Archive for August, 2012

Palos Fire Protection District on the site

Another fire department in MABAS Division 19 has been added to the site. The Palos Fire Protection District with two stations in Palos Park has 41 personnel on the roster including 12 who are part-time. They are responsible for a district that covers 15 square miles and includes Palos Park, parts of Palos Heights, Orland Park, and unincorporated Palos Township.

Palos Fire Protection District Engine 6303

Karl Klotz photo

Their fire suppression apparatus consists of three E-ONE engines and a 110-foot E-ONE quint. They run Road Rescue ambulances in addition to having a brush rig and an elliptical tanker from 4-Guys.

Palos Fire Protection District Station 2

Palos FPD Station 2 is at 13010 S. 104th Avenue in Palos Park. Karl Klotz photo

Palos Station 2 is also home to the new Haz Mat unit being shared by MABAS Divisions 19 & 22 which was written about HERE and HERE.

Palos Fire Protection District Tanker 6306

Bill Friedrich photo

Images were submitted by Bill Friedrich, Karl Klotz, Dennis McGuire, Jr., and Larry Shapiro.

 

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Joliet debates accepting grant

The Herald News has an article about the City of Joliet debating about whether or not to accept a federal grant:

A $2 million federal grant to hire firefighters likely is to remain a controversial topic for the Joliet City Council this week.

The council meets Monday and Tuesday, and the federal grant is on the agenda for a vote that was delayed earlier this month.

Some council members have voiced concern that accepting the federal money aimed at beefing up fire department would tie the city to a grant requirement that it keep its firefighter force at 210. Council members and some neighborhood leaders have pointed to a severe manpower shortage in the police department, although Joliet plans to hire more police next year, too.

New questions also are being raised about the timing of a decision to extend an old hiring list used to hire firefighters while the grant was being pursued. Mayor Thomas Giarrante’s grandson has moved up on the list since it was first implemented in February 2007 and stands to be hired if the grant is accepted.

The list was extended to save on the cost of new testing while the city was in a hiring freeze.

Read the entire article HERE.

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Benefit for Warrenville FF/PM Rachel Navalany

This from: Warrenville Fire Protection District Engineer Curtis J. Kouba:

Good Afternoon,
Below is a flier describing a fund raiser for FF/PM Rachel Navalany,
Additionally, we are looking for some assistance. I have been tasked with putting together the following:
An Emergency Vehicle Display/Touch a Truck
The event will be September 15, 2012
 from 1300 to 1800hrs
(Requested arrival 1200 to 1230hrs)
Please help  make this a successful event.
Contact me with any questions and if you can participate, so I can set aside space for you.
koubac@warrenvillefire.com or Cell @ 630.514.4166


Warrenville FF/PM Rachel Navalany

 

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New technology for firefighter safety?

Chris Ranck found this article discussing some new technology meant to improve firefighter safety:

 … the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology division has three projects underway that should reduce risk and improve the safety of U.S. firefighters.

When firefighters enter a building or a wildfire they “vanish off the map” in the words of DHS S&T — meaning a GPS satellite signal cannot follow them. Most firefighters also still use analog radio signals, which have problems getting through concrete, tunnels, forest and smoke-filled structures.

Yet nearly 90 percent of fire-related firefighter injuries happen within these types of structures, where locating an injured firefighter is a real challenge.

GLANSER is the Geospatial Location Accountability and Navigation System for Emergency Responders, a tool that lets incident commanders locate and track first responders inside enclosed areas.

This portable tracking device comprises a microwave radio, battery and navigation technology. The commander can plug a USB powered base station into a laptop that transmits and receives signals; the more firetrucks with base stations the better the accuracy.

The GLANSER system can track approximately 500 firefighters simultaneously in a 50 story building and is accurate to as little as three feet.

The Star Trek-style PHASER

Rather than a weapon, PHASER is like a tricorder for firefighters.

PHASER is the Physiological Health Assessment System for Emergency Responders program that DHS S&T has been working on with UCLA. It monitors the pulse, body temperature and blood pressure of a firefighter and then relays his or her vitals back to the base.

According to U.S. Fire Administration statistics, an estimated 81,000 firefighter injuries occur annually in the United States.

U.S. first responders have the highest occupational rate of line-of-duty deaths from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular incidents, making the ability to monitor and assist them an imperative.

Enabled by breakthroughs in medical science and technology, PHASER can instantly signal that a firefighter is in trouble and therefore expedite assistance from fellow firefighters.

While PHASER will let the commander know a firefighter is in trouble, fellow firefighters will still need to locate him or her. GLANSER and WISPER are two new technologies that can guide them to his exact location swiftly bring medical assistance.

PHASER uses a 900-MHz frequency, and due to its portable size, it needs a boost or it could be stopped by a wall or wall of trees in a wildfire. So it works with WISPER to achieve that boost and get the signal to the commander in spite of obstructions.

