Archive for January, 2012

Wheeling 2nd Alarm EMS Box 1-31-12

Shortly after noon today (Tuesday) the Wheeling Fire Department received a call reporting workers feeling ill at a local manufacturing facility. When the first fire department units arrived, at 750 Northgate Parkway, they recorded very high CO readings and had the facility evacuated. They began to ventilate the building as they narrowed down the source to a piece of machinery. Initially, one worker was complaining of symptoms and was transported to an area hospital. Shortly thereafter, several other workers began reporting symptoms which prompted an escalation to an EMS Box Alarm for additional ambulances. This brought Long Grove, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Northbrook, and Buffalo Grove to the scene.

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

Wheeling Ambulance 42 was designated as triage for the incident once it became clear that there were multiple patients. Larry Shapiro photo

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

The Wheeling Fire Department chief gathers information from the deputy chief in order to maintain records of all the patients needing transport. Larry Shapiro photo

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

Long Grove paramedics prepare to transport a patient to the hospital. Larry Shapiro photo

Officials appeared to have all patients under care as nearly a hundred workers waited outside for firefighters to complete ventilation to bring down the CO to acceptable levels. The Box Alarm was struck out before several additional workers made their way to the triage area and reported feeling ill. An additional four ambulances were requested to the scene as the EMS Box was reinitiated and elevated to the 2nd level. Ambulances came from Prospect Heights, Highland Park, Barrington, Glenview, and Des Plaines in addition to two Wheeling ambulances.

Larry Shapiro was at the scene and submitted several images.

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

Ambulances from Northbrook and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods arrive at the scene after the EMS Box Alarm was requested. Larry Shapiro photo

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

A worker is escorted to the Northbrook ambulance for transport to Glenbrook Hospital. Larry Shapiro photo

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

Another worker is handed off to Buffalo Grove firefighters. Larry Shapiro photo

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

Wheeling firefighters switch out air cylinders before going back into the building to monitor the venting process. Larry Shapiro photo

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

Des Plaines Ambulance 71 leaves the scene with two patients going to a hospital. Larry Shapiro photo

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

Workers approach Glenview Ambulance 8 for transport to Lutheran General Hospital. Larry Shapiro photo

workers overcome by CO at Wheeling factory 1-31-12

Ambulances from Highland Park, Barrington and Wheeling are staged before being released from the scene without patients. Larry Shapiro photo

After a total of 13 workers were transported to four area hospitals, the Box Alarm was struck out and the remaining ambulances were released.

While this incident was playing out, neighboring Buffalo Grove responded to a small fire in an industrial building a block away. They were assisted by an Arlington Heights ambulance and Northbrook Tower 12.

More riveting photos can be seen in a gallery HERE.

 

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Industrial fire in McCook 1-30-12

The McCook Fire Department responded to an industrial fire this afternoon (Monday) at 9550 Joliet Road. They encountered fire inside a tool manufacturing facility and upgraded the alarm to a Full Still bringing aid from the Pleasantview and Tristate Fire Protection District, Brookfield and Lyons Fire Departments. Evidently while an employee was welding, sparks or embers traveling into a vent ignited the filter. Flames then spread to nearby pallets.

The fire was contained to a relatively small area and produced a significant amount of smoke throughout the plant. McCook called for the new MABAS Division 10 Mobile Ventilation Unit housed in Lyons to help clear the facility.

Tim Olk was … on the scene shortly after the fire came out and submitted several images.

Industrial fire in McCook at 9550 Joliet Road 1-30-12

McCook Engine 1411, a 2001 Spartan/Luverne is on the standpipe outside the building. Tim Olk photo

Industrial fire in McCook at 9550 Joliet Road 1-30-12

The MABAS Division 10 MVU out of Lyons was put to work at the fire in McCook. Tim Olk photo

Industrial fire in McCook at 9550 Joliet Road 1-30-12

Pleasantview Quint 1539 was also on Joliet Road, Tim Olk photo

Industrial fire in McCook at 9550 Joliet Road 1-30-12

Lyons Squad 1312 was prepared to supply the Pleasantview quint. Tim Olk photo

Industrial fire in McCook at 9550 Joliet Road 1-30-12

Pleasantview Quint 1539 was on a hydrant. Tim Olk photo

Industrial fire in McCook at 9550 Joliet Road 1-30-12

Firefighters exit the roof via the main of the Brookfield truck. Tim Olk photo

Industrial fire in McCook at 9550 Joliet Road 1-30-12

The Tristate battalion chief was at the scene. Tim Olk photo

Industrial fire in McCook at 9550 Joliet Road 1-30-12

The MABAS MVU was working from an overhead door in the rear of the facility. Tim Olk photo

 

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New network TV show based in Chicago ..

