Archive for June, 2017

Illinois Emergency Telephone Act to expire

Excerpts from the Bellevillenews-democrat.com:

On July 1, the existing Emergency Telephone Act will expire, cutting off authorization for 911 services and dispose of the surcharge that helps 911 call centers continue running.

Senate Bill 1839 amends the Emergency Telephone Act and extends the expiration date until the end of 2020. It also would raise the monthly surcharge that each phone-owner pays from .87 cents to $1.50 everywhere except Chicago. The Chicago surcharge would increase from $3.90 to $5.

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has said it won’t support the bill because the surcharge increases are too high. The governor’s policy adviser for energy and environment, issued a memo to a statewide 911 administrator, saying the increases were unacceptable. He asked lawmakers to send a clean bill before July 1.

The bill passed May 31 in both the House and Senate. The memo didn’t suggest specific changes, but did note a 911 advisory board recommended a $1.05 statewide fee.

Brett Reynolds, the president of the Illinois Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, asked that Rauner demonstrate his support of 911 services and public safety by passing the bill, which passed through the general assembly with widespread bipartisan support. The House voted 81-27 and the Senate voted 53-3.

thanks Dan

Excerpts from mysuburbanlife.com:

Public safety officials are calling for Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign legislation that would increase phone fees across the state in order to modernize the 911 emergency service system.

“The state is in the process of modernizing a 30-year-old 911 network to create a more efficient and reliable system to ensure public safety response for all of Illinois,” Association of Public Safety Professionals Illinois Chapter President Brent Reynolds said during a news conference.

The proposed legislation increases the 911 surcharge from 87 cents to $1.50 per month per device, or an annual increase of $7.56 per phone. In Chicago, the 911 surcharge would increase from $3.90 to $5.

Reynolds said the increase is needed to assist 911 dispatch centers in replacing obsolete equipment and upgrading to the technology needed to meet the mandated Next Generation 911 standards that include texting to 911.

Linda Zerwin, executive director of the Emergency Telephone System Board of DuPage County and a 911 service advisory member representing counties with a population of 250,000 or more, noted that with a resident population of just less than 1 million and 62 police and fire agencies, the DuPage County board is the largest county Emergency Telephone System Board in the state.

She said consolidation efforts of the county’s 911 system began in 2008, resulting in an annual savings of about $7 million in operating costs. The Emergency Telephone System Board currently receives about $8 million in 911 surcharges for a $28 million-a-year operation, and the balance of that amount has been borne by the municipal and Sheriff’s Office general funds.

“The city of Chicago has already received two significant increases in the last four years – from $1.25 to $2.50 in 2013 and from $2.50 to $3.90 in 2014,” said Jason Heffley, Rauner’s policy adviser for energy and environment, in a memo to Cindy Barbera-Brelle, statewide 911 administrator. “Additionally, the increase for the remainder of the state is significantly higher than the $1.05 that was recommended by the 911 Advisory Board that studied the issue for two years.”

The bill also would allow AT&T to end providing landline service in Illinois.

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New engine for Schaumburg (more)

Production photos of a new engine being built at Pierce on a Velocity chassis for the Schaumburg FD so# 30926

fire truck being built

pierce photo

fire truck being built

pierce photo

fire truck being built

pierce photo

fire truck being built

pierce photo

fire truck being built

pierce photo

fire truck being built

pierce photo

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Chicago Ridge Fire Department history

This from Mike Summa:

This was Chicago Ridge’s Mack/Pirsch ladder truck.  I do not know the specs, so feel free to inform.  Looks a lot like the Backdraft movie truck.  Enjoy and comment.
Mike Summa
vintage Pirsch ladder truck on a Mack CF chassis

Mike Summa photo

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New ambulances for Oak Lawn

From the Fire Service, Inc. Facebook page:

Here are a few pics of our final inspection recently held at Wheeled Coach in Florida. The Oak Lawn Fire Department is anxiously awaiting their two new Type I F-450 Ambulances. These two units will be replacing their current Wheeled Coach Units. Med #2 and Med #3. We will post additional pictures once the outside graphics and the Stryker Power Load Systems have been installed. As always, we want to thank the department for their continued business. They have been long time Wheeled Coach and Fire Service Inc. customers.

new ambulance before graphiocs

One of two new Type I Wheeled Coach ambulances for Oak lawn. Fire Service, Inc. photo

new ambulance before graphiocs

Fire Service, Inc. photo

new ambulance before graphiocs

Fire Service, Inc. photo

new ambulance before graphiocs

Fire Service, Inc. photo

new ambulance before graphiocs

Fire Service, Inc. photo

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La Grange Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

The La Grange Fire Department has been awarded $309,000 through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The grant will be used to help purchase new portable radios. Their current radios are well past their service life, with some models no longer supported for service or repairs.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program provides needed federal funds to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations in order to improve the response capabilities of our nation’s first responders emergency personnel and the safety of our communities.

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Working fire in Chicago, 5-30-17

some photos from Josh Boyajian from a recent fire in Chicago

aftermath of house fire

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago FD Engine 117

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago FD Tower Ladder 14

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firefighter after battling a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firefighter after battling a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

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New aerial for Bensenville FPD (more)

Updated production photos at E-ONE of the New aerial for Bensenville FPD  so #141014

Fire truck being built

E-ONE photo

fire truck being built

E-ONE photo

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Calumet City Fire Department History

This from Wayne Stuart for #throwbackthursday:

The Calumet City Fire Department operated this 1980 Kenworth/E-1, it had a 1500-GPM pump and a 500-gallon tank. It ran as Engine 303 from Station 2.

Wayne Stuart Photo

vintage Calumet City fire engine

The Calumet City Fire Department operated this 1980 Kenworth/E-1, it had a 1500-GPM pump and a 500-gallon tank. It ran as Engine 303 from Station 2.
Wayne Stuart Photo

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Western Springs Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Fire stations in Western Springs are draped in purple bunting to mourn the death of Lt. Richard “Dick” Jacobson who died June 20 after a long battle with ALS. Jacobson, 58, was a paid on-call firefighter.

He was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2011. He was appointed to the fire department in 2005 and remained involved and on the active roster for the past 12 years.

Fire Chief Patrick J. Kenny said Jacobson, who also trained as a mechanical engineer and worked as a project manager, volunteered for the department after receiving a letter appealing for community members to join the force.

Kenny said Jacobson approached ALS with the courage of a true hero. 

Jacobson was born in December 26, 1958. He grew up Highland Park and attended Deerfield High School where he met the girl who would become his wife, Kristen. The two didn’t start dating until after college. They both attended the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Kristen Jacobson said her husband loved firefighting for several reasons, including because it appealed to his natural sense of curiosity.

After being diagnosed with ALS, he became an advocate for research and education about the disease.

“He knew he couldn’t really fight it. But he educated others. He educated himself and he offered himself for clinical studies,” she said.

In addition to fundraising, he engaged with his doctors to learn about the illness.

In addition to his wife, Jacobson is survived by his children Rachel, Michelle, Arturo, and Andrew.

thanks Dan

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New truck for Westmont (more)

a photo of Westmont’s new quint from Josh Boyajian

Westmont FD Truck 1839 Pierce Velocity quint

Westmont Truck 1839. Josh Boyajian photo

 

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