The Wireless Intelligent Sensor Platform for Emergency Responder (WISPER) relays a firefighter’s vital signs back to the firetruck so that the base can monitored them and track him through a fire.

To use the system, a firefighter would carry a waterproof and heatproof canister (the coffee-mug sized containter is protected up to 500 degree Fahrenheit) on his belt with five of these throwaway signal routers — little discs wrapped in heat-resistant silicon.

When he enters an environment where his signal becomes disrupted, the base station signals his motor-powered canister to release a router or “crumb” as DHS S&T describes — just like in the Hansel and Gretel fable.

The routers arrange themselves like a network and pass the signal from node to node back to the laptop. Each WISPER has an antenna, a two-way digital radio and a 3-volt lithium cell.

Back at the base station, the WISPERs signal strength is monitored and if it falters the signal will be re-directed or the canister instructed to drop a WISPER.

The entire article can be found HERE.

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SAFER Grant awarded to Hoffman Estates

The Daily Herald announced that the Hoffman Estates Fire Department is a SAFER Grant recipient:

 The Hoffman Estates fire department will have an opportunity to hire new firefighters for the first time in more than four years thanks to a federal grant.

Fire chief Robert Gorvett said while he still needs to meet with the village manager to discuss details before accepting the money, he is very excited that the department was offered a $581,565 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The grant — which is funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program — is awarded to help fire departments nationwide with hiring initiatives aimed at increasing the number of front-line firefighters.

Since 2008, the number of Hoffman Estates firefighters has decreased from 106 to 93, Gorvett said. There were never any layoffs, but as people retired they weren’t replaced.

 If the grant is accepted the plan would be to hire three new firefighters for a two-year period, Gorvett said. However, it is likely that at least three current employees will retire within in those years, meaning the department could hopefully keep the new hires permanently once the grant money runs out.“We would plan to retain them,” Gorvett said.The use of the grant money is limited to the cost of salaries and benefits for the new employees. Assuming they had no prior experience, the department would have to pay to put the new hires through the fire academy, emergency medical technician school and paramedic school. That, along with the cost of protective clothing, would cost about $15,000 per employee, Gorvett said.

Read the entire article HERE.

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Munster Fire Department

Brad Steinweg has sent in several images of the Munster Fire Department stations and apparatus since they are not yet on the site.

Munster Fire Department patch

Munster Fire Department Station 2

Munster Station 2. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department Spartan Custom Fire Engine

Munster Engine 2223 is a 2012 Custom FIre on a Spartan Gladiator Metro Star Classic chassis with a 1,500-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department Truck 2221

Truck 2221 is a 2001 American LaFrance Eagle with a 2,000-GPM pump, 250 gallons of water, and a 100′ LTI RM tower ladder. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department Engine 2224 HME Ahrens Fox

Engine 2224 is a 1998 HME Ahrens Fox with a 1,500-GPM pump and 700 gallons of water. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department Station 3

Munster Station 3. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department Engine 2226

Munster Engine 2226 is a 2007 IHC 4300 4-dr built by Custom Fire with a 1,500-GPM pump and 700 gallons of water. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department Engine 2222

Engine 2222 is a 2000 2010 Custom Fire on an IHC chassis with 700 galloons of water and a 1,500-GPM pump. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department

Munster 2245 is a 2008 Chevy Suburban. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department Engine 2225

Munster Engine 2225 is a 2007 American LaFrance Eagle with a 1,500-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water. Brad Steinweg photo

Munster Fire Department Engine 2223R

Reserve Engine 2223 is was a 1978 1987 Mack MC/Boyer with a 1,000-GPM pump and 500 gallons of water. Brad Steinweg photo

 

 

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Decommissioned Lisle-Woodridge apparatus

More from Kevin Griffin:

Lisle Woodridge decommissioned engine for sale

Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus photo

Lisle Woodridge FPD decommissioned tower ladder

Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus photo

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Downers Grove hosting Pink Heals Tour

Pink Heals Tour in Downers Grove

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Overseas request

This is from a fire enthusiast in France:

 Hello

Let me introduce myself : I’m french, 28 years old, and passionate about the fire service

As a handicapped person in a rolling-chair, I can’t make it as my job.

But I do collect everything that has to do with emergencies.

My request is as follows:

Would your readers have any sort of fire service materials in order to increase my collection?

Hoping in your help, and expecting an answer from you,

Respectfully yours,

Julien Frémont

ps : herein some pix of my personal collection + press article

 French article on fire memorabilia collector
French fire memorabilia collector

Some of Julien’s collection

If you have something to share with Julien, notify the webmaster for Julien’s email address.

 

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New apparatus for Countryside FPD

Sam Borica submitted photos of the new ambulance and engine at the Countryside FPD.

Countryside Fire Protection Rosenbauer engine

New Spartan Gladiator Evolution/Rosenbauer engine for Countryside. Sam Borica photo

Countryside Fire Protection District gets new ambulance

New Ford/Horton ambulance for Countryside. Sam Borica photo

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