Firegeezer.com mentions this morning:

This past Monday the Peacock Network announced that they had picked up the option for a new series following a proposal by the producers and have ordered a pilot episode to be produced under the title Chicago Fire (how original).  The publicity office tells us, “This action-driven drama explores the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Dept.”  Wow!

Check out the information that he has posted HERE.

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Mundelein firefighters get pay raise

The Daily Herald has an article stating that:

Mundelein’s 14 unionized firefighter/paramedics will get 2-percent salary raises and be eligible for other pay bumps under a deal approved by the village board.

The raises for the full-time firefighters will be retroactive to May 1, 2011. That’s when similar pay hikes were approved for other village employees, Fire Chief Tim Sashko said.

The firefighters had gone without cost-of-living raises for a year and so-called “step” raises, which are based on experience, for two years, said Lynne Maley of the village’s human resources department.

The average salary for the affected firefighter/paramedics is $69,063, Maley said.

Those raises will cost the village an additional $235,647 this fiscal year, Maley said.

The last few years have been a time of austerity at village hall.

Last year, Mundelein officials merged the engineering and public works departments to reduce costs. The year before, public operating hours at village hall and the staff’s work hours were reduced.

In 2009, two police officers were laid off to reduce payroll spending. Employees have been forced to take furlough days, too.

The entire article can be found HERE.

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Stickney industrial fire 1-27-12

Josh Boyajian submitted the following information:

These are images from a fire today (Friday) in Stickney. It was inside a boiler room at an industrial factory called Olympic Oil. Upon arrival they found heavy smoke pushing out of the building. Lines were stretched and the fire was knocked. Auto aid was from Forest View. These pictures were taken by Lestor Antos, a Forest View FF. 
fire at Olympic Oil in Stickney 1-27-12
fire at Olympic Oil in Stickney 1-27-12
fire at Olympic Oil in Stickney 1-27-12
fire at Olympic Oil in Stickney 1-27-12
fire at Olympic Oil in Stickney 1-27-12


                      

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CFD engines at Crimson

Josh Boyajian and Martin Nowak both spotted ‘in-progress’ images from Crimson of a new Spartan Gladiator cab and chassis for Chicago HERE.

In addition, progress photos can be seen HERE for the new engine for O’Hare Airport and HERE for the new engine for the training academy.

 

 

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Riverwoods house fire 1-27-12

A Riverwoods resident called the fire department before 5AM on Friday to report a neighbor’s house on fire. The house near Robinwood and Duffy Lanes had heavy smoke coming from one of the garages. Lincolnshire-Riverwoods firefighters arrived to find a house nearing the final stages of construction at #2 Wildflower Lane. They had heavy smoke and fire inside one of two, two-car garages that had already partially destroyed the metal overhead door. The entire house was charged with smoke. The alarm was upgraded to a working fire which brought an engine from Deerfield and a tanker from Prospect Heights.

The fire was contained to the garage and the adjoining entryway in approximately 20 minutes.

Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk were at the scene and have images.

Riverwoods house fire 1-27-12 Wildflower Lane Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD

Lincolnshire Engine 52 was the first engine on the scene and had two lines off. Larry Shapiro photo

Riverwoods house fire 1-27-12 Wildflower Lane Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD

Firefighters from Prospect Heights put water on the smoldering ruins. Larry Shapiro photo

Riverwoods house fire 1-27-12 Wildflower Lane Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD

The drywall in the garage had been completed so there was extensive overhaul to perform. Larry Shapiro photo

Riverwoods house fire 1-27-12 Wildflower Lane Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD

Firefighters continue to wet down the garage interior. Larry Shapiro photo

Riverwoods house fire 1-27-12 Wildflower Lane Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD

The roof over the garage sustained heavy charring. Larry Shapiro photo

Riverwoods house fire 1-27-12 Wildflower Lane Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD

The garage interior after the overhaul phase. Larry Shapiro photo

Riverwoods house fire 1-27-12 Wildflower Lane Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD

Quite a bit of heat and smoke entered the house from the garage. Larry Shapiro photo

 

More images can be seen HERE.

