Archive for January, 2012

Schaumburg to replace battalion chiefs with captains

The Daily Herald has an article describing changes that the Schaumburg fire chief is proposing:

Schaumburg Fire Chief David Schumann is enacting a three-phased restructuring of the fire department’s administration that, when complete, could save the village more than $500,000 a year in salaries and benefits.

The changes are similar to those proposed last fall aimed at flattening the command hierarchy of Schaumburg’s police department, a move intended to save $300,000 annually.

While the police department’s restructuring eventually will eliminate the rank of lieutenant, the fire department now plans to drop the position of battalion chief.

The timing of the three phases are contingent upon the retirements of each of the department’s three battalion chiefs. Though the first retirement will occur in February, the other two could be anywhere from six months to many years off, Schumann said.

While battalion chiefs have historically served as the department’s shift commanders, that role would be filled by fire captains after the reorganization.

 The entire article can be found HERE.

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Photos of Schiller Park engine

Scott Peterson submitted several images that he took recently of Schiller Park Engine 455, a 2007 Pierce Impel. The engine was originally built as a stock unit by Pierce with a 1,500-GPM pump, 500 gallons of water and 30 gallons of foam. It carries Pierce job #19623.

Schiller Park Fire Department Engine 455 Pierce Impel

Schiller Park Engine 455 as seen from the front. The Impel and the Velocity share the same cab. Scott Peterson photo

Schiller Park Fire Department Engine 455 Pierce Impel

Schiller Park Engine 455 is a 2007 Pierce Impel 1500/500/30A sn 19623. Scott Peterson photo

Schiller Park Fire Department Engine 455 Pierce Impel

As seen from the rear with a low hosebed and enclosed ladder storage. Scott Peterson photo

 

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Controlled wildland burn in January

Tim Olk submitted several images of a private wildland burn recently in South Elgin. The burn took place in a suburban area surrounded by residential homes and involved grasses over 20-feet tall.

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

controlled prairie burn in South Elgin

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Cicero house fire 1-15-12

Josh Boyajian took in a house fire in Cicero Sunday night and had the following description:

Cicero had a basement fire tonight at 1225 59th ave. Engine 1 arrived and had heavy smoke showing from the basement, Truck 2 took sector 1 and laddered the roof. Engine 1 made a quick knock with dropping a 2 1/2 through the back door.  I snapped a few pics off my phone.
 Cicero house fire 1-15-12
Cicero house fire 1-15-12
Cicero house fire 1-15-12
Cicero house fire 1-15-12
Cicero house fire 1-15-12

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Chicago car fire 1-15-12

Tim Olk was at Engine 91’s house on Sunday when they were sent to a car fire on Kostner Avenue at Parker. Arriving with the engine and finding a well-involved car, Tim was able to get photos before they got water on the fire.

Chicago Engine 91 fights car fire

Engine 91 arrived to find a well-involved sedan on Kostner at Parker. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Engine 91 fights car fire

Firefighters from Engine 91 stretch a line and go to work to knock down the fire. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Engine 91 fights car fire

After the flames have been extinguished, a firefighter moves in to pop the hood. Tim Olk photo

Tim has a gallery with more images HERE.

Commercial garage fire in Wheeling 1-12-12 – update

The fire in Wheeling on the 12th has a short video now that has been added

The photo gallery is HERE.

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Chicago Still & Box at 906 N. Trumbull 1-15-12

Chicago firefighters were sent to a two-story bungalow at 906 N. Trumbull this morning for a fire in the basement. The fire spread throughout the house before companies were able to fully extinguish it. Tim Olk was at the scene and submitted several images.

The following is from The Chicago Tribune:

One person suffered minor injuries and nine people were displaced this morning after a fire broke out at a building in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the city’s West Side.

Firefighters were called out about 8:45 a.m. to a two-story building located at 906 N. Trumbull Ave., according to fire media information.

Officials said about 12 people lived in the building and one of them suffered minor injuries. A working smoke detector alerted the residents and all 12  made it out of the building.

Chicago Fire Dept Still & Box Alarm Fire at 906 Trumbull 1-15-12

Companies work on the fire at 909 S. Trumbull Avenue on the morning of January 15th. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Dept Still & Box Alarm Fire at 906 Trumbull 1-15-12

A firefighter steadies himself with a ladder to take out the second floor windows. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Dept Still & Box Alarm Fire at 906 Trumbull 1-15-12

Two lines are working inside the building as a firefighter takes out windows upstairs. TIm Olk photo

Chicago Fire Dept Still & Box Alarm Fire at 906 Trumbull 1-15-12

A firefighter works in the gangway to take out windows.Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Dept Still & Box Alarm Fire at 906 Trumbull 1-15-12

After taking a beating in the basement, a firefighter pauses for some air at the rear. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Dept Still & Box Alarm Fire at 906 Trumbull 1-15-12

Truck 36 went to the roof. Tim Olk photo

Tim has many more images which can be viewed HERE.

