Just after 9PM on Sunday evening, the Northfield Fire Department was initially dispatched for a small brush fire along the Edens Expressway (I94) near Willow Road. Other calls came in reporting a truck fire and additional units went en-route. As companies neared the expressway, they saw a huge fire along the center median of the northbound lanes about a 1/2 north of Willow Road. They encountered a fully-involved tractor-trailer combination on top of a car.
An EMS Box Alarm was requested immediately bringing ambulances from Winnetka, Wilmette, Northbrook, and Glencoe in addition to the Northfield ambulance that was on the scene performing triage. A Morton Grove squad, Wilmette tower ladder and engine, and Glenview truck responded supplementing the Northfield squad and engine. The intensity of the fire prompted a call for Crash Truck 23 and Crash Truck 39, two ARFF units from Wheeling and Prospect Heights.
The occupants of the car were already out when companies arrived thanks to the assistance of other motorists. Three people including the two occupants of the car that was underneath the trailer were transported to the hospital.
This video was posted as seen from along the frontage road.
Prospect Heights Crash Truck 39 reported that they had exhausted their entire volume of on-board extinguishing agent when they left the scene.
Images from Larry Shapiro
Wheeling Crash Truck 23 was special called to the crash site. Larry Shapiro photo
A passenger car is wedged between the center divider wall and the rear of the truck’s trailer. Larry Shapiro photo
Northfield Squad 29 and Wilmette Tower 26 on the highway after the fire is out. Larry Shapiro photo
One of the IDOT heavy wreckers was at the scene. Larry Shapiro photo
The rear section of the trailer after being dragged to the outside shoulder of the highway. Larry Shapiro photo
The rear of the trailer shown resting on top of the car. Larry Shapiro photo
The car is wedged underneath the rear of the truck’s trailer. Larry Shapiro photo
The wreckage of the trailer exposing part of the cargo. Larry Shapiro photo
Charred remains of the truck’s tractor. Larry Shapiro photo
One of several IDOT Minute Man units at the crash site. Larry Shapiro photo
A gallery with more images can be viewed HERE.
#1 by Mike on April 28, 2013 - 10:48 PM
Isn’t the MABAS monster broken too? Rumor had it one of the envies was cracked so it can’t be driven.
#2 by Scott on April 28, 2013 - 10:57 AM
Drew, any regulations in place for Chicago Exec Airport regarding ARFF vehicles remaining on the field or required, such as O’Hare & Midway?
In re: the incident, did initial co’s use handlines to attempt extinguishment untill foam/water was gone?
Thanks!
#3 by Scott on April 28, 2013 - 10:47 AM
Mt. Prospect has 2, 1000gallon AFFF foam trailers. One at Sta 12 with “Wagon 12″ (not Chemical 12-mis id’d in web-site, 3000′ of 5” hose, the foam totes & dry chem carts. The other trailer is at one of the tank farms. Each trailer has a 2000gpm stang monitor as well as pump so a water supply may be given to the trailers and foam handlines run from the trailer.
Elk Grove Village has 2 foam trailers via BP @ the tank farm with pumps on the trailers as well as a new Engine that has a foam system specifically designed for pumping 1500gpm of foam.
Elk Grove TWP still has large foam reserves in stock at the Tank farms and station so an engine’s water tank can be dumped and the tanks filled with foam.
As Drew has written, multiple ARFF vehicles (PHTS, WHEL, in Div 4 Waukegan & the Quad 2 vehicle).
As Bill has written, the Foam task force from O’Hare is still in effect for MABAS use- 1 Eng, 1 Sqd, 1 ARFF Vehicle, 1 B/C & 1 DDC.
Most suburbs, especially the industrial ones have a decent reserve of foam in their stations.
I’d say the foam resources in MABAS are more than adequate. Like any incidents, including Chicago, it will take some time to get the proper resources to the scene, but it will work.
Lastly, MABAS does have a ARFF vehicle that was acquired surplus from the military, however it is an 8 wheel MONSTER that is too heavy for just about every road in Illinois when loaded with water & foam.
