Archive for April, 2015

Downers Grove FD achieves ISO Class 1 rating

This from Tom Podraza:

Downers Grove moved up from an ISO 2 to a ISO 1 as of April 16th.  It takes effect July 1st 2015

Excerpts from the Village of Downers Grove website:

Fire Department Obtains Class 1 Public Protection Classification Rating

A community’s Public Protection Classification is based on the three main areas of a community’s fire suppression system: emergency communications, fire department (including operational considerations), and water supply. In addition, it includes a community risk reduction section that recognizes community efforts to reduce losses through fire prevention, public fire safety education, and fire investigation.

ISO is an independent company that serves insurance companies, communities, fire departments, insurance regulators, and others by providing information about risk. Property and business owners in communities with an excellent ISO rating, like Downers Grove, benefit from lower insurance rates.

Some interesting ISO grading facts:

  • Grading scale ranges from 1 through 10 (1 is best)
  • 48,855 fire departments have been graded nationally
  • Only 97 departments have achieved Class 1 status
  • 2,413 departments have been graded in Illinois
  • The Downers Grove Fire Department is now one of only four Illinois departments with a Class 1 ISO rating.

Tags: , , ,

Area apparatus on order

More updates:

From Bruce: The Village of Wheeling has a 101ft rear-mount platform and a rescue pumper on order with Rosenbauer

From Rob: Rolling Meadows ordered 2014 Pierce Velocity rescue pumper 750-gal tank, expected in September. This will replace the 1996 Spartan/Darley reserve engine.

 

Tags: , ,

2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 4/20/15

Chicago had a 2-11 Alarm that destroyed Windy City Produce, at 3340 N. Pulaski Road around 3:45AM this morning.

This from Larry Shapiro:

I arrived rather late and there wasn’t much to see. Here are some shots from the scene and a very brief video.

Chicago FD Tower Ladder 21 working at a fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD Mobile Command Post 2-7-1

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD Tower Ladder 21 working at a fire

Larry Shapiro photo

grocery store destroyed by fire

Larry Shapiro photo

grocery store destroyed by fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD Tower Ladder 23 working at a fire

Larry Shapiro photo

fire department aerial near utility wires

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD Engine 106 on a hydrant

Larry Shapiro photo

More photos at shapirophotography.net

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

5-Alarm fire with multiple Special Alarms in Barrington Hills, 4-18-15 (more)

More from the 5-Alarm fire with 2 Specials at 245 Rolling Hills, Drive in Barrington Hills (4/18/15)

Images from Mary Klebba

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Mary Klebba photo

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Mary Klebba photo

house fire scene

Mary Klebba photo

firemen at house fire

Mary Klebba photo

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Mary Klebba photo

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Mary Klebba photo

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Mary Klebba photo

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

5-Alarm fire with multiple Special Alarms in Barrington Hills, 4-18-15 (more)

Tis from Tyler Tobolt:

I took in the Barrington – Countryside house fire Saturday (4/18/15). I made it when it was well over an hour into the fire. Here are more shots of the apparatus on-scene since there are already some awesome shots of the house fire.
Thanks Tyler
Alongquin Lake in the Hills fire engine

Tyler Tobolt photo

fire trucks lined up at fire scene

Tyler Tobolt photo

fire department water tenders filling portable tanks

Tyler Tobolt photo

fire trucks lined up at fire scene

Tyler Tobolt photo

ambulances at fire scene

Tyler Tobolt photo

Countryside FPD fire truck

Tyler Tobolt photo

Elgin fire engine

Tyler Tobolt photo

Schaumburg fire engine

Tyler Tobolt photo

fire department chief car

Tyler Tobolt photo

Fox River Grove fire engine

Tyler Tobolt photo

Hanover park fire engine

Tyler Tobolt photoDozens of fire departments assisted the Barrington Countryside FPD battle a massive house fire in Barrington Hills, IL 4-18-15.0Tyler Tobolt photo

fire department water tanker at fire scene

Tyler Tobolt photo

Hoffman Estates fire truck

Tyler Tobolt photo

West Dundee Fire Department Engine 32

Tyler Tobolt photo

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Area apparatus on order

This from Josh Boyajian:

Villa Park FD – 2015 Pierce Impel Pumper 1500/750

Merrionette Park FD – 2015 Pierce Dash CF PUC 1500/500 105′ RM aerial

Glenwood FD – 2015 HME  1871 SFO 1500/750 rescue pumper

 

Tags: , , , , ,

5-Alarm fire with multiple Special Alarms in Barrington Hills, 4-18-15

The first of what will be several posts on the 5-Alarm fire with multiple special alarms at 24 Rolling Hills Drive in Barrington Hills Saturday (4/18/15).

