Archive for November 23rd, 2010

Box alarm in Barrington

The Barrington Fire Department responded to a report of smoke in a vacant restaurant at 301 W. Northwest Highway before 6:30 this evening. Companies arrived to find the structure charged with smoke and proceeded to find the source. In addition to the auto-aid that responded on the initial alarm, Barrington upgraded the incident to a Box Alarm bringing additional units to the scene as a precaution. In fairly short order, the initial companies were able to locate the fire and extinguish it without substantial damage to the structure. Most companies had picked up by 7:00PM. Mutual and auto aid was provided by Long Grove, Lake Zurich, Wauconda, Cary, Fox River Grove, Palatine, and Wheeling.

Barrington Fire Department fire 301 W. Northwest Highway

Barrington Engine 3611 in front of the building is an E-ONE Typhoon. Larry Shapiro photo

Barrington Fire Department fire 301 W. Northwest Highway

The vacant restaurant at 301 W. Northwest Highway sustained minimal damage. Larry Shapiro photo

Barrington Fire Department fire 301 W. Northwest Highway

Barrington Quint 3632 is an E-ONE Cyclone II model HP75 with it's 75' aerial shown here to the roof of the building. Larry Shapiro photo

Barrington Fire Department fire 301 W. Northwest Highway

Both Barrington units working at the scene of the box alarm at 301 W. Northwest Highway are from E-ONE. Larry Shapiro photo

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A new start for the St. Charles Countryside FPD

Dennis McGuire, Jr. found this article in the Daily Herald about the St. Charles Countryside FPD changing their name to the Fox River and Countryside Fire and Rescue Department. There has been speculation that the department would split from their contract with the St. Charles Fire Department and form a new department. One thought is that American Emergency Services which is losing a contract to run the Lakewood Fire Department in McHenry County, might run this department in Kane County.

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Thornton is on the site now

Karl Klotz has submitted photos and information for the Thornton Fire Department. This is another department in MABAS Division 24 which runs out of one station and covers 2.4 square miles. Aside from a full-time chief, Thornton relies on 30 part-time personnel to staff two Osage ambulances, two engines, one 50′ TeleSqurt, one rescue squad, and a brush rig.

They have a rather interesting mix of fire suppression vehicles. Of the four units, they have one each from Fire Max, Custom Fire, Hackney, and Pierreville (a Canadian builder). One engine is on an International chassis and the rescue has a Ford F800 chassis. The other engine features an early Spartan Gladiator cab and chassis, and the TeleSqurt has an HME 1871 cab and chassis. All the apparatus is red with the exception of Truck 747 which is painted a teal green. Karl tells us that there are several schools of thought as to the choice of color for this engine. One story apparently is that the color was the result of a contest with school children in the mid 1990s. We would be interested to know if this is the reason, or if there is another reason. Perhaps someone reading this blog has an answer. If so, please share it with us.

Thronton Fire Department HME Custom Fire TeleSqurt

Thornton Fire Department Spartan Pierreville engine

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