PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (WMBD) -- Peoria Heights, with an interim fire chief and a small team of firefighters, came up with a plan to reduce response times that could save lives.

The proposal at the Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday night would have the Peoria Fire Department automatically dispatch to Peoria Heights emergencies.

While there is a mutual aid system in place between Peoria, Peoria Heights and surrounding municipalities, support can't be called until a Peoria Heights first responder asks for backup.

This change to an automatic aid system would allow Peoria to immediately respond to emergencies, which some trustees said would reduce response times by a few minutes.

It would also allow Peoria Heights firefighters to join the Peoria Fire Department's training sessions.

"We have

See Full Page