The Chicago Tribune article is HERE.

Chicago Still & Box at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Tim Olk took in a Still & Box Alarm Saturday morning in a vacant, three-story, courtyard building at 63rd and Stewart. He submitted several images from the scene.

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Firefighters direct a line to one of the upper floors. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Squad 5A works in Sector 3 as an engine company directs a line into a second floor window. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Multiple lines are directed into the building to hit the remaining fires. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Tower Ladder 37 maneuvered their platform into the courtyard area. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Members of Squad 5 use an acetylene torch to remove metal gates from the entrance to the courtyard. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Tower Ladder 37's main can be seen stretching into the courtyard as Squad 5 firefighters work to remove the fencing. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Firefighters work to thaw a frozen ladder so they can return it to the apparatus. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

Using steam these firefighters are trying to retract the extension ladder that is covered with ice. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department Still & Box Alarm Fire at 63rd & Stewart 1-14-12

The 18th Battalion and several firefighters pose for a group photo. Tim Olk photo

More images from the scene can be found HERE.

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Four injured in Lincolnshire crash 1-13-12

four hurt in Lincolnshire crash 1-13-12

The SUV on the left was being driven erratically and driving at an excessive speed on the wrong side of Milwaukee when it collided with the other vehicles. Larry Shapiro photo

Four people were injured in a three-car collision Friday night in front of 21661 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Lincolnshire. Police reported seeing a car driving at a high rate of speed southbound on Milwaukee Avenue in the northbound lanes where he hit two cars. The collision required the passenger in one of the three cars to be extricated. Lincolnshire was on the scene with all on-duty companies including all three ambulances. Long Grove was requested as a fourth ambulance to the scene.

four hurt in Lincolnshire crash 1-13-12

A Jeep SUV and a sedan were traveling northbound on Milwaukee Avenue when they were struck by a Honda CRV driving on the wrong side of the street. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk went to the scene but both arrived after the injured had been transported to area hospitals. The Chicago Tribune reports that:

Four people were injured when a car speeding in the wrong lane passed a cop and ran into two vehicles Friday night in Lincolnshire, according to police.

Police received multiple 911 calls about 8:50 p.m. for a reckless driver.

Police say a Honda CRV hit street signs on Half Day Road in Lincolnshire before heading south on Milwaukee Avenue.

The CRV passed a Lincolnshire police officer near Aptakisic Road at a high rate of speed and collided with a Toyota and a Jeep, police said.

One person is in critical condition with life threatening injuries …

four hurt in Lincolnshire crash 1-13-12

Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD personnel survey the crash site after the patients have been transported to area hospitals. Larry Shapiro photo

four hurt in Lincolnshire crash 1-13-12

The driver of this car was able to free himself but the front seat passenger who was listed in critical condition was trapped in the wreckage. Larry Shapiro photo

four hurt in Lincolnshire crash 1-13-12

The driver of this car was reported to have struck a street sign in Buffalo Grove prior to being spotted in the wrong lane on Milwaukee Avenue by a Lincolnshire police sergeant who witnessed the collision. Larry Shapiro photo

four hurt in Lincolnshire crash 1-13-12

Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD Squad 51 had a line off with multiple tools working to free the trapped occupant of one car. The light tower provided illumination for the scene. Larry Shapiro photo

Additional images from the scene can be found HERE.

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Harvey commercial fire 1-10-12 goes to 2 alarms – update

As a follow up to the post HERE about the 2nd Alarm fire in Harvey on the 10th, Tim Olk submitted several images from the scene.

2-alarm commercial fire in Harvey IL 1-10-12

Firefighters standby at the scene of the commercial fire in Harvey at the El Ranchit Lounge on 1-10-12. Tim Olk photo

2-alarm commercial fire in Harvey IL 1-10-12

Firefighters in Calumet Park Tower Ladder 2214 working above the fire in Harvey. Tim Olk photo

2-alarm commercial fire in Harvey IL 1-10-12

Harvey Engine 4 was supplying the Matteson tower ladder. Tim Olk photo

Matteson Tower 5, a 2006 Pierce Dash is in the rear of the rear working the 'C' Sector. Tim Olk photo

2-alarm commercial fire in Harvey IL 1-10-12

Chief officers use the Calumet Park tower ladder to oversee the fire building after the fire was contained. Tim Olk photo

 

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