THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’

In 1978, Chief Glen Ayers brought about a major restructuring of the Evanston Fire Department (EFD), drawing inspiration from the innovative organizational model used by the Oklahoma City Fire Department. This new structure made the EFD more centralized, with the chief acting as the CEO and the deputy chief serving as the COO. As a result, the chief no longer automatically responded to large fires or emergencies.

Chief Ayers also reorganized the department into four key divisions: Operations, Training, Fire Prevention, and Personnel. Division chiefs could be selected from any rank within the department, not just assistant chiefs. This meant that leadership roles were more fluid and subject to change at the chief’s discretion. Additionally, these positions were not civil service ranks, so division chiefs could be replaced at any time without formal process.

Two of the previous assistant chiefs who had served as shift commanders were promoted. Assistant Chief Robert Brandt became Deputy Chief and head of the Operations Division, while Assistant Chief John Becker took on the Personnel Division. Assistant Chief Richard Schumacher retired, and Assistant Chief Robert Schumer was appointed to Fire Prevention, while Assistant Chief Sanders “Sam” Hicks took charge of Training.

Three senior captains—Joe Planos, Ed Majkowski, and Bill Moore—were promoted to shift commander positions, replacing the previous assistant chiefs. Like the division chiefs, shift commanders were not civil service positions and could be removed at any time. New roles were also created: Capt. Len Conrad became Medical Officer, Capt. James Mersch Jr. took on Fire Prevention Officer, and Capt. Tom Linkowski became Public Information Officer. Three firefighters were assigned as fire prevention inspectors and investigators.

Shift commanders still used station wagons for transport, but the EFD updated its fleet in 1977–78, replacing station wagon-based ambulance units with sedans and compact coupes. Radio call signs also changed slightly. The chief remained F-1, the shift commander F-2, and other officers were given call signs based on the last two digits of their phone numbers. For example, Chief Brandt (866-5927) was F-27, and Fire Equipment Mechanic Jerry Czarnowski (866-5917) was F-17 when on duty in the utility van.

Many longtime members of the EFD were uneasy with these changes. During Ayers’ tenure, 31 firefighters retired—about seven per year—compared to only two per year under his predecessor, Al Hofstetter, over 36 years. The addition of a second ambulance in 1977 and increased command staff in 1978, along with staffing shortages due to "Kelly Days," led to reduced personnel on Squad 21, the busiest unit from 1963 to 1975.

Squad 21, which had been equipped with a 1965 International pumper-squad, was replaced in 1978 with a Chevrolet Penn Versatile Van (known as the “Pie Truck”) to handle rescue operations. It often worked alongside the ex-Skokie F.D. Cadillac ambulance. However, by 1980, Squad 21 was taken out of active service, and minimum staffing per shift dropped to 26—the lowest since the mid-1920s, when Evanston's population was much smaller.

The EFD was not only changing structurally but also demographically. In 1976, Miriam Boyle became the department’s first female firefighter, though she left in 1979 after being trained as a paramedic. Paulette Hojnacki joined in 1981 and resigned three years later. Meanwhile, legal challenges regarding racial discrimination in hiring and promotions were nearing resolution.

In response to lawsuits, a “blacks-only” promotional test for Fire Captain was offered in 1980. While controversial, it resulted in three African American firefighters—Samuel Boddie, Samuel Hunter, and Milton Dunbar—being promoted. After Chief Ayers left for Colorado, veteran firefighter Sanders Hicks became chief in 1981, becoming Evanston’s first African American fire chief.

During this period, several major fires occurred, including the destruction of the Rust-Oleum lab in 1977, Michelini’s Restaurant in 1978, the North Shore Electric warehouse in 1979, and the J. P. Schermerhorn condos in 1980. Other notable blazes included the Northern Weathermakers warehouse in 1980 and the Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in December 1980. A fire at The Orrington Hotel in 1981 occurred after Ayers had left, but all occupants were safely evacuated.