Archive for September, 2014

Menomonee Falls Safety Fair

This from Asher Heimermann … a bit farther north of the border

A number of fire and police departments participated in the Menomonee Falls Safety Fair held on Saturday, September 13th in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Firefighters held three demonstrations: extrication, side-by-side burn and car fire. In addition, a number of fire trucks and ambulances were on display including Milwaukee Fire, Germantown Fire, Butler Fire and Lannon Fire as well as the Milwaukee Fire Bell Club.
Flight for Life medical helicopter made an appearance as well as a number of law enforcement agencies including Menomonee Falls Police, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin DNR.
house fire demonstration

Asher Heimermann photo

car fire demonstration

Asher Heimermann photo

Milwaukee Fire Bell canteen unit

Asher Heimermann photo

Milwaukee fire truck photo

Asher Heimermann photo

Milwaukee fire truck photo

Asher Heimermann photo

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New engine for North Maine FPD

Images from Norm Johnson of the new SpartanERV engine that was delivered to the North maine FPD.

Spartan ERV fire engine

Norm Johnson photo

Spartan ERV fire engine

Norm Johnson photo

Spartan ERV fire engine

Norm Johnson photo

Spartan ERV fire engine

New fire engine for the North Maine FPD. Norm Johnson photo

Spartan ERV fire engine

Norm Johnson photo

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

An overdue post of images from Gordon J. Nord, Jr. from the day after at the 3-11 Alarm fire on the corner of 63rd and Halsted a couple weeks back. The previous post is HERE which will link in reverse oder to all of the articles with photos and videos.

Chicago FD reserve Snorkel

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 676

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD reserve Snorkel

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 676

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 676

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 676

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

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Of interest … three generations at firefighter graduation

This from Drew Smith:

Friday, September 12th NIPSTA Firefighter Academy class 1403 graduated 29 candidates. As is customary near the end of the ceremony, candidates are afforded the opportunity to have their badge pinned on by a family member in the fire service, currently or retired. In this class there were five such candidates. One of these candidates, Josh Hutchison of Northfield Fire Rescue had both his father, Winnetka Captain Tom Hutchison and his grandfather, retired Chicago Fire Department Captain Jerome Hutchison pin his badge. This was a first for a NIPSTA class. Jerome, now 83, attended in his Class A uniform. His son Tom provided the follow history of his father’s assignments. Of particular note is his original service with the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol shortly before it was disbanded. The retired captain also shared some stories with members of the Skokie FD who were in attendance regarding the old fire patrol wagon which he served on and was purchased by Skokie and used as their squad in the 1960s.

From Tom: Here is a quick snap shot of Dad’s career;

56-58    Fire Insurance Patrol 1 & 2

59-67    Engine 24 Firefighter

67-69    FPB Lieutenant (Hotel inspector)

69-71    Salvage Squad 2 Lieutenant

71-75    FPB Lieutenant (New Construction of Sears tower)

75-77    1st Division relief Lieutenant

77-80    Engine 30 Lieutenant

80-82    Engine 7 Lieutenant

82-92    Administration Captain

Drew Smith, Director

NIPSTA Firefighter Academy

3 generations fo firefighters

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New 8×8 ARFF at O’Hare

Images from Tim Olk of the new 4,500-gallon Oshkosh Striker for 6-5-10 at O’Hare

Oshkosh Striker 4500

Tim Olk photo

Oshkosh Striker 4500

New Oshkosh Striker 4500 for 6-5-10 at O’Hare. Tim Olk photo

Oshkosh Striker 4500

Tim Olk photo

Oshkosh Striker 4500

Tim Olk photo

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New patch for Chicago Engine 23

This from Kyle Bernaciak

New patch for Engine 23 / Tower Ladder 5 / Battalion 4

Chicago FD company patch

 

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TRT Box in Buffalo Grove, 9/12/14

This from Larry Shapiro:

A driver apparently unable to navigate the exit from a retail center to the street ended up driving into the garage of a four-unit townhouse across the street at 1193 Ranchview Court in Buffalo Grove late Friday morning. There were no injuries but the Hyundai sedan took out load-bearing elements of the structure. A TRT Box Alarm was requested for TRT members to assist in shoring up the area around the crash before the car could be removed. Here are a few images from the scene. … I’ll have a video when time permits, as I’m leaving for 10 days.

