Archive for August, 2014

Elgin changes the police & fire board

The Daily Herald has an article about changes to the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners in Elgin.

The hiring of police officers and firefighters in Elgin now will be in the hands of three residents plus the police and fire chiefs.

The Elgin City Council voted Wednesday to change the makeup of the board of fire and police commissioners, which has traditionally been composed of five residents but has been short two members since 2010.

Elgin — which as a home rule community can enact its own policies — likely is the first municipality in the state to add the public safety chiefs to its board, experts say.

Last month, Mayor David Kaptain and councilmen John Steffen, Toby Shaw, John Prigge and Terry Gavin had voted at the committee of the whole meeting in favor of adding to the board the two chiefs plus the director of human resources, along with two residents.

However, on Wednesday Steffen proposed eliminating the human resources director from the lineup while adding a third resident.

That will ensure that residents maintain their traditional control of the board, while allowing the police and fire chiefs, or their designees, to have a vote in the hiring process, he said.

Shaw said the board has made some blunders, such as when gang members were hired as police officers.

City Manager Sean Stegall clarified that happened in the early 1990s, and it was not individuals who were gang members but some had gang affiliations. Background checks are done by city staff members, not the board itself, Powell pointed out.

Council members also approved changing educational hiring requirements for certain police officers from a bachelor’s degree to 60 college credit hours. The change would apply only to veterans with three years of active duty, current police officers with three years of full-time experience, current Elgin community service officers with three years of full-time experience, and those who put in at least four years and 400 community service hours into Elgin’s Police Explorer program.

 thanks Dan

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General Alarm in St. Charles, 8-27-14

This from John Tulipano:

This was the 3rd fire of the day for St Charles, Came in as smoke in the area of Fox Chase and Persimmon, once companies went it route police reported the fire at 850 Persimmon Ct, fire was on the roof. 

Companies made a very quick knock on the fire.
firemen hydrating after fire

John Tulipano photo

Seagrave fire engine at fire scene

John Tulipano photo

aerial ladder truck to the roof of a house

John Tulipano photo

Pierce Arrow XT ladder truck at fire scene

John Tulipano photo

firemen on aerial ladder at house fire

John Tulipano photo

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Chicago 3-11 Alarm fire, August 27, 2014 (part 2)

Images from Tim Olk of the 3-11 Alarm fire at 6308 S. Halsted (8-27-14).

smokey Chicago fire scene with fire engine

Tim Olk photo

firemen from Chicago Squad 5

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Snorkel working at a large fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Tim Olk photo

Tim Olk photo

firemen posing at a fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Snorkel working at a large fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Snorkel Squad 5working at a large fire scene

Tim Olk photo

smokey Chicago fire scene with fire engine

Tim Olk photo

smokey Chicago fire scene with fire engine

Tim Olk photo

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Chicago 3-11 Alarm fire, August 27, 2014 (part 1)

Chicago was called to a reported fire in a 3-story building, vacant on the upper floors and stores on the ground level. They found heavy fire in the basement on arrival and called for the high-expansion foam unit. Prior to putting that into service, companies were ordered out of the building and they went defensive.

A 2-11 Alarm was requested followed later by the 3-11. Two tower ladders went to work along with Squad 5A (Snorkel) and the reserve Snorkel (661) and one of the turret wagons (676). There were also several hand lines and multi-versals in use.

Several of our contributors were at the scene and there will be several posts with images and videos.

From CFD Media:

  • 6308 S Halsted 3-11 alarm 3-story 100×200. CFD companies working.
  • CFD in defensive mode making progress no transports at this time.
  • CFD continues to fight the fire on Halsted, 3-11 alarm. No transports CFD will be on scene for an extended period. Will update with changes
  • Incident commander will be conducting a media briefing in 5 minutes on the corner of 63rd and Halsted at the scene of the 3-11
  • 0305: 3-11 secured. No transports. CFD on scene chasing hot spots. Cause under investigation.
night fire scene in Chicago

Steve Redick photo

smokey Chicago fire scene with fire engine

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Snorkel Squad working

Larry Shapiro photo

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Evanston to host program for firefighters

This from Division Chief Brian Scott, Evanston Fire & Life Safety

 
FDNY FF and USMC Major Jason Brezler will be joining us to discuss
 
 “Making Yourself Hard to Kill” – Fostering a Culture of Survival and Discipline.
 
