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Archive for December, 2011

CFD Command Personnel Reorganization

Dec 23

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | 8 Comments

The Chicago Fire Department is implementing several administrative changes which become effective on January 1, 2012. One order that has been released eliminates the position of District Chief and reassigns the duties to Assistant Deputy Commissioners with the exception of the 3rd District (covering the airports) which will retain a District Chief.

In addition, the 4th District is being eliminated with the battalions being re-distributed to the other districts.

 DISTRICT/FIELD DIVISION REORGANIZATION

     This Order:

  • Renders District 4 out of service.
  • Administratively reassigns battalions.
  • Modifies district and field division command positions.
  • Modifies district boundaries.

                    

Effective Sunday, January 1, 2012, at 0800 hours, District 4 will be inactive. Battalions

and command positions will be administratively reassigned as follows:

          1. Commanded by an Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner (North)

                       • District 1 – Battalions 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13 and 14

                       • District 2 – Battalions 5, 7. 8, 9, 10 and 11

          2. Commanded by a District Chief

                       • District 3 – Battalion 6

          3. Commanded by an Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner (South)

                       • District 5 – Battalions 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20

                       • District 6 – Battalions 21, 22, 23 and 24

          4. Commanded by an Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner

                      • EMS Field Division North

                      • EMS Field Division South

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Palatine updates apparatus graphics

Dec 22

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | 1 Comment

The Palatine Fire Department has begun changing the graphics on their apparatus to match the new package that was initiated with the arrival of Engine 82.  Quint 83 with the updated graphics was spotted Tuesday night at a house fire in Arlington Heights.

Palatine Fire Department Quint 83

Palatine Quint 83 with new graphics design. Larry Shapiro photo

Palatine Fire Department Quint 83

Previous graphics design.

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CFD 3-11 Alarm fire 12-21-11 – update 2

Dec 21

Posted by bgshap in Fire, Fire Service News | 1 Comment

radioman911.com has the radio traffic from the 3-11 on 38th Street in a two-part recording

12/21/11 Chicago 3-11 Factory Fire / Level 1 HazMat 3760 W. 38th St.


Watch live video from Radioman 911 on Justin.tv


Watch live video from Radioman 911 on Justin.tv

If you have trouble viewing (listening) to these recordings, the direct links are: Part 1 and Part 2.

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CFD 3-11 Alarm Fire 12-21-11 – update

Dec 21

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News, Reader submission | Comments off

Tim Olk has submitted several images from Chicago’s 3-11 this morning on 38th Street.

Heavy fire burns through the roof of the warehouse operation on 38th Street this morning as Tower Ladder 34 is positioned. Tim Olk photo

Chicago 3-11 Alarm warehouse fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

A Level 1 Haz Mat was also initiated at this 3-11 alarm fire. Tim Olk photo

Chicago 3-11 Alarm warehouse fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

The warehouse was at the dead end of a long block. Several engines pumped in-line to supply water to companies fighting the fire. Tim Olk photo

Chicago 3-11 Alarm warehouse fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

Firefighters pull hose to supply a master stream as heavy fire takes hold of the building. Tim Olk photo

Chicago 3-11 Alarm warehouse fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

A firefighter waits for water to supply the ladder pipe. Tim Olk photo

Chicago 3-11 Alarm warehouse fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

Tower Ladder 5 was using this spare tower ladder and setup at the sector 1-4 corner of the building. Tim Olk photo

Chicago 3-11 Alarm warehouse fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

Squad 1 put the Snorkel to use as an additional master stream. Tim Olk photo

Chicago 3-11 Alarm warehouse fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

Firefighters had to cut through fencing to gain access to portions of the building. Tim Olk photo

Chicago 3-11 Alarm warehouse fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

Chicago Fire Commissioner Hoff handles a morning press briefing. Tim Olk photo

Tim has a large gallery which can be viewed HERE.

 

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Berwyn 2-11 alarm fire 12-21-11 – update

Dec 21

Posted by bgshap in Fire, Fire Service News, Reader submission | 3 Comments

Tim Olk submitted several images from the 2-11 in Berwyn this morning.

house fire in Berwyn 12-21-11

Firefighters work on the roof of an exposure building. Tim Olk photo

house fire in Berwyn 12-21-11

The Bedford Park tower ladder can be seen high above the homes as Berwyn firefighters work on the roof and smoke pushes from the original fire building. Tim Olk photo

house fire in Berwyn 12-21-11

Firefighters on the roof of the other exposure building. Tim Olk photo

house fire in Berwyn 12-21-11

Firefighters work on the second floor in the building where the fire originated. Tim Olk photo

house fire in Berwyn 12-21-11

Hard to come up with a literate caption for this image - perhaps readers can provide a suggestion. Tim Olk photo

Tim has a gallery of images HERE.

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CFD 3-11 Alarm fire 12-21-11

Dec 21

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News | Comments off

Chicago had a 3-11 Alarm fire this morning in an industrial building in the 3700 block of 38th street. Steve Redick and Tim Olk were both at the scene and will have images to submit. In the mean time, Steve sent in a cellphone shot from the scene.

