Archive for February 22nd, 2017

Evanston Fire Department news

Excerpt from Evanstonnow.com:

Evanston aldermen voted Monday to approve the conversion of a retired city ambulance to become a dedicated underwater rescue response vehicle for the fire department.

The roughly $20,000 cost of the conversion is to be paid for by the foreign fire tax on fire insurance policies bought from out-of-state companies.

Fire Chief Brian Scott says the underwater rescue team now stores its equipment in Squad 21, a multi-purpose heavy rescue vehicle shared by all five department special rescue teams.

But as the amount of equipment for each team has increased over the years, it’s left the dive team without enough room to store its gear in a ready position, slowing responses to emergency situations.

Scott says the cost of the converstion work — largely to add new aluminum storage boxes, brackets and cabinetry to the old ambulance — is less than a fifth the cost of a new rescue vehicle, and that the old ambulance would probably bring no more than $15,000 at auction.

He says the unerwater rescue team responded to a total of eight incidents in 2015.

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Nunda Rural Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the NWHerald.com:

With the goal of helping McHenry County children during a crisis, the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District on Friday received five backpacks full of children’s books from Wisconsin-based REACH-A-Child.

Founded in 2007, REACH-A-Child is a nonprofit that partners with fire departments to supply each vehicle with a REACH BAG for them to bring out when they encounter children in crisis. Each bag comes with 10 children’s books as well as 10 drawstring backpacks and includes one free refill.

This is the first department in Illinois to be a part of this new program.

Nunda Rural Fire Protection District Lt. Ryan Artner said he learned about the program less than a month ago and instantly became interested in participating in it.

thanks Dan

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As seen around … Elgin

This from Mike Maida:

On Tuesday morning, I happened to see the Elgin Fire Department setting up for what appeared to be a dive rescue drill at the lake behind Sherman Hospital.  Photos included show the 2015 E-One, Engine 5, Engine 3, a Seagrave, and Medic 1.  Engine 5 has a bell on it that came from their previous rig, a 2001 KME.

Enjoy!

Mike Maida

Elgin FD fire engine and Medic unit

Mike Maida photo

Elgin FD Engine 5

Mike Maida photo

Elgin FD Engine 5

Mike Maida photo

Elgin FD Engine 5

Mike Maida photo

Elgin FD Engine 5

Mike Maida photo

Elgin FD Engine 5 decal

Mike Maida photo

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Gary Fire Department history

This from Wayne Stuart:

The Gary Fire Department operated this 1948 American La France model PJC 710 with a 1000 GPM pump and a 300 Gallon booster tank. It was assigned to Engine Co. 4  at 2346 Broadway until it’s demise in the middle 60’s after a collision with Truck Co. 2 at an intersection responding to a working fire.

From The Wayne Stuart Collection

historic fire engine from Gary Indiana

From The Wayne Stuart Collection

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