Archive for May, 2011

Historical programs offered by the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago

Fire Museum Program Reviews 1946 LaSalle Hotel Fire
And Crib Fire that Trapped Workers in Offshore Inferno in 1909
Two Chicago fires that together took over 100 lives in the first half of the 20th Century will be revisited in a program presented by the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago on Saturday, June 11, at the Chicago Quinn Fire Academy, 558 W. DeKoven St.
  • First on the 10 a.m. program will be a presentation by a maritime historian on a fire that killed 50 workmen trapped on the Dunne water intake crib off 68thStreet in Lake Michigan on a freezing winter night in 1909.
  • The other tragedy to be reviewed is Chicago’s most disastrous hotel fire, a fast-spreading early morning blaze that took 61 lives at the LaSalle Hotel @ LaSalle and Madison Streets, on June 5, 1946, and led to strengthened fire safety laws.

Anyone interested in Chicago history and the fire service is welcome to attend.  The Fire Museum of Greater Chicago, at 5218 S. Western, will itself be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the following Saturdays through the rest of 2011: June 25, July 30, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 29 and Nov. 26.

Tags: , ,

Wilmette historic gallery is added

Wilmette Fire Department history

Apparatus photos dating back to 1958 representing the Wilmette Fire Department have been assembled into a gallery which is accessible through the ‘Historic Photos’ button on the pages depicting the Wilmette stations. Images to date are from Bill Friedrich, Karl Klotz, and Larry Shapiro plus several from the collection of Jeff Schielke.

Wilmette Fire Department E-ONE Cyclone engine

In years past the fleet consisted of Seagrave apparatus and then beginning in the 1980s the department started to move the fleet to include units built by E-ONE. Today, as in years past, Wilmette staffs two stations, though the manner in which they run apparatus has changed. The west station, Station 2 runs an engine plus an ambulance and is home to the spare engine. The headquarters station has a battalion chief, an ambulance, and a tower ladder. On any given day if they are at full manning, the squad will be put into service to chase the ambulance. In reserve at this station is another tower ladder which insures that they will always have a tower in service regardless of maintenance or other issues that require taking the frontline piece out of service.

Throughout the 70s and into the mid-80s Wilmette had two trucks on the roster like they do today. They ran a 1962 Seagrave mid-mount ladder truck and a 1975 Seagrave 55′ Snorkel.

Wilmette Fire Department history

Sadly, we don’t as of yet have images of the Cadillac ambulances.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills is added to the site

Algonquin-Lake In The Hills Fire Protection District

Algonquin-Lake In The Hills Fire Protection District headquarters station 1. Larry Shapiro photo

The Algonquin-Lake In The Hills Fire Protection District is in both MABAS Division 2 and MABAS Division 5. The district operates out of three stations with the headquarters residing in Lake In The Hills on Algonquin Road. They recently took delivery of two units from Ferrara; an MVP pumper on the Igniter chassis, and a rear-mount tower ladder on an Inferno chassis. They also have two new ambulances by Medtec on Freightliner M2106 Business Class chassis. The other two frontline engines are a pair of twin KME Predator rescue pumpers. The listings are not yet complete, but the balance of the images should be posting soon.

Algonquin-Lake In The Hills Fire Protection District Ferrara Igniter MVP

Algonquin-Lake In The Hills Fire Protection District

Ambulance 151 is the older of two recent purchases from Medtec on Freightliner chassis. Larry Shapiro photo

Algonquin-Lake In The Hills Fire Protection District

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Long Grove lightning strike 5-29-11

During the height of the early afternoon storm system that passed through the Chicago area, fire departments in the northwest suburbs were quite active responding to lightning strikes. Within the span of less than an hour, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Countryside, Palatine, Long Grove, and Barrington Fire Departments all had lightning strikes within their districts. The Lincolnshire-Riverwoods call turned out to be a lighting strike with no fire, and the Palatine response was also a lighting strike with minimal damage. Countryside had smoke showing from a four-story residential building and upgraded the alarm to a working fire response before requesting a MABAS Box Alarm for change of quarters companies only.