Chicago 3-11 Alarm Fire on 38th Street 12-21-11

Tower Ladder 5, running with a spare tower, works in Sector 1 at the 3-11. Steve Redick photo

The Chicago Tribune reports HERE that:

A firefighter and another person were injured when a stubborn extra-alarm fire broke out at a business in the Archer Heights neighborhood on the Southwest Side.

A hazardous materials alert was also issued because propane tanks were thought to be inside  San Jose Imports, a one-story commercial building at 3760 W. 38th St. But the tanks contained helium, according to Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

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Arlington Heights house fire 12-20-11

Dec 21

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News | Comments off

Arlington Heights Fire Department units responded to a reported fire in a house at 901 W. Lynwood Avenue last night and found a fire involving the furniture. Heavy smoke on arrival prompted an upgrade to the Code 4 working fire which brought Palatine and Buffalo Grove units to the scene. The fire was contained quickly, and the Daily Herald reports HERE that the house was deemed uninhabitable due to the smoke damage.

Arlington Heights house fire Lynnwood Avenue 12-20-11

The occupants of this house were not home at the time of the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

An Arlington Heights fire has forced residents from their home and caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, according to fire officials.

Firefighters responded to the 900 block of West Lynnwood Avenue just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and found smoke billowing from a ranch house, said Arlington Heights fire Cmdr. Tom Zerfass.

Arlington Heights house fire Lynnwood Avenue 12-20-11

Arlington Heights Engine 2 was the first engine on the scene at 901 W/ Lynnwood Avenue. They encountered a house that was heavily charged with smoke upon arrival. Larry Shapiro photo

Arlington Heights house fire Lynnwood Avenue 12-20-11

Charred sofas were brought out of the house after the fire was quickly extinguished. Larry Shapiro photo

 Fire officials said the blaze caused heavy fire damage to a living room, but the structure itself was not badly damaged.

Arlington Heights house fire Lynnwood Avenue 12-20-11

Arlington Heights responded with a tower ladder, two engines, two ambulances, both squad units, and the battalion chief. Larry Shapiro photo

A small gallery with images can be found HERE.

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Berwyn 2-11 alarm fire 12-21-11

Dec 21

Posted by bgshap in Fire, Fire Service News | Comments off

Josh Boyajian was on the scene right away this morning for Berwyn’s 2nd Alarm fire and submitted several shots of the scene from his cellphone and two video clips.

Berwyn house fire 12-21-11

Berwyn house fire 12-21-11

Berwyn house fire 12-21-11

Berwyn house fire 12-21-11

Berwyn house fire 12-21-11

Berwyn house fire 12-21-11

Berwyn house fire 12-21-11

The Chicago Tribune has a story HERE with more video footage.

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Fatal plane crash in Wheeling – update

Dec 21

Posted by bgshap in plane crash | Comments off

A report has been issued about the December 22, 2010 plane crash in Wheeling. The Daily Herald reports that:

A single-engine plane that crashed in a Wheeling parking lot last winter, killing a passenger and seriously injuring its pilot, had several mechanical issues in the months leading up to the fatal accident, according to a new report released by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The 1978 Beech C24R plane lost power Dec. 22, 2010, shortly after takeoff from Chicago Executive Airport and crashed in the parking lot of the Acco building near Wolf and Hintz roads.

The report does not blame the mechanical problems for the crash, nor does it issue any definitive findings about the cause. The NTSB is expected to release a report by June further detailing investigators’ conclusions.

The report states Cole initially was unable to get the engine started before takeoff that afternoon. Even after it was started with the help of a mechanic, a witness told NTSB investigators the engine did not sound right and that he heard what sounded like “burbles.”

 The complete article can be found HERE which contains a significant amount of information gathered in the fact finding segment of the investigation.
Chicagoareafire.com had other postings HERE and HERE.

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Barrington village and fire district disagree on staffing

Dec 20

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | 7 Comments

The Daily Herald has another article about to the Barrington Fire Department. This time, the article points to a disagreement between the village and the fire district over staffing.

The village of Barrington has denied a request by the Barrington Fire Protection District for the hiring of seven additional firefighter/paramedics to help serve the district’s larger area surrounding the village.

So fire district trustees Monday came up with a backup suggestion that the village move one person per shift from the fire station in Barrington to the one in Barrington Hills.

“Maybe if the village had one fewer person here (in Barrington), they might see our issue more clearly,” fire district Trustee Tom Long said.

The fire protection district is a separate taxing body serving a 46-square-mile area outside of Barrington. But the district has historically contracted the services of the Barrington Fire Department — inflated to serve the larger area.

The village has recently begun pursuing ideas to find cost savings in its fire protection services, so the fire district’s request could hardly have come at a worse time.

The article goes on to mention a study by the Illinois Fire Chief’s Association which recommends the additional personnel. The entire article can be found HERE

Previous posts about issues concerning the Barrington Fire Department can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE.

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