Firefighters booed at South Beloit homecoming parade

SOUTH BELOIT, Ill. (WTVO) — Residents booed firefighters during a South Beloit homecoming parade and football game this weekend after the city entered a staffing agreement with a firehouse across the Wisconsin border, according to the fire department.

According to city administrators, staffing issues at the South Beloit Firehouse, at 429 Gardner Street, forced the city to make a deal with the Town of Beloit Fire Department to provide a rotation of full-time employees.

The Town of Beloit firefighters began working in South Beloit on Friday at 7 a.m.

“This has been a hot topic around the Stateline area for several months,” the Beloit Township Fire Department wrote. “Whether you believe in this decision or not, the crews are doing the best that they can. It is very disheartening that the ambulance crew was booed and yelled at during the homecoming parade and at the football game. Rather then doing this, please reach out to your local counselors, board members or the fire chief for any concerns that you may have.”

“Let the firefighters/medics do their jobs without feeling threatened,” fire officials said following the parade Friday night.

Authorities said the part-time South Beloit firefighters were offered full-time positions in the new outfit but did not say how many joined the force.

According to City Administrator Sonya Hoppes, the agreement is the first time in United States history that a community in one state has relied on emergency services provided by a neighboring state.

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