Long Grove had a fire on Muirwood Court which they upgraded to a Code 4 alarm and during that incident Barrington went to a MABAS Box Alarm for a fire in Inverness. When the Long Grove fire came out, the Palatine incident was still going on as was the Countryside Box Alarm. As such, RED Center had to scramble a bit to get other companies to the scene which would normally include both Palatine and Countryside.

When Barrington upgraded their fire to a Box Alarm, they too had to find replacement companies for Long Grove and Wheeling, both of which were committed at the Long Grove fire. Two tankers and an engine due to Barrington were in Long Grove and were released to respond to Barrington as the Long Grove fire had been contained.

Larry Shapiro was at the Long Grove fire and submitted several images and a video.

Long Grove Fire Department house fire lightning strike Muirwood Ct 5-29-11

Fire was showing from the gable vent on the east side of the house when firefighters arrived. The fire was reported by a neighbor as the residents were away. Larry Shapiro photo

 

Long Grove Fire Department house fire lightning strike Muirwood Ct 5-29-11

The area has only dry hydrants, the closest of which was over 2,000 feet away. Lake Zurich Engine 4 laid out their entire bed of 5" hose to reach this hydrant. Larry Shapiro photo

Long Grove Fire Department house fire lightning strike Muirwood Ct 5-29-11

Long Grove relied on their squad with 1,000 gallons on board and the 3,000-gallon tanker before the supply line from Lake Zurich Engine 4 was charged. Larry Shapiro photo

Long Grove Fire Department house fire lightning strike Muirwood Ct 5-29-11

Two cats were rescued from the home by Long Grove firefighters. Larry Shapiro photo

A gallery with more images can be found HERE.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Central Stickney FPD has been added to the site

Central Stickney Fire Protection District station

The Central Stickney FPD station at 4951 S. Lotus. Larry Shapiro photo

Central Stickney FPD patchIn MABAS Division 21, the Central Stickney Fire Protection District has now been added to the site. Central Stickney has one station which is staffed by part-time personnel. They have two ambulances, a pair of twin Pierce Enforcer engines, the first Simon-Duplex/LTI 75′ rear-mount tower ladder, and a pickup that is used by their battalion chief.  Located near Midway Airport, Central Stickney has a five square mile district which includes a portion of I-55 (the Stevenson Expressway) and a large industrial park.

Central Stickney Fire Protection District Pierce Enforcer

Engine 905 is one of two 2004 Pierce Enforcer engines. Larry Shapiro photo

Central Stickney was featured in posts HERE and HERE in the last year working at extra alarm fires.

Prior to adopting a red and white paint scheme, the Central Stickney apparatus was all white. They used to run with FMC and Howe apparatus which is featured in the historic gallery that has also been posted depicting Central Stickney apparatus dating back to the 1970s.

Central Stickney Fire Protection District Duplex Howe Grove ladder

Central Stickeny used to run with this 1971 Duplex/Howe 1250/0 85' Grove ladder. Bill Friedrich photo

Central Stickney Fire Protection District Simon-Duplex LTI 75' tower ladder

Currently, Central Stickney operates the first 75' tower ladder made by LTI.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago Engine 2

From atop a downtown high-rise, Dan McInerney submitted an interesting image showing Engine 2, the new fire boat, docked outside the marine headquarters. Behind Engine 2, Engine 58 is visible as is a small Coast Guard vessle leaving to go on patrol.

Chicago Fire Department Engine 2 fire boat Christopher Wheatley

Chicago Engine 2 moored at their new quarters with the Chicago Marine Unit and the local Coast Guard unit. Dan McInerney photo

Tags: , , , , , ,

Chicago 2-11 5-28-11

Chicago responded to a reported fire in a church at 3450 W. 15th Street around 6AM this morning. First arriving units encountered heavy smoke and fire in a 50×150 2 1/2-story brick church and immediately requested a Box Alarm. Tower Ladder 5 and Squad 1 went to work right away before a special call was made for the reserve Snorkel. Fire was traveling fro the front towards the rear of the structure and a 2-11 Alarm was sounded.

Companies made quick work of knocking down the fire and preventing further spread. The majority of the 2-11 companies were never used.

