Archive for June 20th, 2013

Addison Fire District updates

This from Tim Rightlander:

I checked with the Addison fire protection district to see the status of the tower ladder for sale and the 1990 Pierce engine, The response has been forward to you as well as the comments about going ahead with the purchase of a new engine.
Tim
The tower was sold last fall or early winter to a fire department out in New York State. The engine that you speak about is at Technology Center of DuPage on Swift road. They store it for us and with that they can use it to train the high school kids. It just went up for sale for $15,000 yesterday. It’s a 1991. We have received direction from the board to pursue a new engine and in fact we are almost done with the specification list. I anticipate that the specification list will go out to chosen vendors on Friday or early next week. The new engine will be replacing the one we are selling from TCD.

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2012 FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

From the National Fire Protection Association:

FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

Report: NFPA’s “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States 2012”
Author:  Rita F. Fahy, Paul R. LeBlanc and Joseph L. Molis
Issued: June 2013

Overall statistics on line-of-duty firefighter fatalities in 2012, including non-incident-related deaths. Includes patterns, trends, career vs. volunteer comparisons, and brief narratives on selected incidents.

Introduction
In 2012, a total of 64 on-duty firefighter deaths occurred in the U.S. Stress, exertion, and other medical-related issues, which usually result in heart attacks or other sudden cardiac events, continued to account for the largest number of fatalities. Almost half of the deaths resulted from overexertion, stress and related medical issues. Of the 31 deaths in this category, 27 were classified as sudden cardiac deaths (usually heart attacks) three were due to strokes and one due to heat stroke.

Firefighter Fatalities

 

For the past four years, the annual total has been well below 100, dropping the annual average over the past 10 years to 88 deaths, the report showed.

The NFPA considers an on-duty firefighter as those at the scene, fire or non-fire incident (EMS); responding or returning from alarm; participating in any function such as fund-raising, education, training, maintentance.

Their criteria is different from both the USFA and the NFFF.

The NFPA researchers also noted another favorable trend — the number of volunteer firefighter — 30 — is the lowest reported. “…(It) maintains the general downward trend seen since 1999…”

“The number of on-duty deaths of volunteer firefighters in 2012 is approximately half the average number reported just 10 years ago. The trend for career firefighters has been relatively flat over the past 10 years, although the trend has been downward since 2009. This is the third consecutive year that the total for career firefighters has been 25 or lower,” they noted.

The report also highlighted a number of findings:

 

  • Lowest number of sudden cardiac deaths
  • Lowest number of deaths at structure fires
  • Lowest number of volunteer firefighter deaths
  • Fourth consecutive year the total number of road vehicle crash deaths has been 10 or lower
  • Fifth consecutive year of decreasing on-duty cardiac-related deaths
The number of sudden cardiac deaths is the lowest since the NFPA started calculating records in 1977, and the fifth year showing a decline, the report showed.
“The number of deaths in this category has fallen significantly since the early years of this study. From 1977 through 1986, an average of 60 on-duty firefighters a year suffered sudden cardiac deaths (44.7 percent of the on-duty deaths during that period)…The average number of deaths fell to 44 a year in the 1990s and to 37 in the past decade.
In spite of this reduction, sudden cardiac death still accounted for 42 percent of the on-duty deaths in the last five years. Overall, sudden cardiac death is the number one cause of on-duty firefighter fatalities in the U.S. and almost always accounts for the largest share of deaths in any given year.
 The firefighters who died in 2012 ranged in age from 17 to 79, with a median age of 49 years, researchers noted adding that sudden cardiac death accounted for a higher proportion of the deaths among older personnel as might be expected.

Statistics also showed that almost 60 percent of the firefighters over age 40 and all over 60, died of heart attacks or other cardiac events. And, the youngest person who died from a cardiac issue was just 24.

thanks Chris

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New fire chief for St Charles

The Daily Herald had the following in a recent article:

As one of his first votes after being sworn in, Bancroft voted in a new fire chief for the city. Longtime Deputy Fire Chief Joe Schelstreet has served as interim chief for several months following the retirement of former Chief Patrick Mullen. Schelstreet is also a longtime resident of the Third and Fourth Wards of the city. As a fixture of the community, he received a nearly 30-second standing ovation upon being sworn in.

“I’d like to thank you for your confidence in me to lead this distinguished fire department,” Schelstreet said. “I see professionals from both the city and the fire department who are willing to do whatever is necessary to see both succeed. We have already achieved much. We will achieve more.”

Schelstreet is the sixth paid fire chief in the history of the city. Rogina welcomed both Bancroft and Schelstreet to their new roles, but they both are familiar faces to him. Bancroft and Schelstreet are Rogina’s former students.

“I’ve had the privilege of watching numerous students over the years grow, get married, go back to the community and serve the community,” Rogina said. “Now, as mayor, it is really a special opportunity to me to see two former students stepping forward to serve their community.”

The complete article can be found HERE.

thanks Chris

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Lisle-Woodridge updates

This from Josh Boyajian:

Last month was the first full month of Lisle Woodridge using their new numbering system from DuComm.
Here is the following station numbers. Also Medic 55 is out getting rechassised right now, i believe it will be a new International Dura Star. The new Engine 52 is in service and the former Pierce Dash Engine that was at station 2 is now Engine 55. I attached two pictures of Engine 55 and Reserve Medic 53.
Station 51
    -Medic 51
    -Engine 51
    -Ladder 51
    -Battalion 51
Station 52
    -Medic 52
    -Engine 52
    -Squad 52
Station 53
    -Tower Ladder 53
    -Reserve Medic 53
Station 54
    -Engine 54
Station 55
    -Medic 55
    -Engine 55
Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District

Lisle Woodridge Reserve Medic 53. Josh Boyajian photo

Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District

Lisle Woodridge Engine 55. Josh Boyajian photo

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