Archive for May, 2017

Of interest … Charleston Fire Department

Charleston FD Capt. Ryan Delk

Leroy Burnell photo

Excerpts from the postanccourier.com:

Latoya Riley who lives in Charleston, SC was recently preparing pork chops for dinner when the grease she was heating up caught fire. She quickly moved the pan to the sink, burning her hands in the process. When water hit the grease, flames shot up.

She called 911 and the Charleston Fire Department showed up right away.  Captain Ryan Delk said the firefighters were in the middle of making their own dinner when they got the call.

Riley waited outside for her mother to pick her up and take her to the hospital for the burn wounds on her hands.

After the smoke cleared, Captain Delk noticed something was baking in the oven. He took it out, then decided to grab a new pan and finish frying the pork chops. He put the meal on the table for the kids and even cleaned up the kitchen afterwards.  

“She had two small children, so I didn’t want them to have to wait until 10 or 11 o’clock to eat supper,” he said.

The city of Charleston’s Customer Service Initiative Committee heard the story and recognized Delk’s kindness last month with a quarterly customer service award. 

“In this line of work, you have to be a people-person,” Delk said. “It’s not just spraying water on a fire.”

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New squad for Clarendon Hills (more)

Updated production photos of the new squad being built for the Clarendon Hills FD by Pierce so#30266

fire truck being built by Pierce

fire truck being built by Pierce

Pierce photo

fire truck being built by Pierce

Pierce photo

fire truck being built by Pierce

Pierce photo

fire truck being built by Pierce

Pierce photo

fire truck being built by Pierce

Pierce photo

fire truck being built by Pierce

Pierce photo

fire truck being built by Pierce

Pierce photo

fire truck being built by Pierce

Pierce photo

thanks Scott

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MVA with a motorcycle in Wheeling, 5-30-17

Wheeling police and firefighters were called to the intersection of Dundee and Schoenbeck Roads Tuesday evening (5/30/17) for a crash involving a car and motorcycle. The motorcycle carried two people who were lying in the street when the police arrived. Both were transported to the hospital in addition to the driver of the car. All three Wheeling ambulances and both engines were on the scene in addition to Battalion 24 and Chief 2400.

Wheeling FD Engine 42 Rosenbauer Commander

Larry Shapiro photo

paramedics aid patient in street after crash

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighter/paramedics assist multiple patients at crash site with Stryker cots

Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighter/paramedics assist multiple patients at crash site with Stryker cots

Larry Shapiro photo

Rosenbauer Commander and Freightliner ambulance at crash

Larry Shapiro photo

damaged car after striking a motorcycle

Larry Shapiro photo

motorcycle in roadway after crash

Larry Shapiro photo

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Airplane emergency landing at the Aurora Airport, 5-24-17

This from Dave Weaver:

5/24/17 SUGAR GROVE, IL – 2-wheeled Piper Saratoga emergency landing at the Aurora Airport – Video by Dave Weaver

Excerpts from WSPYnews.com:

 

A pilot flying over Sugar Grove made an emergency, two-wheeled landing at the Aurora Airport this week after the left main landing gear on the plane failed to extend.

Lumanair Aviation Services Pilot Scott Luman told WSPY that it was a first for him making an emergency landing. He was flying his Piper Saratoga over the airport around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday when the left main landing gear did not extend.

Video provided shows him land the plane smoothly, eventually coming to a stop with the plane’s left wing touching the ground.

According to radio traffic, Luman circled the airport until emergency crews were able to arrive at the airport as a precaution.

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Bartlett Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the Dailyherald.com:

While the village of Bartlett has approved a larger station for its police department, the separate Bartlett Fire Protection District will soon formulate a response to voters’ rejection of a tax hike intended to maintain services at their current level.

Fire district trustees have scheduled a workshop to discuss the financial and operational outlook for the agency at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, at Fire Station 1, 234 N. Oak Ave. in Bartlett. Fire Chief Michael Falese is expected to present the board with options intended to reduce costs.

The district’s entire financial picture will be considered as various options — and their potential impacts on the public — are discussed.

Last month, 3,699 voters cast ballots against the proposed tax increase — 59.5 percent of the total. The district had asked for a 19.5 percent increase in its property tax levy at the end of 2017. Without voter approval, taxing bodies can increase their levies by 5 percent or the rate of inflation — whichever is less.

The proposed tax hike would have added $600,000 per year to the district’s reserves for unexpected contingencies, fill some vacant jobs to avoid current overtime issues, and allow for a third medical unit when the population warrants it.

The district’s revenue has increased only 1 percent from 2009 to 2017, while the number of calls has risen 16 percent, Falese said.

thanks Dan

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Plainfield Fire Protection District news (more)

Excerpts from the Heraldnews.com:

The Plainfield Fire Protection District headquarters parking lot was full of vehicles this week from all over the country. Firefighters met there to get certified in the fire service Peer Fitness Trainer program, designed for firefighters. With that certification, they can return to their respective districts and train others.

