Archive for February, 2017

Box alarm fire in Lake Forest, 2-23-17

Lake Forest firefighters were called to 81 W. North Avenue Thursday morning (2/23/17) for smoke in the basement of an occupied house undergoing some renovation. Black smoke was reported on arrival and the alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 for the working fire.

As conditions deteriorated and sections of the first floor became unstable, the alarm was upgraded to a Box Alarm. The fire was declared under control shortly thereafter and the incident commander began releasing companies.

aftermath of house fire

Larry Shapiro photo

aftermath of house fire

Larry Shapiro photo

aftermath of house fire

Larry Shapiro photo

ambulance at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

fire trucks at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

more photos at Shapirophotography.net

This from Steve Redick:

Happened to be in the area, this is a long way from my usual still district. Fire was a done deal but I got to see and shoot a bunch of rigs I never see.

Steve

Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD Truck 51

Steve Redick photo

Lake Bluff FD fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Countryside FPD tower ladder

Steve Redick photo

Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD Squad 19

Steve Redick photo

Lake Forest FD fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Bull dog character on fire truck

Steve Redick photo

Lake Forest FD fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Knollwood FD quint

Steve Redick photo

Highland Park FD Squad 33

Steve Redick photo

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Chicago Fire Department news

Excerpts from dvidshub.net:

On May 19, 1998, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter Eugene W. Blackmon, Jr., was working a routine assignment when he and his unit received a call that there was a drowning incident in the Little Calumet River. Blackmon went into the river that day, tirelessly searching for the reported two missing men. While displaying courage, selflessness and bravery, Blackmon would, unfortunately, not resurface alive. He was pronounced dead nearly three hours later at the Christ Hospital emergency room.

In his honor from that heroic day, the department created the Eugene Blackmon Award to be given to a firefighter candidate at graduation who displayed leadership qualities.

Eder Campos, a Marine veteran, was the recipient of the award during the Candidate Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician graduation ceremony, Feb. 15, at Chicago’s Navy Pier.

Before pursuing a career as a firefighter, Campos worked as a motor transportation mechanic for the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2014. He deployed overseas four times and received numerous awards.

“In the fire service, we have to work together as a team, we won’t accomplish anything unless we’re working together,” said Campos. “That’s something that was instilled in me by the Marine Corps.”

Campos begins his childhood dream as a firefighter and emergency medical technician with his first assignment at Chicago FD Engine Company 95. Although he has moved on, Campos says he will always be thankful for everything the Marine Corps taught him.

thanks Dan

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Elmhurst Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Elmhurst officials are reviewing fire department operations at a time when a growing number of calls are for emergency medical services. The review will focus on staffing and equipment levels.

City officials say the department is now fully staffed with 11 firefighters per shift. The city also contracts with Metro Paramedic Services, Inc., part of Superior Ambulance Service, for two advanced life support ambulances, with each staffed around the clock by two paramedics, part of a Metro crew of 12 who average seven years of experience.

But a number of residents have questioned whether two ambulances are enough for a town as large and spread out as Elmhurst. Many have called either for additional ambulances or for the city to staff fire trucks and engines with firefighters who are also certified paramedics.

Critics of the set-up say fire equipment and firefighters are often the first on the scene, ahead of the ambulance, and could provide advanced life support services.

Firefighter members of Elmhurst Local 3541 of the International Association of Fire Fighters have said many of the city’s firefighters are certified paramedics and would like to be able to use their skills.

But city manager James Grabowski has said he is concerned over the possibility of loss of state revenue as the state’s lack of a budget drags on. The city’s budget does not include any money for additional emergency medical services or staffing, but left open the possibility that money could be found if the council decides to move in that direction.

Fire Chief Thomas Freeman presented information showing that while the number of fire calls has remained fairly steady over the last 10 years, the number of calls for emergency medical services has grown from fewer than 3,000 to more than 4,000.

But Freeman said there have only been 133 instances where the city has called for an additional ambulance from another community, meaning that the city’s two ambulances have been able to handle nearly 97 percent of calls for medical services.

Elmhurst fire’s response time for an ambulance call is under four minutes, while calls involving mutual aid average less than seven and a half minutes. That time is about the same for both calls where an Elmhurst ambulance goes to another town and cases where another town’s ambulance responds to an Elmhurst call.

Freeman and Grabowski explained that all department responses are dispatched by the DuPage Public Safety Organization, DU-COMM, which responds to 911 calls and dispatches responders from 45 agencies in DuPage County.

Grabowski and others explained several aspects of the contract ambulance service, including that Metro does all ambulance service billing, that Elmhurst residents are not billed for any balance beyond what their insurance covers and that billing revenue over contract thresholds are returned to the city at the end of the year. That provision has returned hundreds of thousands of dollars to the city over the 40 years the city has contracted with Metro.

thanks Dan

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Long Grove FD orders new engine (more)

Updated photos of the engine being built for Long Grove at E-ONE so 140766

fire truck being built

E-ONE photo

fire truck being built

E-ONE photo

fire truck being built

E-ONE photo

and from the Fire Service, Inc. Facebook page

fire truck being built

Fire Service, Inc. photo

fire truck being built

Fire Service, Inc. photo

fire truck being built

Fire Service, Inc. photo

fire truck being built

Fire Service, Inc. photo

fire truck being built

Shaun Unell photo

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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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House fire in Buffalo Grove, 2-21-17

This from Larry Shapiro:

Buffalo Grove firefighters were dispatched after 2PM Tuesday afternoon (2/21/17) for smoke coming from the house at 504 Crown Point Drive. Police officers arrived first and reported smoke from the eaves and the alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 for the working fire.

The house was thought to have no occupants and companies made entry and encountered heavy smoke conditions. The fire was contained to the kitchen though firefighters recovered a dog that perished.

Mutual aid companies included Long Grove, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, and Mundelein. Other units were assigned to cover the Buffalo Grove stations.

smoke from house fire in Buffalo Grove

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters make entry into house on fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighter at hydrant with supply line

Larry Shapiro photo

smoke from house fire in Buffalo Grove

Larry Shapiro photo

FD lieutenant and battalion chief confer at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

More photos are at Shapirophotography.net

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Chicago FD Squad 7

This from Josh Boyajian:

I had a great opportunity recently and was able to shoot the new Squad 7 @ O’Hare …
Squad 7 is a 2016 Rosenbauer Commander 4000, 18′ walk-in rescue squad company
Shop #AVF657
Squad 7A is a 2016 Rosenbauer Commander 4000, ACP-55 Articulating Cobra Platform
Shop #AVF656
They are very nice! They seem like they are heavy duty and built well. Hopefully the fella’s have good luck with them.
Chicago FD Squad 7

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago FD Squad 7A

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago FD Squad 7

Josh Boyajian photo

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