Late this afternoon Chicago FD units were called about fire on the roof of a mattress store at 3106 W. Peterson Avenue. Engine 71 arrived and reported smoke, then requested a Box Alarm for the fire.
More information will be included in tomorrow’s post(s), but the fire was escalated to a 4-11 with three additional trucks (2 trucks and a tower ladder).
Images here are from Tim Olk and our newest contributor …
This from Dorothy Shapiro
My husband (Larry) kidnapped me since we were in the area, and as I sat and watched the fire for over two hours, I wanted to submit these images of mine to share.
Dorothy Shapiro photo
Dorothy Shapiro photo
Dorothy Shapiro photo
TIm Olk photo
TIm Olk photo
TIm Olk photo
TIm Olk photo
TIm Olk photo
TIm Olk photo
TIm Olk photo
TIm Olk photo
TIm Olk p
#1 by NJ on November 18, 2013 - 8:53 AM
Seems like another good indicator that it might well be time to remount the reserve snorkel. Maybe they could use the ex TL-34 Pierce that is sitting at fleet. Seems to be a more valuable use than a hypothetical new collapse lumber truck.
#2 by CFD 1979 on November 17, 2013 - 11:41 AM
2-1-5 requested “da reserve snorkel outa 35’s house”, but it broke down in quarters and did not respond
#3 by NJ on November 17, 2013 - 9:00 AM
Supposedly at some point they put out a special for 6-6-1, but it seems it never actually got there.
#4 by CFD 1979 on November 16, 2013 - 10:43 PM
There were five master streams on the fire when it was finally struck out. They were as follows:
-Tower 21
-Tower 23
-Squad 2A
-Truck 38 (aerial pipe)
-Tower 5
#5 by Bill Post on November 16, 2013 - 6:43 PM
Tower Ladder 5 was on it’s way up to the north side on a change of quarters assignment when it was dispatched to the extra alarm on Peterson. While I don’t know for certain I wouldn’t be surprised if Tower Ladder 5 was changing quarters to Tower Ladder 21 which would have been a straight shot (direct drive) north on Damen avenue. Normally the third due Tower Ladder would have been either Tower Ladder 14 or Tower Ladder 10 however it is not uncommon to have companies from further distances (like Tower Ladder 5) to be dispatched because they have dispatched on a change of quarters assignment (nearer to the fire).
In some fire departments that practice is known as “Leap frogging” as companies will “leap frog” past other companies on a change of quarters assignment and then be dispatched directly to the extra alarm from it ‘s change of quarters assignment in effect by passing other companies.
That was a interesting point that was made about Lincolnwoods Tower Ladder 15 and Skokie’s Tower Ladder 16 been much closer to the scene of the extra alarm then some of Chicago’s own Tower Ladders and that is a valid point. As was mentioned Chicago usually doesn’t ask for mutual aide in that way unless there is a much larger fire or catastrophe where their available companies are being seriously depleted.
In Phoenix Arizona they do dispatch the nearest fire companies to the fire or emergency without regard to whose fire department’s jurisdiction that the fire is in and it is known as automatic aide and while technically speaking there are many different fire departments in the Phoenix area they all work as one large fire department on extra alarm fires and on fires that are near city and town borders.
Phoenix will even dispatch Engine companies to change quarters into the suburbs if there is a major extra alarm fire going on.
Currently Phoenix has 58 fire stations with 65 Engine companies as 7 of the stations have 2 Engine companies assigned , however they only have 14 Truck companies in service. Currently all of their Truck companies have “Elevating Platforms” as 13 of their Trucks are Tower Ladders and the 14th Truck is a 114 foot Bronto Skylift (which is similar to a telescopic “Snorkel”.
All 14 of their Truck companies also have a “Ladder Tender” assigned to them. The Ladder Tender is really a medium sized rescue squad type of a vehicle and is used in place of the Tower Ladder when being dispatched to a “non fire emergency”. The Truck company officer has the option as to what vehicle that the Truck company will respond with. Their Truck companies are not 2 piece companies at they will either respond with one vehicle or the other with the entire crew (4 men) riding a single apparatus. The disadvantage of that system is what if the Ladder Tender is on a non fire emergency then they get dispatched to a fire while out on the street and they need the Tower Ladder. They have to wait for the second due Truck if they should need an aerial device if they are responding with the “Ladder Tender”, so there are pros and cons to that system.
#6 by CFD 1979 on November 16, 2013 - 6:06 PM
Also, when Tower 5 was called to respond to the then 3-11, they were on Damen and Fullerton….only 5 miles away if they took Damen north.
#7 by CFD 1979 on November 16, 2013 - 3:36 PM
They city will never use a MABAS response for a simple fire like this. They will only resort to that if absolutely necessary. Also, Tower 63 will never be taken off of the ORD field unless absolutely necessary.
Everything was covered just fine, that’s why there is change of quarters. When master streams are needed, the next in line gets called.
#8 by grumpy grizzly on November 16, 2013 - 3:21 PM
Chris posted that TL-63 would have made it in faster. I think the FAA gives Chicago the money to purchase apparatus and pay their salaries. And if you take them off the field what do you use in case you need it on the field?
#9 by J.C. on November 16, 2013 - 1:05 PM
Tower 5 traveled 15 miles to get to this fire. I know the CFD likes to keep things in house when they have fires however there are plenty of suburbs with Towers that are much closer. Lincolnwood Tower 15 is under 2 miles up Lincoln from the Fire, Skokie Tower 16 is less than 4 miles away and Norwood Park and Wilmette both have towers less than 8 miles away. Just some food for thought.
#10 by chris on November 16, 2013 - 11:12 AM
i would like to think tower 63 could have made it in faster coming straight east,and that mattress store had a fire a few years ago when they were on the other side of the mall
#11 by spoung45 on November 16, 2013 - 9:29 AM
Tower 5 took a long ride there.