Video Shows Volunteer Illinois Firefighter Battle Blaze Alone After Budget Cuts Laid Off Department

An Illinois firefighter was forced to battle a blaze alone this week after budget cuts reportedly eliminated Washington Park's entire fire department.

Volunteer firefighter Dontay Brooks was forced to battle a fire alone this week after budget cuts reportedly eliminated Washington Park's fire department. (Image source: Screen grab via KTVI-TV)

According to KTVI-TV, Dontay Brooks had to contain the flames Wednesday solo so they wouldn't spread to a nearby occupied home.

“That was my main priority,” he told KSTU-TV. “I wasn’t worried about the house and I was protecting the home and the family next door.”

The Washington Park fire department has just six volunteers and it is not unusual for there to be only one firefighter on duty at any given time, KTVI-TV reported.

That's not making things easy for the volunteers who often put their lives in jeopardy to fight local fires.

"It was pretty difficult to battle the blaze alone," Brooks said.

Eventually, help from nearby fire districts arrived on the scene and assisted Brooks in battling the fire. No one was injured, KTVI-TV reported.

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