From a radioman911.com listener:

Barrington – Countryside FPD – House Fire – 24 Rolling Hills Drive

Full Response List:
Battalion 38, 3801, Engine 381, Engine 382, Engine 383, Tanker 381, Tanker 382, Palatine Rural Engine 36, Barrington Engine 361, Long Grove Tanker 55, Cary Squad 255, Carpentersvile Engine 91, Hoffman Estates Truck 22, East Dundee Tanker 41, Long Grove Battalion 55, Fox River Grove Engine 641, Buffalo Grove Ambulance 25, Palatine Rural Chief 701, Lake Zurich Engine 2, Algonquin Engine 141, Bartlett Tender 2, Rutland-Dundee Tender 52, Prospect Heights Tender 9, Wauconda Tender 341, a McHenry tender, a Barrington truck, Palatine Truck 85, a Bartlett chief, a Cary chief, a Lake Zurich chief, a Fox River Grove chief, Mess Canteen 5, Hanover Park Engine 361, Schaumburg Engine 54, West Dundee Engine 31, Fox Lake Tender 222, Crystal Lake Tender 371, Round Lake Tender 261, Countryside Truck 412, Libertyville Squad 462, Mundelein Ambulance 431, a Wauconda chief, ATV 5, South Elgin Tender 22, Nunda Rural Tender 1371, Grayslake Tender 271, Huntley Tender 973, Woodstock Tender 72, Hampshire Tender 1431 (unavailable), Elk Grove Township Tender 11.

COQ: Wheeling Ambulance 24 / Deerfield Engine 19 to Station 1 – Rolling Meadows Ambulance 16 / Streamwood Engine 33 to Station 2

Interdivisional requests from Division 1,2,4,5. There was a speical request for a brush truck from Lake Villa.
UCP 13 was also out there

This from Larry Shapiro:

Occupants that are currently renting the house were burning leaves this afternoon and the fire communicated to a tree sending embers onto the house. The wind caused the fire to spread rapidly. A 2nd Alarm was requested on arrival of Barrington & Countryside units followed quickly by an upgrade to a 4th Alarm for tenders only. The 5th Alarm was requested later and then Interdivisional Alarms for a Tender task Force from Divisions 2 and 5. The previous alarms were later filled out for the suppression companies which brought more personnel to the scene. Four counties were represented at this incident which included units from 6 MABAS Divisions.

The wind carried embers into the grass area behind the home igniting a prairie fire which spread to a large area near the electric transmission lines. This prompted a Special Alarm for brush fire assets.

In addition to the units listed above, there were engines from Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Rolling Meadows and Elgin.

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Larry Shapiro photo

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Larry Shapiro photo

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Larry Shapiro photo

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Larry Shapiro photo

E-ONE fire engine at house fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

mega mansion engulfed in flames

Larry Shapiro photo

E-ONE e-MAX fire engine drafting from port-tanks

Larry Shapiro photo

E-ONE fire engine with multiple hose lines off

Larry Shapiro photo

 More photos at shapirophotography.net

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

New ambulance for Stickney

This from Josh Boyajian:

We received our new ambulance on Friday.

Ambulance 1207 – 2015 Ford F-450/Horton Type 1

Stickney FD Ambulance 1207

Stickney Ambulance 1207 – 2015 Ford F-450/Horton Type I. Josh Boyajian photo

rear chevron striping on ambulacne

Josh Boyajian photo

Ford F-450 ambulance

Josh Boyajian photo

Tags: , , , , ,

New engine for Itasca

From the Pierce Flicker page – new engine for Itasca

Itasca FD fire engine

Pierce Velocity engine for Itasca, so #28181. Pierce Composite

thanks AL

Tags: , ,

New area apparatus

Bedford Park Ambulance 712 – 2013 Ford F-450/Road Rescue Type 1
Road Rescue Type I ambulance

Bedford Park Ambulance 712 – 2013 Ford F-450/Road Rescue Type 1. Josh Boyajian photo

Bedford Park Tower Ladder 709 – 2015 Pierce Dash CF PUC 100′ aluminum tower ladder 2000/280
Pierce Dash CF PUC tower ladder

Bedford Park Tower Ladder 709 – 2015 Pierce Dash CF PUC 100′ aluminum tower ladder 2000/280. Josh Boyajian photo

Clarendon Hills Ambulance 314 – 2014 Freightliner M2/Horton Type 1
Horton Type I ambulance

Clarendon Hills Ambulance 314 – 2014 Freightliner M2/Horton Type 1. Josh Boyajian photo

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,