Archive for January 7th, 2016

Illinois Fire Service Institute stalled by state budget impasse (more)

Excerpts from the DailyIllini.com:

Many services and programs across Illinois remain in fiscal uncertainty due to the ongoing state budget standoff, but the Illinois Fire Service Institute, IFSI, is receiving just over $3.8 million in funding from the state Fire Prevention Fund.

The amount is an annual allocation for the IFSI, as the Fire Prevention Fund accounts for 27 percent of the institute’s funding. The IFSI is the mandated state fire academy headquartered in Champaign, which provides classes and firefighting training all across the state.

Governor Bruce Rauner signed the piecemeal spending bill, SB2039, on the same day that the Illinois State Senate approved it on Dec. 7. The bill allocates money from the Fire Prevention Fund to the Board of Trustees at the University. Though the $3.8 million goes through the University first, the bill earmarked the funds specifically for IFSI, said Deputy Director James Keiken. The bill comes at a time of fiscal limbo for Illinois, with an official 2016 fiscal budget yet to be decided.

The money is for “paying the Institute’s expenses, and providing the facilities and structures incident thereto, including payment to the University for personal services and related costs incurred,” according to the bill.

More specifically, the $3.8 million serves as the IFSI 2015-2016 school year budget for day-to-day operations and bills as well as its “cornerstone” program which offers courses of basic firefighting skills to various small fire districts and volunteers, free of charge to the department.

The cornerstone program takes about 2.5 percent of the budget or $600,000 dollars. However, due to budgetary problems, the program has not run since October, said IFSI Deputy Director James Keiken.

In addition, in the second quarter of the fiscal year the institute didn’t receive funding in time, causing the University to help cover some of IFSI’s operational costs.

In addition to the $3.8 million IFSI allocation, the bill frees up $3.1 billion to local governments across Illinois for a variety of uses such as local road repairs, winter maintenance and lottery prizes over $600.

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House fire in Streamwood, 1-6-16

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

A Streamwood resident suffered nonlife-threatening burns after fire broke out in a home early Wednesday morning, officials said.

Streamwood firefighters called at 1:36 a.m. to the residence in the 0-100 block of East Pine Street arrived to find an attached garage of a single-family home engulfed in flames, as well as a vehicle on fire in the driveway.

Two adult residents had escaped the home by the time firefighters got to the scene, but reported that several pets remained inside. Firefighters rescued one dog and two guinea pigs. Both residents were taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates for treatment, according to the Streamwood Fire Department.

The fire caused significant damage to the garage area, and smoke damage occurred throughout the home. Damage is estimated at $80,000. Investigators continue to search for the specific cause of the fire, which appears to have started in the garage, according to the fire department.

thanks Dan

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New ambulance for Franklin Park

From the Foster Coach Sales Facebook page:

Brand new Chevy chassis on a Medix Type III

Franklin Park FD ambulance

Foster Coach Sales photo

Franklin Park FD ambulance

New ambulance for the Franklin Park FD. Foster Coach Sales photo

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New engine for Highland Park (more)

This from Larry Shapiro:

Highland Park Squad 33 was placed in service on Wednesday (1/6/15). It’s on a Spartan Gladiator Classic chassis with a SpartanERV Star Series body and a 1,500-GPM pump, 500 gallons of water, and 30 gallons of foam.

SpartanERV fire engine Highland Park FD

Larry Shapiro photo

haz mat supply storage on fire engine

Larry Shapiro photo

SpartanERV fire engine Highland Park FD

Larry Shapiro photo

SpartanERV fire engine Highland Park FD

Larry Shapiro photo

SpartanERV law tag

Larry Shapiro photo

SpartanERV fire engine Highland Park FD

Larry Shapiro photo

fire engine pump panel with rotary controls

Larry Shapiro photo

SpartanERV fire engine Highland Park FD

Larry Shapiro photo

More photos at shapirophotography.net

This from Niko Stefani:

Here are some photos I took of Highland Park Fire Department’s new squad. It was placed in service last night (1-5-16). A while back the squad used to be at Station 33. The department did some rotating with the apparatus. The truck was placed at station 34 while the engine and squad would be out of Station 33. That didn’t last very long so they moved the squad to Station 34. Ever since it has been Squad 34 using a 2000 Pierce Saber. The Pierce is now the new reserve company for Highland Park. Engine 33 (used to be 34) is now going back as Engine Co. 34 at Station 34 and the new squad will be out of Station 33 along with the truck in the center of town. I was told today that the truck is usually staffed around this time of year. When it’s not, the engine crew or now squad crew would jump over to the truck for mutual aid calls. The 2006 Pierce Enforcer is once again at Station 34 while the new Spartan squad is out of Station 33. Battalion 33 is also being replaced with a new Ford Expedition.
SpartanERV fire engine Highland Park FD

Niko Stefani photo

SpartanERV fire engine Highland Park FD

Niko Stefani photo

fire department graphics

Niko Stefani photo

fire department graphics

Niko Stefani photo

SpartanERV fire engine Highland Park FD

Niko Stefani photo

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