"The department is in a very good place right now," says Niles Fire Chief John Stevens.

He can say that with confidence, now.
Five years removed from fiscal emergency, the city has put out those flames.
That's given Stevens the freedom to lead his department on steady ground.

"Fiscal emergency brought about some bad things that we knew were going on but it also restarted us I think as a department," Stevens said.

In some ways, the department had nowhere to go but up.

"Our infrastructure was bad, our roofs were leaking we had to have all new roofs put on both stations, our HVAC systems have all been updated."

The city's one ladder truck is at the end of its lifespan, but the department and city are working together on a replacement. Grant money may help with that.
There's also a fire truck replacement fund that's always growing.

"Three years out I know the mayor has asked for big expenditures that we're looking at," Stevens said, adding that the department is now back up to a full staff of 30. He sees similar sized departments headed in the right direction too.

"We're getting our good foundation now and able to grow. Surrounding departments are definitely, they have grown."

Chief Stevens is proud of having withstood the financial downturn the city went through.
With that now distantly in the rearview mirror, he says residents can be confident the fire department will stand ready to answer every call.

"I'm positive about moving forward, I think better things are to come."