem at fire departments all across the country), so drastic changes needed to be made.

Those changes came in the form of a never-happened-before agreement across state lines that involves the city of South Beloit paying 6 million dollars through 2029 to Beloit for 3 full-time employees to staff their fire station, engine and ambulance.

This agreement may be strange, but it does help properly protect and serve the residents of South Beloit...but some people still don't like it.

Beloit, Wisconsin Firefighters Booed at South Beloit Homecoming Parade

I completely understand why South Beloit residents aren't happy about the necessary changes made in their fire department, BUT that's no reason to take out their frustrations on innocent firefighters just doing their job.

These brave men and women receive our full respect and gratitude at all times, and thankfully, an article from FOX 32 Chicago says;

South Beloit City Administrator Sonya Hoppes told FOX6 News she feels the allegations are overblown. After talking with the firefighters, she said they received more praise than problems.

I sure hope that's true.