 

car drives into house and damages structure

Larry Shapiro photo

car drives into house and damages structure

Larry Shapiro photo

house damaged after being hit by a car

Larry Shapiro photo

fire department technical rescue squad

Larry Shapiro photo

car drives into house and damages structure

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters work to shore up a house damaged after an accident

Larry Shapiro photo

car drives into house and damages structure

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters work to shore up a house damaged after an accident

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters work to shore up a house damaged after an accident

Larry Shapiro photo

Superman arrives at the scene

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters work to shore up a house damaged after an accident

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters work to shore up a house damaged after an accident

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters work to shore up a house damaged after an accident

Larry Shapiro photo

car drives into house and damages structure

Larry Shapiro photo

car drives into house and damages structure

Larry Shapiro photo

Hyundai car after crash

Larry Shapiro photo

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Still Alarm 236 S. Cicero, 9-7-14

This from Steve Redick

Took in this job a few days ago. Not much to see firewise but a couple of interesting things. The building was in horrendous shape..several parts of the roof were collapsed (prior to fire) and access was very limited at best. Ironically this was not classed as a red x building. I was able to get some video and photos of a Chicago stripping ladder in use as a battering ram to knock out the plywood window coverings. This is a great tool and pretty unique to Chicago…seldom used for climbing but primarily used to pull up roofing materials during ventilation.. Class A foam was also used at this alarm as well. The squad had a spare snorkel but some decent rig shots were available.

Steve

Chicago firemen use stripping ladder

Steve Redick photo

Chicago firemen use stripping ladder

Steve Redick photo

CHicago aerial ladder truck at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago fire engine

Steve Redick photo

CHicago aerial ladder truck at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD squad 5

Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD squad 5

Steve Redick photo

CHicago aerial ladder truck at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Chicago fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Chicago fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Chicago fire engine

Steve Redick photo

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Orland firefighter dies in crash

CBS2Chicago has an article about the death of an Orland firefighter from a traffic crash.

 An Orland Park firefighter died in a traffic crash Sunday morning on Interstate 57 in south suburban Matteson.

Wesley Peak, 36, was driving north on I-57 when he was involved in a single vehicle traffic crash, officials said. Peak, of the 200 block of Marquette Place in Manteno, was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:43 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office and the Orland Fire Protection District Chief Ken Brucki. He was a seven year veteran of the fire department, Brucki said.

“[Peak] touched so many lives in a positive way; it is equally heartbreaking to the organization as it is on his family,” Brucki said in a statement.

The Chicago Tribune has funeral arrangements for Orland Firefighter Wesley Peak:

Visitation and funeral arrangements have been set for Wes Peak, the Orland Fire Protection District firefighter killed in a single-vehicle crash on his way to work Sunday morning.

Illinois State Police said Monday they were still investigating the cause of the accident on Interstate 57 and 190th Street in southwest suburban Matteson around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Peak, 36, of Manteno, had been with the fire protection district for seven years.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Colonial Chapel, 15525 S. 73rd Ave., Orland Park. Peak’s funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Parkview Christian Church, 11100 Orland Parkway, Orland Park, and will be followed by his burial in Peotone Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Melissa; son, Jaxson; parents, William and Linda; and three brothers, according to an obituary on Colonial Chapel’s website. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the Jaxson Memorial Fund.

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As seen previously around … Chicago

This from Martin Nowak:

Former Chicago Fire Department Rigs

Former 6-3-3 1954 FWD, former engine company, converted into a foam unit at Meigs Field.

Former Academy engine – 1988 Ford/E-One, never assigned to a regular engine company.

Former Engine 30 – 1969 International/Pierce.

Former Tower Ladder 5 – 1988 Federal/E-One 95′
X- Tower 34 – 2002 Pierce 100′, involved in an accident years ago. Former Engine 115 – 1980 Ford/E-One.
old Chicago fire truck

Squad546 photo

Chicago fire truck

Squad546 photo

old Chicago fire truck

Squad546 photo

Chicago fire truck

Squad546 photo

Chicago fire truck

Squad546 photo

Chicago fire truck

Squad546 photo

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