Dennis McGuire, Jr. stopped by the Homewood Acres Fire Department on Tuesday and submitted several images along with some information about the department.
Notes: The department is NOT up and running yet but they are working towards it. Training is under way and currently they have 15 volunteers.
The old Engine 1932 (1972 Ford-John Bean) has been sold to a gentleman in Grant Park, Illinois who owns a pawn shop in Flossmoor. It’s leaving tomorrow morning (5-30) and will be kept in Grant Park and driven to the pawn shop for use as advertising.(As a note, the Ford has a gas motor). This rig had quite a history; X-East Joliet FPD, X-Holbrook FPD, and X-Glenwood, Illinois, in that order.
Engine 1932 is a 1972 Ford-C/John Bean with a 1,000-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water. (the pump # is D3-105-972). This is X-East Joliet FPD, X-Holbrook FPD, X-Glenwood FD. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo
The new Engine 1932 is the 1985 Ford/Pierce from Plainfield, Illinois. They haven’t decided if it will be painted or left white.
The new Engine 1932 is a 1985 Ford C-8000/Pierce top-mount with a 1,250-GPM pump and 1,000 gallons of water, (Pierce so #E-2635). This is X-Plainfield FPD. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo
The other Ford from Country Club Hills was scrapped a few months ago, and was replaced by a 1986 Mack/Ward 79 pumper from Burbank, Illinois (X-Engine 208).
Engine 1934 is a 1986 Mack CF-600/Ward '79 with a 1,250-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water. (Mack sn CF685FC-2242). This is X-Burbank FD Engine 208. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo
One of the pictures I sent is all three rigs lined up, makes for an interesting shot.
The Homewood Acres FPD fleet as of May 29, 2012. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo
#1 by Heavy handed hose puller on July 17, 2013 - 8:55 PM
FYI, sounds like a chest thumping probe. Maybe he should worry about shining the brass nozzles in the station house before he gets involved in big boys business.
#2 by Scott on February 6, 2013 - 4:06 PM
I’m not getting involved in any of the arguments that have been going on regarding this Dept, however I will clarify some items: most of the Chicago area full-time FIRE (not a union thing) DEPTs work 24hrs on/48hrs. Chicago Fire EMS does 24/72. Again, not all but the majority. Also, most decent full-time depts also drill thru-out the day.
#3 by Mr Spot on February 4, 2013 - 8:03 PM
A FULL TIME FIREFIGHTER; If i can let me point this out This person works 1 24 hour shift and then they go home for 3 days USUAL but HAVFD you see the same people working training 7 days a week granted not all the time but 7 days a week the VOLUNTEER IS THERE………….Right or Wrong!! HAVFD is rebuilding and this time they are doing it the right way before you pass judgement READ THE BOOK or in this case stop by they will be glad to show you around and explain I DID
#4 by Mike Kilburg on January 29, 2013 - 7:22 PM
Hey Chief R. You don’t mind those staff reducing, benefit receiving, money earning Union firefighters when they are filling up your air bottles do you?
#5 by Bob on June 3, 2012 - 8:50 PM
Good luck to them,
#6 by FYI on June 3, 2012 - 10:44 AM
Once again my opinion has nothing to do with volunteer/POC vs fulltime.
Combination, POC and volunteer departments exist all over the area and provide a great service and a great entry for those starting in the fire service. If they can justify their existence and they have a need to exist an area to cover then by all means go with it. But to reform a department to cover a small area with a small service impact is ridiculous when several other surrounding agencies in the area could handle the small volume of calls.
HAVFD will cover two blocks!
What about EMS?
What about ISO?
FFPM571 your comment agrees with my concern. a good portion of Yorkfield was annexed. It was forced to shut down operations and convert to a paper district. Homewood Acres is nowhere close to even being the size of what was left of Yorkfield east of York Road.
Look at DuPage County. I think it’s the start of the consolidation of services. Does every town really need a 100ft tower, a heavy rescue, a battalion chief, multiple specialty vehicles, and several layers of administration every two miles?
I think the future will be the consolidation of services with smaller departments combining to save money, resources, manpower, training, etc
And if they choose to be POC or volunteer I don’t have a problem with it!
