Archive for September 9th, 2017

Wheeling Fire Department news

Excerpts from the Dailyherald.com:

Wheeling residents who repeatedly call firefighters for help moving within their homes or getting out of cars will now have to pay for the service. The village will charge repeat callers up to $600 per visit on invalid assists. The idea is to cut costs and keep firefighters available for emergency situations.

Typically, the residents have ongoing health problems. Rather than seek long-term solutions, they call the fire department for help but refuse to be taken to the hospital.

The fire and human services departments have connected many residents with resources that can help, but some people have refused assistance, Fire Chief Keith MacIsaac said. He told village board members Monday he hopes the fees can be removed once repeat callers have gotten help and the problem no longer exists.

It is not meant to be a revenue generator in any way, shape or form,” he said.

Though invalid assists account for only 4 percent of fire department calls, the figure has been steadily increasing. In 2009, firefighters responded to 86 invalid assist calls and there were 189 last year.

Under the policy, the first three invalid assist calls in a one-year period won’t be charged. Residents will pay $150 on calls four through six; $300 on calls seven through nine; and $600 per incident after 10 or more calls.

The fee structure is intended to deter the most frequent callers from relying on firefighters. A small number of residents are expected to be charged under the policy. The ordinance would’ve come into effect nine times in 2015 and 13 times in 2016.

The village board unanimously approved the policy.

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Niles Fire Department news

Excerpts from the journal-topics.com:

Niles firefighters collected over $10,000 for Hurricane Harvey relief over two days last week using “Fill The Boot” fundraising.

Firefighters walked in traffic carrying a spare boot along Dempster Street and along Greenwood Avenue near Fire Station No. 2 at Dempster and Cumberland Avenue accepting donations from motorists. An additional boot was left at the TCF Bank on Dempster just east of the firehouse.

Fire Chief Marty Feld said firefighters collected about $9,350 in cash plus another 2-1/2 gallons in change. Coins and money from the bank donation boot totaled $10,100 after being counted Tuesday morning.

Money from the drive will be donated to the Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey Relief.

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Gurnee Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

A body was found in the debris of a Grandwood Park home that exploded Friday, and at least one other person was injured near the explosion.

Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief James Pellitteri said earlier that authorities had not believed anyone was inside the home in the 36300 block of Streamwood Court when it was leveled by an explosion. He added that two other homes to the north and south sustained damage.

According to Pellitteri, flames continued to burn from a ruptured natural gas line after crews arrived on the scene. The gas was then cut off, allowing firefighters to put out the blaze.

Crews from the Waukegan and Newport fire departments assisted at the scene.

The damaged home sits north of Grand Avenue and west of Hutchins Road. The Grandwood Park neighborhood is about a mile west of Gurnee Mills.

explosion levels house

Tim Olk photo

gas utility workers at scene of house explosion

Tim Olk photo

explosion levels house

Tim Olk photo

explosion levels house

Tim Olk photo

explosion levels house

Tim Olk photo

house destroyed by explosion

Tim Olk photo

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CFD Administrative Order A-04-17

Chicago FD Administrative Order A-04-17

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