Archive for June 14th, 2016

McHenry Township Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from MySuburbanLife.com:

The McHenry Township Fire Protection District was dispatched at 4:45 a.m. Monday (6/12/16) to the 300 block of Kent Road in unincorporated McHenry for a report of fire in the kitchen area of a single-family home and a person trapped in the bedroom, according to Battalion Chief Kevin Sears.

A woman was discovered by a sheriff’s deputy coming through an outside bedroom window and first responders firefighters inside the structure. Sears said firefighters raised a ladder to the window of the 90-year-old woman’s location and were able to enter the bedroom and locate her. She was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation and was listed in good condition

Firefighters extinguished the fire within 10 minutes and remained at the scene until about 6:30 a.m. The cause of the fire is believed to be a stove that was left on. There also were no working smoke detectors in the home.

One McHenry County Sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries while assisting fire crews on the scene.

Tags: , , ,

New tower ladder for North Riverside

This from Josh Boyajian:

Pierce demo tower ladder being purchased by the North Riverside FD.

Pierce Velocity tower ladder

Pierce photo

Tags: , , ,

New fire chief in Carol Stream

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

The Carol Stream Fire Protection District board agreed to promote Deputy Chief Bob Hoff to the top post Monday night. Trustees are expected to approve a contract with Hoff at their meeting Monday, July 11. The length of Hoff’s contract will likely run three years. The board is still ironing out the terms of the deal, including Hoff’s salary.

Hoff will oversee a district with three fire stations and about 60 sworn employees. He joined Carol Stream in 2012 — less than two weeks after he stepped down as the head of the nation’s second-largest fire department. At the time, he aimed to spend more time with family, but got the job offer to become deputy under his longtime colleague, former Chief Rick Kolomay.

“The pace was set here when I got here, and we’re going to keep that pace up,” Hoff said shortly after the promotion. “The pride and the professionalism that this group has — it’s like when I was in the city. I love the fire service,” he said. “It’s my whole life. It’s my entire life other than my family.”

Including his son, his family has four generations of firefighters.

“He inspires me,” said Hoff, gesturing to a framed picture in his office of his father, a Chicago Fire Department battalion chief killed battling a blaze in an apartment building on Valentine’s Day 1962. Hoff was 5 years old at the time. “To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die,” reads a message below the image of his dad, Thomas, and his mom, Eleanor, who died eight years later.

The other finalist for the job was Perry Johnson, a 38-year veteran with the district. At the time of Hoff’s hiring, Johnson, then deputy chief, moved to a newly created civilian position — chief administrative officer. Together, they  have been handling the day-to-day operations of the district since Kolomay had shoulder surgery, went on paid leave, and officially retired June 1.

The two also have sat on the district’s negotiating team in ongoing contract talks with the firefighters union. Both sides are expected to meet with a federal mediator later this month. Pay raises are one of the issues that remain on the table, Hoff said. Negotiators are considering increases that would align firefighters’ salaries with those of employees in surrounding departments.

thanks Dan & Dennis

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Where are they now … McCook (more)

This from Jeff Rudolph:

The second McCook, IL Seagrave has been found. This 1982 Seagrave 1250/500, former Engine 1411, is for sale at a used car lot in Lake Villa. You may remember the 79′ is now owned by the Lake Forest Fire Department as a parade unit.
Jeff R.

former McCook Fire Department Seagrave fire engine

Former McCook, IL Engine 1411 – 1982 Seagrave 1250/500, is for sale at a used car lot in Lake Villa, Jeff Rudolph photo

former McCook Fire Department Seagrave fire engine

Jeff Rudolph photo

McCook FD Engine 378

McCook Engine 378 (1411) 1982 Seagrave 1250/500. Bill Friedrich photo

McCook FD Engine 1411

McCook Engine 1411 1982 Seagrave 1250/500. Bill Friedrich photo

Tags: , , , , ,