Gordon J. Nord, Jr., Tim Olk, and Steve Redick went to the scene though the fire was basically out prior to any of them arriving. Tim and Steve submitted several images.

Chicago Fire Department 2-11 5-28-11 15th Street

Engine 38 was the first engine on the scene and was on a hydrant on 15th Street just past the fire building. Steve Redick photo

 

 

Chicago Fire Department 2-11 Alarm church fire 5-28-11 15th Street

Chicago Tower 5 deployed in front put their but right at the big stained glass window for a vantage point into the church. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department 2-11 Alarm church fire 5-28-11 15th Street

Firefighters from Tower 5 complete overhaul in the large window opening. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department 2-11 Alarm church fire 5-28-11 15th Street

Squad 1 was setup in the rear of the structure and put firefighters onto the roof. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department 2-11 Alarm church fire 5-28-11 15th Street

Engine 107, the second-due engine, was on the south side of the building on 15th Street in Sector 1. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department 2-11 Alarm church fire 5-28-11 15th Street

An interior view showing some of the damage to the building. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department 2-11 5-28-11 15th Street

Reserve Snorkel 1 (6-6-1) was special called to the scene from Engine 35's house but was never put to work. Steve Redick photo

 

 

A brief article by the Chicago Tribune is HERE.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

CFD Engine 109’s new house construction update

Dan McInerney visited the construction site this week for Engine 109’s new house and submitted several images documenting the progress.

Chicago Fire Department construction of new fire station for Engine 109

A view of the north side showing the front of the station and the apparatus bays. All of the interior work in the bays is complete. Piping, electrical drops and Plymovent are all installed and ready to go. Dan McInerney photo

Chicago Fire Department construction of new fire station for Engine 109

A shot showing the rear of the apparatus bays and the hose tower. Dan McInerney photo

Chicago Fire Department construction of new fire station for Engine 109

The parking lot on the north side of the station is being constructed with concrete pavers. Dan McInerney photo

Chicago Fire Department construction of new fire station for Engine 109

Closeup of the concrete paver installation. Dan McInerney photo

 

 

Chicago Fire Department construction of new fire station for Engine 109

The front entrance area will have quite a bit of glass. Dan McInerney photo

Chicago Fire Department construction of new fire station for Engine 109

The stairwell on the backside of the hose tower. Dan McInerney photo

Previous posts with photos and information on the new station construction can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Tags: , , , , , ,

New Ferrara deliveries

Ferrara Fire Apparatus delivered three area units recently with a third due shortly.

Calumet Park Fire Department – took delivery of  a 2011 HD100 rear mount tower ladder on an HME Spectr chassis (H-4681)

Calumet Park Fire Department HME/Ferrara tower ladder

Calumet Park's new Ferrara 100' tower ladder on a Spectr (HME) chassis with a 1,500-GPM pump and 300 gallons of water. Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Glenside Fire District – took delivery of a 2011 Igniter engine (H-4574) 1500/1000

Glenside Fire Distrcit Ferrara Igniter engine

Glenside Fire Department 2011 Ferrara Igniter pumper with 1,000 gallons of water and a 1,500-GPM pump. Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Huntley Fire District received a 2011 Ferrara engine on an  Ember chassis (H-4717) 1500/750

Huntley Fire District Ferrara Ember engine

Engine 944 for Huntley is a 2011 Ferrara Ember with a 1,500-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water. Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Buffalo Grove mourns the passing of Skip Hart

Buffalo Grove Fire Department Arthur 'Skip' Hart

It is with deep regret that the Buffalo Grove Fire Department announces the death of Fire Inspector Arthur “Skip” Hart. Skip, as he was known to the thousands of people he interacted with as an Inspector and Public Educator succumbed on the evening of May 25 to a long battle with cancer.

Skip retired from the fire department on May 17, 2011. His ceremony was well attended by members of the Buffalo Grove Fire and Police Departments as well as colleagues from dozens of area fire departments that Skip worked with throughout his long career. Skip was showered with gifts and received praise for his work which included educating the young and old alike about fire safety.

Skip will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. A Buffalo Grove announcement with information about Skip’s career and details about the visitation and wake can be found HERE.

Tags: ,