3-11 alarm fire and EMS Plan I at Resurrection Hospital, 12-11-14

This from Steve Redick:

The string of 11th battalion workers continues. This one was at Resurrection Hospital, a major hospital complex about a block from my house. Came in as a “cold box” and companies reported a fire in the chapel area on the 2nd floor. The alarm eventually rose to a 3-11 and EMS plan 1 with a special call for the MVU from O’Hare Field. This brought the brand new Engine 9 as well.

Not much to see from the outside but it sounded like they had quite a bit of hidden fire that was difficult to expose, as well as difficulties ventilating the fire area. It also sounded like they relocated numerous patients within the building. A moderate amount of light smoke was visible at the roofline for a bit. A very unusual incident to say the least, and I’m sure there were issues and concerns that I could not see from the outside.

Steve

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Tags: Chicago 3-11 alarm fire, Chicago FD Engine 119, Chicago FD Engine 9, Chicago FD Mobile Command Post, Chicago FD Tower Ladder 21, Chicago FD Truck 55, Chicago FD Truck 56, Chicago FD Truck 57, Chicago FD Truck 9, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago fire trucks at fire scene, Chicago MVU 9-2-4, fire at Resurrection Hospital, Steve Redick

This entry was posted on December 15, 2014, 7:00 AM and is filed under Apparatus on-scene, Fire Scene photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

10 Comments

#1 by mike mc on December 19, 2014 - 9:31 PM

Thanks for the info Dennis. Did not know about the RIT change of policy. In the past, civillian lives have been saved by committing the RIT truck. A couple of south side fires, where they were hanging out the windows, come to mind.

Would I be correct in speculating that the policy on engines and trucks that bring special equipment is from the CBA?
#2 by Dennis on December 17, 2014 - 9:56 PM

Mike Mc, about your comment…Battalion chiefs, chiefs and everyone has already been told that they can no longer use the RIT truck once that truck has been assigned as RIT. and no rules are rules..if an engine or truck brings a special equipment then that company stays with that special equipment till they use it or are sent home. As far as all the things about the ARFF rigs..2-7-8 is for the airports that’s it also if a plane goes down anywhere near Chicago it’s going..hence a few weeks ago it went to the down plane near midway. Engine 9,10, or 12 only come out when special requested then Engine 11 or some other engine is sent to cover their spot at O’Hare. Squad 7 does have a working fire district because that’s what is in the agreement with the FAA and the city.
#3 by mike mc on December 16, 2014 - 3:40 PM

Since Squad 7 can respond to fires, why doesn’t the city try to push the envelope with ARFF and ask to use 2-7-8 with the same response district as Squad 7? Resurection Hospital and the 11th Battalion is one heck of a long run for 2-7-2. There are also several high rises near the airport.

I’m surprised ARFF allows Engine 9 to leave the airport with a special unit. If I were 2-2-2 or Battalion 11 and I had a really good fire near the airport, I would automatically ask for the HUV unit even if I had no intention of using it. Engine 9 would get there much quicker than the 2-11 and, in some instances, the box companies and you could put it to work as an engine. So after the third or fourth fire they tell you not do it anymore, who cares?

A related point, why don’t the big buggies, before asking for a 3-11 or 4-11, take a good look at what engines have brought special units and are sitting in staging, ready to go. I can’t believe that times have changed so much that a chief would not say, “Forget the light wagon, go to the rear and drop two lines”. If protocol strictly forbids this, I still can’t believe that times have changed so much that a chief would not say, “Forget protocol! “. “I needed an engine”. They have carte blanche to do it all the time with the RIT truck, what’s the difference?
- #4 by DMc77 on December 16, 2014 - 4:01 PM
  
  There aren’t a lot of instances I can recall where engine or truck companies have brought special equipment to the scene and have not utilized that equipment, or have had another alarm level of engines show up and go to work. Also keep in mind that if a special equip engine is working and the special equip is needed, there may not be anyone around that is freed up that can operate that equipment.
  One of the issues I can see with taking 2-7-8 out of the airport is that then 2-7-2 has a long run to ORD if an incident happens. And when aircraft incidents happen, they sometimes happen all at once, and waiting several minutes to begin setting up your command post/structure may adversely effect the outcome.
#5 by Sebastian on December 15, 2014 - 9:41 PM

No squads?
- #6 by Chuck on December 16, 2014 - 2:18 AM
  
  Squad 7 was there.
#7 by Chuck on December 15, 2014 - 8:29 PM

11,119,79,108, / 69,89,94,125 / 7,91,124,125
E9 with 9-2-4, E83 with the light wagon
T 9,53,55,56,57,58,TL 21,TL23 plus multiple buggies and 7 ambulances on the Plan.
#8 by Sebastian on December 15, 2014 - 3:44 PM

Anyone have the company rundown?
#9 by FARTIN' FRED on December 15, 2014 - 11:06 AM

Nice pics of all the apparatus on scene–thanks.
Yeah seems like lottts were called-in.
#10 by mike mc on December 15, 2014 - 10:02 AM

Engine 9 crew was chomping at the bit to go to work. Seldom see a company so anxious. Looked like they enjoyed a change from the airport routine.

The 3-11 engines never left staging and were lined up in order on Talcott.

CPD sealed off Talcott and it was a picture perfect demonstation of fire and EMS staging.