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CFD Commissioner again at odds with city IG

Statter911.com has an article about the City of Chicago Inspector General (IG) trying to dictate disciplinary measures within the Chicago Fire Department … again. At issue this time is a CFD battalion chief (BC) that allowed his adult son to ride-along and bunk-in. The IG wanted a 20-day suspension for the BC, while Commissioner Hoff dispensed a verbal reprimand.

The article quotes CFD Spokesman Larry Langford and a column on Huff Post Chicago by Alden Loury the publisher of The Chicago Reporter.

Introduced by the IG is an opinion that the commissioner’s stance has to do with his childhood. (from Huff Post Chicago):

In the opening scenes of the 1991 Ron Howard filmBackdraft, two young brothers are horsing around in the Chicago firehouse where their father works when an emergency call comes in. As firefighters ready their engine to answer the call, the younger brother beams when his dad asks if he wants to ride along.

The movie is loosely based on the lives of Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff and his older brother Raymond Hoff, third-generation Chicago firefighters whose father was killed fighting a fire in a South Side apartment building in 1962, according to media reports.

The film came to mind recently because Commissioner Hoff — presumably depicted as the younger brother in Backdraft who rode along with his firefighter-father — is now at the center of a controversy involving fire department “ride alongs.”

The Statter911 article can be found HERE, and the Huff Post Chicago article can be found HERE.

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Divers search for dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

A dog belonging to a Buffalo Grove resident went into a small lake off of Fremont Way in the Crossings subdivision on Saturday and perished. Buffalo Grove firefighters attempted to locate the dog but were unsuccessful. Buffalo Grove divers went back on Thursday with additional divers from Long Grove and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods plus the Lake County Sonar Team. After several hours of searching the area, they were unable to recover the dog and suspended the operation.

Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk went to photograph the recovery efforts and submitted several images.

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

The information on the board outlines the specifics of the recovery operation. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

Firefighters carry a boat to the edge of the lake for the dive operation. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

A member of the Lake County Sonar Team drills through the ice to insert the sonar unit. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

An inflatable boat is pulled towards the dive area to be used as a work platform for tenders. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

Another view as the dive tenders make their way across the water. Tim Olk photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

A diver receives assistance in preparing to go into the water. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

A diver is helped out onto the solid ice and walks towards the opening where he will enter the water. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

Members of the sonar team view an image of the lake and search for targets. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

The image from the sonar shows the diver and several items which could be the dog. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

After entering the icy water, a diver waits for the order to begin his search. Larry Shapiro photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

Several members of the sonar team review the images from the sonar device looking for a target. Tim Olk photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

As one diver is in the water, a second stands by on the ice and a third is ready to go from the shoreline in the event of an emergency. Tim Olk photo

Divers search for missing dog in Buffalo Grove 1-26-12

After spending the maximum time allowed under water, a diver is assisted out of the water by another diver in a cold weather suit. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry has additional images HERE and Tim has more images HERE.

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Guilty plea from Peru fire

The Times has an article referencing a court hearing for the youth charged with setting the fire in Peru, IL last month that destroyed the Westclox facility.

On Tuesday in La Salle County Juvenile Court, a 15-year-old Peru boy said “guilty” in such a low voice, the judge asked him to repeat.

The boy was admitting he set fire Dec. 31 to the former Westclox building in Peru, which gutted about 25 percent of the structure. A firefighter was also injured. The boy’s codefendant, Steven M. Gallacher, 17, La Salle, is charged in adult court, with his next hearing to be Thursday, Feb. 23.

The entire article can be found HERE, and our previous posts with photos can be found HERE and HERE.

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