Liability Concerns End Long-Time Sports Tradition In Town

It’s a long-standing Mt. Carmel tradition: A local sports team or athlete brings home the champion trophy atop a Mt. Carmel Fire Department fire truck. With lights and sirens blazing, an impromptu parade makes its way along the city streets, announcing to the entire community that someone has achieved something great.

But that is about to change.

Fire Chief Allan Kidd told the Mt. Carmel City Council this week the local department can no longer let members of the public ride on top of its fire trucks. The problem? Safety and liability concerns.

Kidd told the board it was the city’s insurance carrier that told officials about the liability exposure associated with having athletes or whole teams climb aboard a fire truck for a trip across town. So, he said, the city and School District 348 put their heads together and came up with a new set of guidelines for police and fire escorts. Not only will no one be riding atop a fire truck, but the late-night parades will be coming to an end, according to Kidd. Instead, escorts will be scheduled for the following day, typically around 5 p.m., so that fans will have prior notice and a better chance to celebrate the victory.

Kidd outlined the agreement as presented by the Mt. Carmel High School Athletic Department:

• Official escorts will be requested in the event any student team wins an IHSA conference, regional, sectional or state championship or other major achievement.

• The escort would be held the following day, at a time established by the athletic director or principal.

• Escorts would generally be held at 5-5:30 p.m., or in the afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday, giving parents or fans who work during the day a chance to participate.

• Parade routes will be determined at the time arrangements are made by the school official and city official.

• Only a principal or athletic director has authority to set up official escorts.