By the way I feel that combination departments provide the best possible coverage in suburban areas. Fulltime or paid staffing (non-union, contract or P/T or whatever) in order to provide coverage for initial fire response (ex. first alarm assignment) with enough personnel and for quick EMS coverage along with P/T or POC personnel to supplement staffing on shift or as callback. As long as a department can get enough trained personnel to handle the first few minutes of an incident (attack, search, vent, RIT, water supply, command functions, etc) then I could care less if they are paid or not. Although with contracted personnel my concern is constant turnover.
But…
It is my opinion that it is a waste of time and someones money to buy old firetrucks and equipment and a waste of grant money when you have other departments right around the corner that can cover this area for minimal amount.
These are my opinions…Feel free to comment!
#7 by FF#3 on June 2, 2012 - 11:53 PM
Homewood Acres is an unincorporated Cook County neighborhood, they pay property taxes to the county. I don’t think they pay a specific fire protection tax. I stopped in at Homewood Acres’ firehouse today and spoke to a few who were working and cleaning up there. A lot of their personnel are on other departments and have some pretty extensive qualifications. Their trainning department has several instructor IIs and instructor Is on the department, more than most academies have employed. They have been working on a couple of options for dispatching, but will have that set up when they come back into service in the future. They are inactive on their own terms, and not shut down. They were never officially out of action. When they go back in service they will be more highly certified and trained, far beyond the minimal standards already legally required by the state fire marshal and other legal statutes. I recommend anyone having any questions about HAVFD to stop in when you see activity in the firehouse or stop in on their tuesday night trainning nights, you will be amazed with those guys. They are dedicated and take the job very seriously.
#8 by Brad D on June 2, 2012 - 7:31 PM
Who do the residents of “Homewood Acres” pay fire protection taxes to? Brian R’s post said they receive no public funds, but residents must pay taxes to someone.
#9 by Tom Foley on June 2, 2012 - 10:49 AM
Operationally speaking, here are a couple questions:
1) who decides when they are ready to go and accept calls? The department or is there more politics involved?
2) when operational, how are they dispatched?
3) I’m reading many of the volunteers have or do work at other departments, but generally speaking, what cross training do they have with other departments and agencies?
4) what programs are in place for the volunteers to continue training?
5) I think good residential question would be how does coverage from Homewood Acres affect the ISO rating which can affect insurance premiums?
I like hearing about Homewood Acres, so please don’t confuse my questions with criticisms.
#10 by FF#3 on June 1, 2012 - 9:13 PM
Hey FYI, who left it up to you to decide what department should operate/exist or not? Your opinion really doesn’t matter whether or not you feel the need for anything to exist. surrounding towns are currently covering the Homewood Acres residents, and response times are a little slow and service is a little below standard due to the extra responses. but since some departments have that extra burden added to them, and now staff reductions and loss of tax revenue causes more problems. I think HAVFD would be a welcomed resurgance to MABAS 24. and since the majority of Departments within MABAS 24 are supporting them 100%. Keep your narrow minded feelings to yourself and be a professional NEGATIVE blogger somewhere else. You are too scared to show yourself and will hide behind your computer and spue hatred. I think you may have not been able to “make it somewhere else” and feel the urge to lash out at some people who are “making it happen” to create something to bring them down as you were.
#11 by Dennis on June 1, 2012 - 3:46 PM
FYI- Homewood Acres is not a taxing body, they run the department on whatever money is donated to them. The have a flea market coming up to help pay for new equipment. Why don’t you come out and help support these fine guys and maybe even donate money to the department. Also how can you say it’s duplication of services?? Once they are up and running Hazel Crest will let them take the lead in their area. Oh wait….I guess automatic aid is something you’re against since it’s “duplication of services”
#12 by FFPM571 on June 1, 2012 - 3:02 PM
FYI. Yorkfield only “folded” because the city of Elmhurst and Elmhurst Hospital, purchased and annexed the majority of the west side of the district. They were squeezed out of existance and forced to contract as a paper district to the City of Elmhurst. Before that, it was a thriving district that had trained many members who had become full-time FFs and had a decent size roster of members, many of which were the full timers who stayed on as POCs. If the community supports the volunteers and feels there is a need, by all means let them have their department. Let me guess you’re a full-time union guy who hates volunteers..Even though you probably started as one..
