So if you call 911 in Chicago for a medical emergency, what do you think is more likely to show up at your door — a fire truck or ambulance? The answer, surprisingly, is a fire truck. And usually fire personnel can’t help you if you’re having a medical emergency like a stroke.

So why does the city’s emergency dispatch send fire trucks to show up for non-fire emergencies and how can those first responders help in the future?

Morning Shift talks to WBEZ reporter Monica Eng who has been digging into this issue for Curious City, the project where listeners ask the questions and WBEZ reporters find the answers. The question for this story came from none other than Todd Stroger, former alderman and president of the Cook County Board.

Audio available after show airs.