Archive for June 28th, 2016

East Peoria Fire Department news

Excerpts from the pjstar.com:

The East Peoria Fire Department now has four certified arson investigators on its staff; that’s twice the number of the Peoria Fire Department, a department five times its size.

“We’re happy to have our newest certified arson investigator and are comfortable with the staffing (number),” East Peoria Fire Chief Al Servis said Thursday. “It allows us to have an arson investigator on every shift.”

According to Assistant Chief John Knapp, the East Peoria Fire Department investigated 30 to 40 fires in 2015. Of those, 25-30 percent, or about nine or 10 fires, were suspected arson.

Firefighter Eric Duckworth completed the five-week Southwestern Illinois Police Academy’s Basic Arson Investigator Course at the Downers Grove Fire Department last week.

On July 5, the Peoria City Council will vote on a resolution classifying Duckworth as a peace officer for arson investigations. The designation gives Duckworth the same powers of arrest and search and seizure as a police officer, and authorizes him to carry a firearm while investigating arson or arson-related crimes. The tuition includes the 40-hour mandatory firearms training and certification.

“Illinois law allows local agencies to have arson investigators that are sworn peace officers. Their powers as a peace officer are restricted to when they are in the process of an active arson investigation,” said Jacquelyn Reineke, spokeswoman for the State Fire Marshal’s Office. “They cannot make traffic stops or any other police action outside of the scope of an arson investigation.”

Duckworth has been a member of the East Peoria Fire Department for 16 years and a fire investigator for seven years.

The department’s three other arson investigators — assistant chiefs Knapp and Rick Ward and firefighter Mike Menssen — are also designated peace officers. A fifth member of the department, Firefighter Tony Piraino, is a fire investigator, a designation and position that lacks the policing authority to carry a gun and arrest people.

In February, the city bestowed peace officer designation on one of its code enforcement officers, believed to be the first of its kind in Illinois. Like the arson investigator, the designation allows the code enforcement officer to arrest people and carry a firearm while on duty. The code officer was a retired East Peoria police officer and had already completed the firearms certification. City officials said at the time that it was a unique situation, and that the city wasn’t going to start sending or paying for its code enforcement officers to attend firearms training.

The Peoria Fire Department has two fire investigators and two fire inspectors. The department has more than 200 sworn firefighters and responded to more than 19,000 emergency calls last year. The East Peoria Fire Department has about 40 firefighters and responded to 3,737 calls in 2015.

thanks Dan

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As seen around … Florida

Jeff Rudolph found these recent images by Mike Healy of a restored Fire Patrol rig on display in Florida … with the Florida Antique Bucket Brigade

Fully restored former Chicago Fire Patrol unit

Mike Healy photo

Fully restored former Chicago Fire Patrol unit

Mike Healy photo

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Long Grove FPD news

This from Shaun Unell:

We are near the end of the work on our KME tanker being refurbished by Alexis Fire Equipment.

  • We added on a pre-connected Class A foam system.
  • Converted the officers side upper compartments to hinge upward instead of down for better access.
  • Switched to our new paint scheme of black over ted and new black striping.
  • Updated all warning lighting to LED.
  • Installed a new Zico ladder rack which has an extended travel distance.
  • Installed a new pump heat shield and replaced some damaged parts like a cab step.
  • Completed mechanical repairs and suspension repairs.
  • We are having hose troughs installed on both sides of the pump panel and a few final repairs are being completed.

We hope to take delivery of the rig in the next several weeks.  Final graphics will be completed at our station.

Long Grove FPD Tanker 55

Shaun Unell photo

Long Grove FPD Tanker 55

Shaun Unell photo

Long Grove FPD Tanker 55

Shaun Unell photo

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Of interest … Powerball winner builds new fire station

Excerpts from FireRescue1.com:

A Powerball winner in Missouri who won nearly $200 million in 2012 paid back his community by building a new fire station.

Mark Hill had the volunteer station built to house both the fire and ambulance service for the Camden Point community.

Hill credits firefighters with saving his father’s life, and wanted to pay them back.

“You know what? If my wife and I could have built this without anybody knowing that her and I were building it, that’s exactly what we would have done,” Hill said.

The new station is 100 percent concrete, complete with radiant heating in the training room floors and space to expand for future additions.

“We took our time to put things together so this would be something that we would be proud of and also that would be a great asset to the community,” Camden Point Fire Chief Walt Stubbs said.

“I’m just proud to be a part of it,” Hill said. “See, I don’t think about my wife and I actually, I just don’t think that way. I’m proud that this is in my family, and I’m proud to know there’s an ambulance service right here … how many towns of 500 people have an ambulance service that’s manned 24-7 … I’m very proud to be part of that.”

The station will be officially dedicated July 16.

thanks Dan

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