February 2, 2015
0900hrs-1700hrs
1818 Maple Street, Evanston, IL 60201
 
Much like combat, the fire ground demands that firefighters and fire officers function effectively under fire. This presentation challenges the fallacies promoted by the “culture of safety” and introduces a more appropriate paradigm for fire ground operations, the “culture of survival, discipline and leadership”. The paradigm functions to save the lives of firefighters while enabling the fire service to maximize its ability to protect the public. This presentation examines mental, physical and technical themes that have fostered a culture of survival and discipline on the battlefield and the fire ground.
 
The event will be:
  • at the Hilton Garden Inn 1818 Maple Street in Evanston
  • 2/2/15 9am-5pm.
  • Cost is only $80.00 for registration before 1/26/15 and $100.00 after. This includes continental breakfast, afternoon refreshments, and snacks.
Please direct any questions to Division Chief Brian Scott of Evanston Fire & Life Safety at: 847-866-5925.
 
Register now at:
 
 
Biography
Jason is a firefighter with the FDNY’s Special Operations Command in Brooklyn, NY.  Jason was formerly assigned to Squad Co. 252 in Brooklyn and Ladder Co. 58 in the Bronx. Jason is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and a Major in the US Marine Corps. He is a graduate of the USMC’s Expeditionary Warfare School and was a combat leader in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He developed the “culture of survival and discipline” paradigm for the fire service based on personal combat and fire ground experiences, military study, and extensive academic research. He is the founder and commanding officer of Leadership Under Fire, Inc.
 
 
 

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Working fire in St. Charles, 8-27-14

This from Matt Tessler:

St. Charles fire this morning, on Rte.64. The Office Restaurant. Photos by Don Tessler

Seagrave fire engine at fire scene

Don Tessler photo

fireman at fire sene

Don Tessler photo

fire trucks at fire scene

Don Tessler photo

fire trucks at fire scene

Don Tessler photo

firemen at fire scene

Don Tessler photo

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As seen around … Chicago

Images from Tim Olk aboard Chicago Engine 2 the Christopher Wheatley during the air and water show.

aboard the Chicago fire boat The Christopher Wheatley Engine 2

Tim Olk photo

the Chicago fire boat The Christopher Wheatley Engine 2

Tim Olk photo

aboard the Chicago fire boat The Christopher Wheatley Engine 2

Tim Olk photo

aboard the Chicago fire boat The Christopher Wheatley Engine 2

Tim Olk photo

the Chicago fire boat Engine 58

Tim Olk photo

aboard the Chicago fire boat The Christopher Wheatley Engine 2

Tim Olk photo

aboard the Chicago fire boat The Christopher Wheatley Engine 2

Tim Olk photo

aboard the Chicago fire boat The Christopher Wheatley Engine 2

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD fast boat 6-8-8

Tim Olk photo

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House fire in Palatine, 8-23-14

 

082314 961 W Wood House Fire.doc

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Lightning strike in Glenview, 8-25-14

Images from Larry Shapiro of companies working at 4177 Midway Lane in Glenview (8/25) after lightning struck a house during one of several rounds of violent storms that passed through the area. Heavy smoke on arrival prompted an upgrade to a working fire response which brought Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, and Wilmette units to supplement all of the Glenview companies.

Morton Grove Quint 4 was on the road when the call came in, so instead of going back to quarters and jumping to Squad 4 (which was due) they were told to go right to the scene. Ambulance 4 also came to bring the crew strength to five.

firemen vent roof of house

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen at house fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen after fighting a fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Pierce aerial ladder truck at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

Pierce Dash CF fire engine

Larry Shapiro photo

E-ONE eMax fire engine

Larry Shapiro photo

Pierce fire engine at a fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

silhouette of fireman

Larry Shapiro photo

A gallery with more images is at shapirophotography.net

 

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East Chicago Working Fire, 8-25-14

This from Eric Haak:

The East Chicago Fire Department in Northwest Indiana responded to this structure fire at 1500 hrs on Monday (8/25) afternoon.  The fire building was located at 14741 South Tod Avenue and appeared to be a vacant apartments over bar or restaurant.  The building was about 100 feet deep and the fire eventually consumed most of the frame attic space.  Images in this gallery are taken nearly 3 hours into the incident. 

American LaFrance fire engine pumping

Eric Haak photo

fireman with hose at fire

Eric Haak photo

firemen at fire scene

Eric Haak photo

American LaFrance fire engine pumping

Eric Haak photo

building after having a fire

Eric Haak photo

American LaFrance fire engine pumping

Eric Haak photo

American LaFrance heavy rescue squad

Eric Haak photo

I would also like to take this opportunity to formally launch my new web site.  It is still a work in progress and I have a lot to add, but I am satisfied enough at this time to put it out there.  Images from this fire and many other incidents can be seen at http://wcfs.smugmug.com/.  Hope you enjoy.

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