Archive for July 9th, 2012

Chicago Heat Emergency Response

This from Bill Post:

Here is the information that I have so far on the  “Heat Wave Ambulances.”
From my sources, the CFD started making plans to put them in service on July 3rd due to the high heat forecast, so I assume that they were put in service on July 4th. They were taken out of service at 6 am Sunday morning July 8th 2012.
I’m told that Ambulances 70 and 71 are now  being used for the Presidential Motorcade Detail when the President is in town.
There were a total of 10 ambulances that were in service.  They were numbered from 67 to 69 and from 72 through 79. There were no ambulances 70 and 71 involved in the heat emergency and for the first few days there wasn’t an Ambulance 75, which was having mechanical issues. On Saturday when Ambulance 75 did go in service, it just replaced Ambulance 79 at Engine 63’s house which was taken out of service.
The Heat Emergency Ambulances were:
Ambulance 67 at Engine 44
Ambulance 68 at Engine 112
Ambulance 69 at Engine 79
Ambulance 72 at Engine 38
Ambulance 73 at Engine 35
Ambulance 74 at Engine 23
Ambulance 75 at Engine 63 (on Saturday as the first days had been out of service)
Ambulance 76 at Engine 88
Ambulance 77 at Engine 109
Ambulance 78 at Engine 121
Ambulance 79 at Engine 63 (until Saturday when it was replaced by Ambulance 75)

Readers should feel free to ad any relevant additional information. Most of the Heat Emergency Ambulances were out on the streets involved in “District Familiarization” when not on actual runs or on special details.

On  Friday morning, Ambulance 69 was detailed to standby outside the Church at 832 N Leclaire, where the funeral was held for the 7 year-old girl who was shot to death by a “gang banger” thug  in front of her home while selling lemonade the previous week.
Several cooling buses from the CTA were called for by CFD paramedics on the scene of the funeral  service to accommodate the large crowds people.

Buffalo Grove 2nd Alarm Prairie Fire 7-8-12 (update)

More on the large brush fire in Buffalo Grove yesterday.

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Fire burns near the power lines west of Buffalo Grove Road near Aptakisic on Sunday. Larry Shapiro photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Several power poles burn on the ComEd easement in Buffalo Grove. Larry Shapiro photo

The Daily Herald reports that a 20-year old male is responsible for causing the large brush fire in Buffalo Grove yesterday that threatened several homes and resulted in hundreds of area residents to lose power.

A 20-year-old Buffalo Grove man is accused of sparking a fast-moving brush fire that produced a 30-foot wall of flames threatening dozens of homes Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters from more than 20 departments helped battle the blaze, which spread to a number of power lines and ripped through 30 acres of dry brush, officials said.

The blaze, which fire officials said was fueled by dry conditions, burned down utility poles and torched multiple power lines causing about 2,400 ComEd customers to lose power.

An off-duty Morton Grove police officer in the area spotted four people running from the scene of the fire and was able to stop them before Buffalo Grove police arrived. Police said the group was lighting off illegal fireworks, which sparked the brush.

Officers arrested Gabriel R. Horwich, 20, and charged him with criminal damage to property by reckless means of fire, a felony carrying a sentence of up to 3 years in prison.

“We were very lucky no people were hurt and no homes were damaged,” Kristiansen said. “The fire department did an exceptional job.”

ComEd restored power to nearly all the homes by Sunday night, but the blaze caused about $150,000 in damages to the wires and poles, Kristiansen said.

Police said the three people with Horwich had not been charged as of Sunday night, but the investigation was ongoing.

Horwich is due in bond court Monday morning.

The entire article can be found HERE.

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

A master stream from a homeowner’s yard in the south sector of the fire is directed towards flames under the high tension power lines. Tim Olk photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

The incident command post was established near the intersection of Buffalo Grove Road and Aptakisic Road. Dan McInerney photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Palatine Engine 82 deployed a deck gun from behind a house on Cedar Court. Dan McInerney photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Smoke and flames are visible throughout the utility easement area. Larry Shapiro photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Flames were reportedly in excess of 30-feet tall under the electric wires. Larry Shapiro photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Prospect Heights Squad 9 and Highwood Truck 37 were positioned on Buffalo Grove Road to the east of the fire. Dan McInerney photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Long Grove Squad 55 was protecting homes on Dover Court. Dan McInerney photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Buffalo Grove Engine 26 deployed a master stream from a ball field on Buffalo Grove Road. Larry Shapiro photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Arlington Heights Engine 4 was in the south sector on Coventry Lane protecting homes that were threatened. Larry Shapiro photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Buffalo Grove MobileComm provided communications support for emergency operations at the scene. Dan McInerney photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

As the fire was extinguished, the area of involvement became evident. Larry Shapiro photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Wheeling firefighters continue to wet down hotspots. Tim Olk photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Buffalo Grove Engine 26 had all of their hose to be repacked. Dan McInerney photo

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

The fire jumped this bike path to the south and west and threatened the homes visible in the background. Larry Shapiro photo

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Chicago Still Alarm 7-8-12

This from Eric Haak:

At 1320 hrs on Sunday afternoon, the 22nd Battalion responded with Engines 120 and 115 as well as Trucks 24 and 27 to 1240 West 111th place.  On arrival they found this 25 x 40, 2-story ordinary/occupied with a fire in the rear of the second floor.  A quick knock was made and the fire was contained within 10 minutes.  One firefighter was transported from the scene to Metro South Medical Center for observation.  Truck 40 was RIT with the 21st Battalion.

building fire in Chicago on West 111th Street July 8, 2012

Eric Haak photo

building fire in Chicago on West 111th Street July 8, 2012

Eric Haak photo

building fire in Chicago on West 111th Street July 8, 2012

Eric Haak photo

building fire in Chicago on West 111th Street July 8, 2012

Eric Haak photo

building fire in Chicago on West 111th Street July 8, 2012

Eric Haak photo

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