The International Association of Firefighters and International Association of Fire Chiefs Task Force agree that to successfully implement their Wellness/Fitness Initiative, there must be a firefighter in each department who can take the lead. Plainfield currently has three certified.

Each Friday, Plainfield focuses on fitness and nutrition in its firehouses. “We found that in Plainfield, when we do our workouts and we incorporate an entire fire company into it, that the team-building aspect of working out together really raised the camaraderie,” said Plainfield Lt. Andy Scott.

Toronto Fire Department Capt. Alex Boersma and retired New York City Fire Department Lt. Tom Grimshaw instructed the class. Boersma said he teaches five or six Peer Fitness Trainer classes a year.

A key goal of the program is to reduce occupational claims and costs while improving the quality and longevity of a firefighter’s life.

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MVA with school bus, Elburn FPD, May 26, 2017

This from Dave Weaver:

5/26/17 BLACKBERRY TWP, IL – Elburn FPD school bus vs. van and pole w/ injuries/power line down Main St. and Green Rd. – Video by Dave Weaver
DETAILS: According to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 3:30 pm Kane County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a report of a traffic crash with injuries in the area of Green Rd. and Main St. in unincorporated Blackberry Township. The initial investigation indicates that a Toyota Sienna minivan was traveling south on Green Rd. and failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Main St. A school bus, owned by the Illinois Central School Bus Company, was traveling west on Main St. and struck the vehicle. The bus then struck a utility pole near the intersection causing a power outage in the area. The driver of the bus along with the only student on the bus were taken to Delnor Hospital with apparent minor injuries. The driver of the Toyota was issued a ticket for failure to stop for the stop sign and released at the scene. The passenger of the van was also released at the scene. Main St. between IL-47 and Green Rd was closed until approximately 7:00 pm.
Vehicle occupants involved:
· Van Driver 16-year-old female of Elburn Il
· Van passenger -16-year-old female of Elburn
· Bus Driver 34-year-old male of Aurora
· Bus passenger a 13-year-old of Maple Park

 

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Car fire in Dolton, 5-29-17

Photos from Tim Olk of a car fire in Dolton (5/29/17)

car engulfed in fire

Tim Olk photo

car engulfed in fire

Tim Olk photo

firefighters extinguish a car fire

Tim Olk photo

firefighters extinguish a car fire

Tim Olk photo

firefighters extinguish a car fire

Tim Olk photo

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Chicago Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday created a $3 million program to help up to 100 police officers, firefighters, and paramedics purchase homes in targeted Chicago neighborhoods. Daley did the same thing in the early 1990’s with only mixed results. 

Now, Emanuel is offering up his own “public safety officer homebuyer assistance” program in a two-fold effort to improve public safety in neighborhoods plagued by gang violence and rebuild long-neglected inner-city neighborhoods.

The mayor said he has worked hard to make key economic investments — in parks, libraries and public transportation — in long-neglected neighborhoods like Woodlawn, Bronzeville, Pullman and Little Village. He has also worked to attract grocery stores and other retail to long-vacant commercial strips so those inner-city neighborhoods can not only stabilize, but flourish.

Many of the eligible officers will be young and new to their departments. That creates stability in home ownership and makes challenging neighborhoods more safe, he said.

The ordinance introduced at Wednesday’s City Council meeting would tap the Affordable Housing Fund to provide up to $3 million of home buying assistance — enough for 10-year, forgivable loans of $30,000 to 100 police officers, firefighters and paramedics. To qualify, public safety officers must secure a mortgage from a private lender to buy a single-family home or two-flat that would become their primary residence.

The income ceiling would be 150 percent of the median area income. That’s roughly $82,950 a year for single officers and $118,500 a year for a family of four. That would essentially confine the assistance to younger officers.

The homes being purchased would need to be located in parts of six police districts that need both the economic shot in the arm and the added safety that comes with having police officers, firefighters, and paramedics as residents.

Those neighborhoods include parts of: Auburn-Gresham; Austin, Brighton Park; Chatham; East and West Garfield Park; Englewood and West Englewood; Gage Park; Greater Grand Crossing; Humboldt Park; New City and North and South Lawndale.

Over the years, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 have pushed for the city to lift the residency requirement that mandates city employees to live in Chicago.

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Still and Box Alarm in Chicago, 5-28-17

This from Tim Olk:

1900 block of west 115th street in a train station

Chicago firefighters after a fire

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 5A

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD investigators at a fire

Tim Olk photo

firefighters at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 5A

Tim Olk photo

firefighters break down hose after a fire

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 5A

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 5A

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 5A

Tim Olk photo

aftermath of building fire

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 5A at work

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 5A at work

Tim Olk photo

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