Archive for April 25th, 2017

Of interest …

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

The City of Chicago expects to go out to bid within the next few weeks for a computer-automated 911 dispatch system to replace one that is now two decades old … and could receive texts, photos and video of crimes and other emergencies. The city’s 911 system already has the advantage of connections to 29,000 cameras across the city.

The new system, part of a nationwide initiative, also will have more redundancies built in for it to keep operating if the main system fails for some reason.

Mayor Emanuel said last year that a new 311 system, which initially was estimated to cost about $30 million, would be in place by 2019. He initially proposed privatizing 311 to help cover the cost, but set aside that plan after aldermen balked and instead came up with a way to pay for it by moving a city maintenance yard and selling the valuable Goose Island property on which it currently sits.

thanks Dan

Tags:

Chicago Fire Department news

Excerpts from dnainfo.com:

Retired Chicago Fire Department Lt. Robert “Bob” Zolna visits the firehouse in Mount Greenwood six days a week to have coffee with firefighters, paramedics, and others.

But at 6:49 p.m. Feb. 9, those same firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to Zolna’s home in West Beverly. They found him suffering from low blood sugar, which sent him into cardiac arrest.

The medics shocked Zolna’s heart six times in 10 minutes and were able to revive him. He’s since returned to the firehouse at 3112 W. 111th St. — seated in the same chair surrounded by the men and women who saved his life.

Zolna retired from the fire department in 1998. His last assignment was at Engine 88, now at 3637 W. 59th St. in West Lawn. And every day — except Sunday — he visits the firehouse near his home between 9-10 a.m.

On the day of his heart attack, Zolna missed his morning coffee because of a doctor’s appointment. A diabetic for 40 years, he returned home, went down into his basement and fell asleep in a chair. He skipped lunch that day and when his wife, Luce, came home she noticed the dog that hates him running around the kitchen barking at the top of the stairs.

She went down into the basement and found him making strange noises. He was cold to the touch and soon began thrashing around. She called her neighbor, Katherine “Kitty” Giblin, an ambulance commander with the fire department.

Both assumed that Zolna’s blood sugar was off. That’s when Luce Zolna called another nearby paramedic, Victoria Janozik. She called the firehouse directly. Giblin called 911.

Firefighters and paramedics were able to stabilize him enough to take him to the hospital where his heart stopped again in the emergency room. Zolna pulled through and was later transferred to the University of Chicago Hospital where doctors installed a combination pacemaker and defibrillator device.

On March 21, Zolna was back at the firehouse for coffee.

A ceremony honoring the firefighters and paramedics that saved Zolna’s life is set for May 24 at the Robert J. Quinn Fire Academy. Zolna expects to be there, adding that he feels great after his near-death experience.

thanks Dan

Tags: ,

Box Alarm in Orland Hills, 4-24-17

This from Tom Clifton:

A couple photos and video from the Orland still and box on 4-24-17. 9200 block of 162nd st.

Tom Clifton

Firefighters battle house fire

Tom Clifton photo

Firefighters battle house fire

Tom Clifton photo

Firefighters battle house fire

Tom Clifton photo

aftermath of house fire

Tom Clifton photo

Tags: , , , ,

New ambulance for Crestwood

From the Fire Service, Inc. Facebook page:

Congratulations and a big Thank You to Chief Jon Bruce and the members of the Crestwood Fire Department on their new Wheeled Coach, Type I ambulance. This new unit is on a 2017 F-450 chassis, with Liquid Spring suspension system. This is Crestwood’s first Wheeled Coach and boasts all LED emergency and interior dome lighting, LED strip lighting in the exterior compartments, as well as custom interior cabinetry. A Federal EQ2B siren, and Buell air horns complete the package. The paint scheme is done in Crestwood’s black over red style. This unit includes Wheeled Coach’s custom “COOLBAR” with center opticom  … a Stryker Power Load System and new Stryker Power Cot. We want to welcome this department to the Fire Service family and we appreciate their support. Thanks Again.

Crestwood FD ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

Crestwood FD ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

Crestwood FD ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

Crestwood FD ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

rear of new ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

Tags: , , , ,