Hank Sajovic sent this historical reminder:
Brothers and Sisters.
Please remember the other members of the Chicago Fire Department killed in the line of duty on December 22nd. (this is in addition to the 21 in 1910)
1952 Fireman 1C Patrick Rochford Engine 82 Heart attack in quarters
1960 Battalion Chief Michael Lynch Battalion 10 (Engine 19) fell thru pole hole
1989 Fireman Kelvin Anderson Engine 107 Building Collapse Rose of Sharon Church 2950 W. Warren Blvd
Schaumburg responded to a fire yesterday in a third floor apartment on Valley Lake Drive . Firefighters encountered heavy smoke on arrival and initially had trouble locating the source until they discovered a mattress burning in a bedroom. The Daily Herald has an article HERE.
There are several sources for continuing coverage of yesterday’s tragedy that claimed the lives of two Chicago firefighters and injured many others.
updated 12AM below
Shortly before 3PM this afternoon, a plane that had just taken off from the Chicago Executive Airport (Palwaukee) reported engine problems and initiated a turn which would allow them to return to the airport. The plane lost altitude and clipped a building at 760 S. Wolf Road before crashing into the rear parking lot and hitting two cars. There were two souls on-board the plane. One of the occupants died in the crash and the other, who survived, was found on the ground roughly 30 feet from the plane by the first arriving emergency personnel. He was apparently suffering from burns and multiple fractures. The survivor was packaged quickly and transferred to a Flight-For-Life medical transport helicopter and flown to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. A comprehensive article about the incident can be found HERE. Both the Wheeling Fire Department and Prospect Heights Fire Department provide protection for the airport and as such the two departments are jointly dispatched to airport related incidents. Wheeling Engine 23 was the first fire suppression unit on the scene. Firefighters used hand lines off Engine 23 plus foam from Prospect Heights Crash Truck 39.
Larry Shapiro was at the scene and has a gallery with 100 images HERE.
The plane hit one car on impact and the resulting fire damaged several others. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters advance a foam line on the crash after the bulk of fire was knocked down by the ARFF. Larry Shapiro photo
The small plane hit several cars in the parking lot in an industrial park just northwest of the Chicago Executive Airport. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters douse the smoldering wreckage of a single engine plane that crashed in Wheeling, IL. Larry Shapiro photo
Wheeling Engine 23 and Prospect Heights Crash Truck 39 handled the suppression of the fire. Larry Shapiro photo
Paramedics transfer care of the patient to the Flight For Life helicopter crew to transport the patient to a trauma center. Larry Shapiro photo
The patient is loaded into the helicopter for the trip to the trauma center. Larry Shapiro photo
Part of the debris field is visible along the path the plane took just prior to impact. Larry Shapiro photo
One individual perished in the crash and another survived. Larry Shapiro photo
update 12AM a short cell phone video prior to the fire department arrival can be seen HERE
Dec 22
On this historic anniversary of an horrific loss for the Chicago Fire Department, the date will become the reminder for yet another tragedy. 100 years ago today, the Chicago Fire Department suffered the loss of 21 firefighters and three civilians when a building collapsed with them inside at the Chicago Union Stock Yards. At the time of today’s fire, a remembrance service was in progress at the Stock Yards Firefighter Memorial. Today’s collapse occurred after the fire at 1744 E. 75th Street had been extinguished. Initial companies encountered frozen hydrants on arrival and the fire was elevated to a Still and Box Alarm. Firefighters were in the building performing a secondary search for vagrants or the homeless who, on several previous occasions, were reported by neighboring tenants to have been in the building. The roof collapsed in the rear of the building with no apparent warning signs and trapped 19 firefighters. A mayday call was issued and the incident was elevated to a 2-11 Alarm and an EMS Plan I. Most of the firefighters were removed quickly and with non life-threatening injuries while four remained trapped. The alarm was raised further to a 3-11 Alarm with an EMS Plan II bringing a total of 10 ambulances to the scene plus 12 engines, 9 trucks, a squad, the collapse and Special Operations Units, in addition to a myriad of support vehicles and chief officers.
As the four remaining trapped firefighters were located, they were transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, and the University of Chicago Hospital. Corey Ankum, 32, who had been with the department for tow years died at Christ Medical Center and Edward Stringer, a 12-year veteran of the department, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Tim Olk was on the scene and submitted a few photos. He has a full gallery HERE.