#13 by Bryan R on June 1, 2012 - 8:35 AM
The brotherhood is alive and well as evident with the expressions guaranteed under the first amendment LOL. The day of the volunteer is returning since the economy will not recover for a long period of time. Unionized Fire Departments have caused a major burden on budgets and staffing levels, all in the name sake of money, benefits and exclusion. HAVFD is not supported by any public funds and enjoys great community support and respect. Members who have joined who are on existing departments marvel at how professional and strict the established regulations are enforced. Community spirit is alive and the close-knit department members are truly dedicated, loyal and strong in desire and purpose. Perhaps the fear that the “little guy” on the block will receive a good portion of grants drives the fear of HAVFD rising from the ashes. HAVFD is not a social club or a band of misfits. They are the future leaders who hold their heads high in pride. HAVFD is trained in tradition and paid in pride. All are welcome to visit and see first hand the truth, the facts and the tremendous progress.
#14 by FYI on May 31, 2012 - 11:49 PM
This has nothing to do with fulltime vs. volunteer. Sure if this was a rural area with no other surrounding help then by all means go ahead…you need some sort of protection. But I believe this to be a another duplication of services, another taxing body and another little kingdom used to propagate people’s ego and acheive something they could not be somewhere else. There is no need for a fire department to cover two blocks. Olympia Gardens folded, Holbrook folded, Yorkfield folded, and Homewood Acres shut down in the past. What are they really trying to accomplish? What is the need? If a department needs to rely on mutual aid or auto aid to survive then something is wrong. Mutual aid and auto aid should be reciprocal and not something used to justify a departments existence. If that’s the case then consolidation of services or signing an agreement with a neighboring town for coverage is what should be used. There are paper fire districts around the area that could not provide adequate services so they shut down operations, exist on paper and sign agreements with neighboring districts and municipal departments in order to provide the best services to their residents. The residents of a said area are the most important! I don’t see a need for this department to exist and the leadership needs to take a good look in the mirror and do whats right for their residents instead of doing whats right for themselves!
#15 by Martin on May 31, 2012 - 10:52 PM
Nice rigs. Did the rig that they sold sit for several years?
#16 by Lee Jones on May 31, 2012 - 6:57 PM
Well FYI feel free to stop by any Tuesday night visit with the personnel of Homewood Acres. You can meet the personal who have over 200 years of combined fire service training and experience. Over half the department resides there in the neighborhood with the rest made up of members from surrounding communities. The members of the community came together and wanted their fire department back up and functioning again. We are well prepared to meet any naysayers with fact and truth. Come by and visit.
#17 by Dennis on May 31, 2012 - 6:49 PM
Lee, I’m iust going by what Joe told me.
Also FYI, the “clowns” you speak of that went to Utica for the tornados were not even a fire dept, just a misguided group of people. Also, a lot of departments count on mutual aid regardless of the type of manning, I.E. Garden Homes (100% vol.) responds automatic-aid on structure fires to Robbins (100% full-time) and they work together just fine.
Before you pass judgement on something, you need to know all the facts surrounding the issue. Most of the guys on Homewood Acres are on other departments as well, and always dont forget this……….There are more volunteer firemen in this country then there are full-time firemen.
#18 by FYI on May 31, 2012 - 6:04 PM
Just wondering what is the need for Homewood Acres? Are they going to provide any EMS services? Any staffing? I mean the area they cover is maybe a tenth of the size of even Gardens Homes. The number of homes in this area can’t be more then 60. How many runs can that really generate to justify the need of this department? There are several departments surrounding HAVFD that can cover this area more effectively and provide EMS coverage along with full and part time staffing! If they hope to generate activity by running auto or mutual aid…who would add them to a box card? If an agency gets a working fire they need help and they need it now to accomplish all the fireground tasks and objectives. Why would you wait 20 min for HAVFD to get to the station, staff a rig and then respond when you have numerous other towns in the area that can provide this need. Just seems to me like it’s a couple of has beens that can’t extinguish an old desire. And I hope none of these guys or anyone gets hurt in the process. Anyone remember those clowns up in Lake County that went to Utica? Lost Creek or something along those lines. I hope HAVFD is nothing like that!
#19 by Lee Jones on May 31, 2012 - 5:19 PM
Glad you stopped by Dennis, too bad I missed you. The Mack has only a 500-gallon booster. We have 20 not 15 personnel. Thanks for the photos they are beautiful rigs.