Archive for February, 2016

New fire chief in Aurora (more)

Excerpts from theChicagoTribune.com:

When Gary Krienitz was a young firefighter, he was assigned to the engine company headed by John Lehman.

Lehman, Aurora’s fire chief, said he remembered a fire where he and the young, aggressive firefighter were on the hose together, arguing over who would handle the nozzle and put the fire out. Lehman recalled the story Wednesday as he retired as fire chief, and Krienitz, who has been the city’s fire marshal, was sworn in as the 17th chief in fire department history.

Lehman is retiring after almost 29 years, having started in Aurora as a firefighter/paramedic in 1987 and working his way up the ranks. He remembered some of his key moments through the years, including the Plainfield tornado in 1991, the Aurora Flood of 1996, the medical helicopter crash that claimed four lives in 2008, and a May 2011 house fire that resulted in six deaths, the worst in Aurora history.

The Flood of 1996 provided a specific memory of a 3 a.m. call, with water about to come in the front door of his house and about six to eight feet of water in his basement. His wife, Becky, was awake with two babies.

Krienitz read some of the many notes the department received from the community over the years praising Lehman, and recalled a situation where Lehman had to assist amputating someone’s arm to extract them from a bad car accident. He said it exemplified Lehman’s willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty at all times.

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Box alarm in Winfield, 2-22-16

This from John Tulipano:

Some images from Winfield Box Alarm on 2-22-16

firefighters with hose

John Tulipano photo

firefighters with hose

John Tulipano photo

firefighters with hose

John Tulipano photo

firemen on roof during house fire

John Tulipano photo

firefighters overhaul house

John Tulipano photo

fire chiefs talking

John Tulipano photo

firefighters with hose

John Tulipano photo

more photos

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Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District news (more)

Excerpts from the KaneCountyChronicle.com:

The Fox River and Countryside Fire Protection District voted unanimously Monday to reject an offer from representatives of an alcohol and drug treatment center to accept $50,000 in three installments as part of an agreement to drop its opposition.

“This does not even come close to covering what our expenses are for our citizen,” trustee Chuck Dunham said.

Maxxam Partners LLC sought the special use permit to convert the former Glenwood School for Boys, at 41W400 Silver Glen Road, into a 120-bed private pay, luxury treatment center. Maxxam petitioner Steven Marco and attorney Keith Brown made the offer at the fire district’s regular board meeting. Brown said the petitioner would also pay all ambulance and fire calls to the facility. Marco said the private, for-profit facility would be very exclusionary, not taking clients who are very ill to ensure consistency of care.

Maxxam’s petition was recently recommended to be denied by the Kane County Zoning Board of Appeals and the Kane County Development Committee. Officials said they expected the issue to go before the county board for final action.

Public comment at the meeting sought the fire district’s opposition, out of concern for additional ambulance calls to the facility could jeopardize residents if they have to wait for mutual aid when they have a medical emergency.

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New air mask service trucks for Chicago (more)

This from Josh Boyajian at the Quinn Fire Academy – Air Mask 645

Chicago FD Air Mask Service Unit 645

New Air Mask Unit 645. Josh Boyajian photo

New Air Mask Unit 645

Josh Boyajian photo

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New tower ladders for Chicago (more)

Chicago FD Tower Ladder 14

new unit for Tower Ladder 14. reader submission

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Tractor-Trailer rollover on I-294, 2-23-16

This from Martin Nowak:

Around 1:20 P.M. Tuesday (2/23/2016) Roberts Park was dispatched for a truck rolled onto it’s side on the I-294 SB ramp right outside of Justice, IL.  I was able to get these photos from a distance. Ambulance 32 and Engine 32 (using E3R) were on scene along with Justice Police and State Police.

over turned tractor trailer on a highway ramp

Martin Nowak photo

over turned tractor trailer on a highway ramp

Martin Nowak photo

over turned tractor trailer on a highway ramp

Martin Nowak photo

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Rolling Meadows discusses rebuilding fire stations (more)

Excerpts from the JournalTopics.com:

Rolling Meadows Fire Chief Scott Franzgrote introduced local leaders Tuesday night to Aurora-based R.C. Wegman Construction Co., selected as project manager for site selection, design, and construction of the city’s two new fire stations.

Franzgrote said the scope of the project includes evaluating firehouse location sites, land acquisition, budget outlines, project schedules and coordination of real estate agents, architects, consultants, engineers, contractors, vendors and more.

Seven firms submitted applications for the project manager role city officials said and four firms were interviewed.

The project is expected to cost about $9,000,000, city officials said, and would entail building two new fire stations probably in new locations. Existing Rolling Meadows firehouses are Station 15 (Fogarty Station), at 3111 Meadow Dr., which serves areas east of Route 53, and Station 16 (Neucranz Station), 2455 S. Plum Grove Rd., serving areas west of Route 53.

Station 15 was built in 1958. At the time, it was a one-story structure with two apparatus bays and a kitchen. It was positioned in a location that represented the center of the fire district’s response area. Due to the city’s growth, it is no longer in the center of the response area. Today, there are several problems with its infrastructure, such as wiring and sinking foundations, making the fire station almost inoperable at times.

Franzgrote has said a new station is needed to meet the increasing demand for service in an expanding city, especially on the south side, and to maintain quick response times.

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Manhattan FPD ambulance involved in MVA

From a reader:

ambulance rolled over on side

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A request for assistance

Hello,
We are a construction and remodeling company looking for fire houses for sale in the Chicago area.  Do you know of a website or contact person that could help in this regard?

Thank you,
Tim
B2 Construction, LLC

 

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New tower ladders for Chicago (more)

From Tim Olk at the Quinn Fire Academy for training

E-ONE tower ladder for Chicago FD

CFD Tower Ladder 39 – 2016 E-ONE Cyclone II 100′ shop# E-354. Tim Olk photo

new E-ONE tower ladder for Chicago FD

Tim Olk photo

new E-ONE tower ladder for Chicago FD

Tim Olk photo

new E-ONE tower ladder for Chicago FD

Tim Olk photo

E-ONE fire truck law tag

Tim Olk photo

fire truck dedicated to Herbie Johnson

Tim Olk photo

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