While the economy is forcing some local taxing bodies to cut back on staff, the Lemont Fire Protection District is seeing a boost in its employee base.

This month, the district will swear in four new firefighters who have completed their probation period, bringing the employee total to 54. And fire officials hope to add two more firefighters to the crew before the end of the year, said Fire Chief Carl Churulo.

“Living within our limit” is the reason the district can add more staff instead of laying employees off,” Churulo said.

“We’re being very cautious and careful with our money,” he said. “We’ve done OK so far.”

In 2006, taxpayers approved a referendum by the Lemont Fire Protection District to bring more firefighters on board. To date, 12 have been hired. The money to pay for the four firefighters, which equals about $202,684, comes from the district’s existing budget.

The Lemont Fire Protection District covers an area of about 40 square miles and serves Lemont, portions of Woodridge, Darien, Bolingbrook and Homer Glen. Officials work out of four fire stations.

Churulo said the district is not likely to get any larger, though more houses and warehouses continue to be built. Fire officials are also kept busy because of the Veterans’ Memorial Tollway extension.

“We’re out there all the time doing what we need to do,” he said.

Dave Spivak, president of Lemont Professional Firefighters Local 3966, lauds the district’s leadership.

“With Churulo in there, things are going very good between the union and management,” he said. “I honestly can’t complain.”

Since Churulo took the post in 2004, the district has also taken in nearly $1 million in federal grant money. The latest grant was $120,000, received earlier this year from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency to improve emergency communications.

In October, three fire personnel received promotions. Battalion Chief Jay Nickleski was promoted to deputy fire chief to take the place of longtime employee Richard Stech Jr.  Lt. George Rimbo was promoted to battalion chief and firefighter Scott Lippe to lieutenant.

“Good things are happening right now,” Churulo said.