Archive for January 31st, 2016

Forest Park firefighters provide free winter coats for area children

Jan 31

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Operation Warm was about more than providing coats to Forest Park children who need them to brave the winter. It was also about the warm hearts of the firefighters and their families, who welcomed residents to their station last Sunday morning. They provided a veritable feast of sweets and drinks, but, more importantly, they showered the kids with attention.

The program was the brainchild of Phil Chiappetta, president of the Forest Park Firefighters Association but it was definitely a team effort. For the second year in a row, Chiappetta and other firefighters used the proceeds from their 5K race to purchase coats for local children. Last year, the fire department distributed the coats at the Community Center but Chiappetta thought it would be more personal to host the event at the firehouse.

“Each coat is made by union workers at Operation Warm in Atlanta,” Chiappetta explained. “They cost $35 apiece and we’re giving out 67 this year.”

There were 24 families selected to receive coats this year.

thanks Dan

Tags: Forest Park Fire Department, Forest Park Firefighters Association, Forest Park firefighters provide free winter coats for area children, Operation Warm, Phil Chiappetta

Firefighters collect water for residents of Flint, MI

Jan 31

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the RBlandmark.com:

In the wake of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the North Riverside Fire Department has donated 75 cases of bottled water, amounting to 2,652 bottles, as part of a drive conducted by the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

On Jan. 30, the water was to be delivered to the Flint police and fire departments for distribution to residents there. Flint’s drinking water has been tainted by extremely high levels of lead following a 2014 switch in their water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River, a move made in the name of cost-cutting but without proper controls to ensure that lead in the pipes didn’t end up in the water.

The crisis is the subject of investigations by both the Michigan Attorney general and the U.S. Department of Justice.

thanks Dan

Articles about other area collections HERE and HERE

Tags: Buffalo Grove Police Department, Firefighters collect water for residents of Flint MI, North Riverside Fire Department, Police officers and firefighters collect water for residents of Flint MI, water contamination in Flint MI

Chicago Still & Box Alarm, 1-31-16

Jan 31

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Scene photos | Comments off

This from Eric Haak:

The following are images of a still and box alarm fire that occurred at 6664 South Hartwell at approximately 8:45 am on Sunday, January 31st. For those not familiar with Hartwell, it is right at the split between the Dan Ryan and the Skyway. I was at 71st and Vincennes and arrived just after the first companies to give you an idea of how far in these images were taken. I went to the front of the building first and there wasn’t much to shoot as you can see by the image of Engine 47 who was first up. Most of the fire was in the back porches. The engine seen in the alley is 84.

Chicago firefighters after battling a rear porches fire

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Tags: Chicago FD Engine 47, Chicago FD Engine 84, Chicago FD Still & Box alarm fire photos, Chicago Fire Department, Eric Haak, fire scene photos, rear porches on fire

Historic fire Hubbard Street fire with multiple LODD, 1-28-61

Jan 31

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | 15 Comments

This from Eric Haak:

I thought I would pass along these images of the Hubbard Street fire. There are many images known of this incident, but a few of these may not have been well circulated. The first image is a common one of the front of the building before the collapse. I believe this image was taken facing north from under the railroad bridge. Image 2 shows the position of Snorkel 1 in the alley. Images 3 and 4 are of the ruins and I believe they were taken facing south from the Grand Avenue bridge.

An interesting side note is image 5 which is blown up from image 3. It shows an Ahrens-Fox engine being used to supply the high pressure rig. If I am wrong about any of these descriptions, please let me know as I have always wanted to understand these images and where they were taken. I own the original negatives for all four of these images and do not know who the original photographer was.