#4 by Drew Smith on April 23, 2013 - 9:50 AM
Mount Prospect has a large quantity of foam stocked. Chemical 12 holds one or two large totes with several hundred gallons. They also used to have a foam trailer with 2000 or more gallons. I believe there may be a second foam trailer at the BP or other tank farms on their south side. Wheeling also has a 600 gallon trailer of 6% ARFF. Prospect Heights carries 120 gallons on CT39, 120 gallons on Sqd. 9, and stocks another 120 gallons as well as carries smaller quantities on both engines. Lake County Quad 2 departments have a Oshkosh T-3000 ARFF vehicle which should hold about 360 gallons of foam.
Lockport also did some work on developing a foam task force although I don’t know the status of that effort. Elwood has a large amount of foam on its tanker, I believe its 1000 gallons.
One important note regarding foam and ARFF vehicles: All ARFF vehicles at FAA indexed airports carry straight AFFF and not the AR-AFFF needed for polar solvents/alcohol fuels. The FAA does not permit AR-AFFF and usually these foams need to have their application percentage increased from 3 or 1 percent to 6 or 3 percent and that is not usually possible with the design of the ARFF vehicle foam system.
#5 by Bill Post on April 23, 2013 - 12:53 AM
The video was good and the sound was great. The sound was so good it almost sounded as if I were on the scene myself.
This incident illustrated the need to be able to have large quantities of foam for these type of situations.
It would be good if some of the MABAS divisions (including Chicago) would have a few foam pumpers or as some fire departments call them “Foam Tenders”.
The Los Angeles City fire department has four foam tenders and New York City has a foam tender as well.
When Chicago needs large quantities of foam they dispatch the “Foam Task Force” which consists of Engine 9 or 10 , Squad 7 and one of the ARFF trucks from O”Hare Field.
For a short period of time in the early 90’s the Chicago Fire Department had reserve Crash Wagons at Engine 106, Engine 34 and Engine 80’s stations where the “Crash Wagons” were used as “Foam Wagons”.
The six 2,000 gpm Ward La France pumpers that the CFD had rebuilt in 1989/90 with E/One bodies and Ranger Cabs also had 140 gallon foam tanks included in the rebuild. Unfortunately those units didn’t last very long.
Chicago has a bulk foam carrier but it is not the same as a foam pumper.
#6 by Keith Grzadziel on April 22, 2013 - 9:16 PM
Alright Sam, I’ll give credit where it’s due to the RED Center dispatchers also. I had not heard the radio traffic, otherwise I would have. I’m just basing my comments from the pics.
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#7 by Sam on April 22, 2013 - 5:06 PM
@Keith. If I could just comment on your complimenting the chiefs, while they did an excellent job getting this scene under control quickly, it was the RED Center dispatchers who ordered the crash trucks. Long before the first chiefs arrived on scene, Wilmette E27 radioed as they were pulling up that the truck was fully involved, to which RED asked if they would like Tanker 9 or CT39 for water supply. E27 responded with a request for Wilmette Tower 26 which carries a little bit of foam. RED then decided to send Crash 39, and shortly thereafter, Crash 23 after consulting with Northfield Squad 29.
So let’s give credit where credit is due: The RED Center dispatchers were amazing last night, as were the chiefs on the scene.
#8 by Ray on April 22, 2013 - 4:37 PM
yes, great work. it was originally reported as a tanker carrying flammable liquid. turned out to be just a 53′ trailer carrying truck axles. GREAT work by responding crews and IDOT ETP! they were able to get at least one lane back open northbound by moving the wreckage to the right shoulder. Ernie’s was called out by ISP and they had it all cleaned up and off the highway by 330.
#9 by Keith Grzadziel on April 22, 2013 - 10:24 AM
Excellent video footage…very impressive in the response and fast knockdown! It actually can justify having some type of ARFF apparatus readily available for area tollways and expressways for these types of incidents where large quantities of foam are needed in a short window of time. Just a thought, maybe MABAS can look into acquiring these types of apparatus through the FAA at a discounted price and strategically locate them for quick utilization. Also great job to the Chiefs on scene for thinking of utilizing the two ARFF trucks for this incident!
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#10 by Matthew G on April 22, 2013 - 7:41 AM
Fantastic photos Larry. This incident could have been considerably worse than it turned out to be.