Archive for August 18th, 2013

Barrington village to determine future staffing

Aug 18

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | 2 Comments

The Daily Herald has an article about the pending status of the relationship between the Village of Barrington Fire Department staffing.

Monday should end more than a month of suspense for two Barrington firefighter-paramedics over their future employment with the village.

They are the ones caught between two possible courses of action by the village board that night — to lay off 20 or 22 firefighters on Jan. 1.

The layoffs will take place in conjunction with the end of the village’s contract to provide service to the larger, 48-square-mile Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District which serves communities surrounding Barrington itself.

In mid-July, village trustees heard two recommendations from consultant Bill Balling on the Barrington Fire Department’s future needs. His preference is a plan that would employ 18 personnel — laying off 20 — but would increase the village’s fire protection costs by about $80,000 per year.

But he also identified a workable plan to employ 16 people — laying off 22 — which would result in a slight decrease from today’s costs.

The layoffs will be based on seniority — as per the firefighters’ union contract — which allows 20 of them to already know they have to seek new jobs next year. The other two understandably remain on edge.

The fire district is hoping to hire as many of the laid off firefighters as it can through its new contract with private firm Paramedic Services of Illinois. But such employment would be without a pension plan and possibly at a much lower salary.

Find the complete article HERE.

Previous posts can be found beginning HERE and HERE..

Tags: Barrington & Countryside Fire Protection District, Barrington Fire Department, Barrington Fire Department staffing, Barrington FPD terminates their contract with the Village of Barrington, fire district and village may split in Barrington, fire district and village split in Barrington

New engine for Union FPD

Aug 18

Posted by Admin in Fire Service Photos, New Delivery | 2 Comments

The Union Fire Protection District in McHenry County took delivery recently of a new engine.

Union FIre Protection District fire engine

New Typhoon pumper for Union FPD. E-ONE photo

UNION FIRE PROTECTION DISCTRICT

Union Fire Protection District

Aluminum Rescue Pumper

Typhoon chassis

Cummins ISC-380 380HP

Allison EVS3000

Hale QMAX150-21 1,500 GPM

1,000-gallon water tank

30-gallon foam tank

Shop Order #:137802

Dealership: Fire Service, Inc.

thanks Kevin

Tags: new fire engine for Union FPD, Union Fire Protection District

Fox River & Countryside FPD looks to Station 3

Aug 18

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 2 Comments

The Daily Herald has an article about the pursuit of a third station for the Fox River & Countryside Fire Rescue District.

Construction on a new Station No. 3 that actually sits within the coverage area of the Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District might begin by the end of the year if the permitting process continues to find the same success with Kane County officials it did Wednesday.

Fire district trustees brought the plans to county board members for the first time. Fire District officials approved a $150,000 purchase of 2.2 acres of land at 6N330 Route 25 near St. Charles in February. The district purchased the land as is from a bank following a $654,000 judgment against the former owner.

If approved by the full county board, the district will abandon the space it rents in South Elgin for Station No. 3. The entire station would move to the Route 25 location and have access off Carl Lee Road. The location is in the middle of the area with the largest concentration of calls for Station No. 3, unincorporated Valley View, fire officials said.

The county board’s Development Committee gave an initial approval to the plans Wednesday after learning the station has the support of the neighboring subdivision, several local homeowner associations and the Village of Wayne.

The station would also make frequent use of both the Stearns Road Bridge, completed in December 2010 by the county, and the Red Gate Bridge, completed in August 2011 by St. Charles. In fact, fire district attorney Ken Shepro said the new Station No. 3 will be closer to St. Charles North High School than any of the city’s existing fire stations.

City officials initially fought against the formation of the new fire district, but Shepro said the new station may be a chance for an armistice.

The plans still need approval from the full county board before the district can move toward construction.

The complete article is HERE.

Tags: fire distrcit prepares for new fire station, Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District, Fox River & Countryside FPD looking to add third station, Fox River and Countryside Fire and Rescue

2nd Alarm house fire in Hawthorn Woods 8-17-13

Aug 18

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service Photos, Firefighters working | 2 Comments

This from Larry Shapiro:

Just before 7PM, the Lake Zurich Fire Department received a report of a house fire in the 26000 block of N. Fairfield Road in Hawthorn Woods. The first engine on scene reported smoke and fire from a two-story vacant frame house. Companies were instructed to remain outside of the structure and initiate a defensive attack. A box alarm was struck and the 2nd engine laid a supply line from the long gravel driveway to the street to prepare for tanker operations. A 2nd alarm for tankers only was requested shortly thereafter and the fire was largely knocked down quickly. Companies made a search of the building but it was deemed unsafe to remain inside to fully extinguish the fire and perform overhaul. A decision was made to standby outside as the fire grew and eventually demolished the structure.

The fire department was called to the same address less than a year ago for a fire in another vacant structure on the same property.

Four tankers responded and shuttled water to sustain hand lines used at various times throughout the 3+ hour incident. Companies on the scene included all four engines from Lake Zurich, a truck from Wauconda, engines from Palatine, Long Grove, Fox River Grove, and Palatine Rural (they were due with a tanker which is currently out of service). Tankers came from Cary, Fox Lake, Round Lake, and Nunda. Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Barrington, and Libertyville had ambulances on the scene along with the MESS Canteen.

The 2nd alarm was struck out after 2 1/2 hours, although companies remained on the scene and began to extinguish the remaining fire and begin overhaul after that.

I have photos and video showing the progression of the fire which eventually involved the whole house. Here are a few images with more to follow plus the video.