This view from the rear shows the magnitude of the collapse and the massive amount of debris that firefighters had to deal with while searching for their trapped brothers. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters use a hand line to wet down the rubble of the building collapse that trapped 16 Chicago firefighters at 1744 E. 75th Street. Tim Olk photo
A city front end loader removes debris from the building collapse this morning that resulted in the deaths of two Chicago firefighters. Tim Olk photo
Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff talks with the fire marshal after all of the trapped firefighters were freed from the rubble at 1744 E. 75th Street. Tim Olk photo
Chicago Fire Department chief officers confer after all of the firefighters have been accounted for. Tim Olk photo
A view down the alley behind 1744 E. 74th Street were a building collapse took the lives of two Chicago firefighters today. Tim Olk photo
Chiefs talk about the tragedy that occurred this morning which claimed the lives of two Chicago firefighters. Tim Olk photo
Exhausted firefighters remove equipment from the collapse after everyone was accounted for. Tim Olk photo
A fire department candidate and a seasoned firefighter leave the scene after working to save the lives of fellow firefighters. Tim Olk photo
News media articles are available HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
Fire service blog entries are available at Firegeezer, Statter911, Statter911, and FirefighterCloseCalls 1, 2, 3.
Buffalo Grove received a call about a house fire this morning as firefighters were preparing to change shifts. When they arrived at 971 Belmar Lane, they had heavy smoke pushing out of the attached garage. Long Grove, Palatine, Arlington Heights and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods responded to assist Buffalo Grove. The fire was held to the garage.
Upon arrival, firefighters had heavy smoke in an attached garage at 971 Belmar Lane. Larry Shapiro photo
Buffalo Grove Engine 26, a 2010 Ferrara, was the first-due engine and took a hydrant across the street from the fire building. Larry Shapiro photo
Buffalo Grove Quint 27 was in the 'A' Sector and was ready to deploy an aerial master stream in the event that the fire spread. Larry Shapiro photo
Fire originated and was contained within the two-car attached garage at 971 Belmar Lane in Buffalo Grove, Larry Shapiro photo
More photos can be seen HERE.
Wheeling responded to an automatic alarm Sunday evening and found smoke emanating from the industrial facility at 301 W. Hintz Road. The source was a machine in the rear of the building. Wheeling was assisted by Prospect Heights, Buffalo Grove and Glenview. The fire was extinguished in short order with a hand line and the sprinkler system.
Wheeling Tower 42 accesses the roof of the building to check for extension and assist with ventilation as smoke escapes from the overhead door. Larry Shapiro photo
Wheeling Engine 24, a Spartan/Crimson, was due on the Code 4 upgrade. They lead out to a hydrant and supplied the sprinkler system. Larry Shapiro photo
Another shot of Engine 24 at the sprinkler connection. Larry Shapiro photo
Engine 42, running as Engine 23, was the still engine located half a block away from the scene. Larry Shapiro photo
Buffalo Grove Tower 25 was due on the Code 4 and setup in the rear of the building. Larry Shapiro photo
Prospect Heights Engine 39, built by Alexis on an American LaFrance Eagle chassis was due automatic aid on the initial alarm. Larry Shapiro photo
Large fans were used at the receiving dock to pull smoke out of the factory. Larry Shapiro photo
More photos can be seen HERE.
Dec 20
Hank Sajovic took in a Still and Box Alarm today at 4235 W. Madison. Arriving companies were met with heavy fire and smoke conditions from the two-story building which houses a mosque. Four lines were used and there was a partial collapse in the rear. The fire was contained to the building of origin which had exposures on either side of a furniture store to the east and a liquor store on the west. Engine 113, 117, and 95 lead out. Truck 26 was to the roof in sector 1 along with Tower Ladder 14.
Of notable mention at this fire was the response of 5-1-5, the new Special Operations Battalion Chief which went into service effective December 17, 2010.
Engine 113 was the box engine to 4235 W. Madison today for fire in a commercial occupancy. Hank Sajovic photo
Engine 113 went to a hydrant across Madison Street for a supply line. There is a hydrant immediately opposite the engine, but both engines 95 and 117 were using it. Hank Sajovic photo
Tower 14's basket was put to the second floor to assist with overhaul. Hank Sajovic photo
A new position created in the past week in Chicago is 5-1-5, a Special Operations Battalion Chief. The buggy seen here with shop id B-545 is a 2010 Ford Expedition. Hank Sajovic photo
Looking east on Madison Street is the Air Mask Unit and the communication van. Hank Sajovic photo
Dec 20
Steve Redick took in a Still and Box on Saturday at Taylor and Western about 6AM. Steve said that the report sounded good and that they were backing the snorkel into position when he arrived. Temperatures were in the single digits and after they some ceiling down and it was soon over. Here are several images.
Members from Squad 1 back the Snorkel into place in sector 1 on Taylor Street. Steve Redick photo
Chicago Engine 26 (D615) a 2003 Spartan/Crimson was the second engine due to this fire. Steve Redick photo
In the wintertime, companies have to be prepared to relocate to another hydrant in the event that the closest hydrant is frozen. Steve Redick photo
Engine 107 was first due to this fire. Behind the engine is Squad 1 and Truck 7. Steve Redick photo
Several hand lines were deployed in the rear of the building. Steve Redick photo
This shot from the rear shows the fire damage to the rear porch area on the third floor. Steve Redick photo
Truck 7 was the first due truck and went to the roof of the building. Steve Redick photo
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