Archive for June 3rd, 2016

Dekalb Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyChronicle.com:

The DeKalb Fire Department secured a $239,000 federal grant to buy a mobile training tower for high-rise fires and the city of DeKalb provided a $21,727 match.

Having the mobile tower gives the fire department permanent training equipment, as well as a tool to learn how to fight fires in taller structures. Officials said the DeKalb area has some 30 buildings that would be considered high-rise.  The mobile tower is about the height of a four-story building. It is equipped with a four-landing staircase, six windows, a smoke machine, standpipe and sprinkler systems, and a confined space simulator.

The money for the mobile tower came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The annually awarded grants are for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operations efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.

Historically, the fire department has relied on donations of houses and other structure that were to eventually be demolished to use for training. Although the home donations are unpredictable and sometimes sporadic, even with now having the mobile tower, the homes are still needed.

The tower is currently housed at the DeKalb Municipal Airport, but can be dropped off at any of the department’s three stations to conduct training drills. Firefighters have not begun training in the mobile tower yet, but they will start in the coming weeks. DFD is looking for a permanent storage space for the tower, especially since it has to be stored indoors during the winter months.

DeKalb fire officials plan to allow other fire departments in the county to use the tower for training.

“Right now, DeKalb (county) fire departments, even though we work very well together, we don’t train together. This is really going to help us to strengthen that bond,” said Jeff McMaster, DeKalb deputy fire chief.

 

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Buffalo Grove FD news

This from Larry Shapiro:

The Buffalo Grove FD was called to 6 Villa Verde Drive this morning (6/3/16) for an elderly resident with a hip injury. The patient was located on the top floor of a three-story apartment complex with a non-functioning elevator. Using a stair stretcher was not an option so they used the tower ladder to bring the her to the ground in a stokes basket.

Buffalo Grove FD Tower Ladder 25

Larry Shapiro photo

tower ladder with stokes basket removes patient

Larry Shapiro photo

tower ladder with stokes basket removes patient

Larry Shapiro photo

tower ladder with stokes basket removes patient

Larry Shapiro photo

tower ladder with stokes basket removes patient

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighter paramedic shows compassion to elderly patient

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters load patient on stretcher

Larry Shapiro photo

more photos are at shapirophotography.net

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New tanker for Peotone (more)

From the Interstate Emergency Vehicles Facebook page:

Peotone FPD’s stainless steel bodied pumper / tanker is looking good and the 2,000 gpm Hale pump module is almost finished with the UL testing and certification on 5/31.

fire engine being built

Interstate Emergency Vehicles photo

fire engine being built

Interstate Emergency Vehicles photo

fire engine being built

Interstate Emergency Vehicles photo

fire engine being built

Interstate Emergency Vehicles photo

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Sycamore Fire Department updates (more)

This from Art Zern:

Gents,

See the attached photos of our 1923 Stutz.  Body is complete and our mechanics are starting re-wiring.  Looks great thanks to Marty and Sons in Sycamore. One shot is the Stutz with our new Engine 1.

Art

Sycamore Fire Department

Sycamore FD: 2016 Rosenbauer engine and 1923 Stutz antique. Art Zern photo

1923 Stutz fire engine

Sycamore FD 1923 Stutz antique. Art Zern photo

1923 Stutz fire engine

Art Zern photo

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