Archive for September 14th, 2017

Rolling Meadows discusses rebuilding fire stations (more)

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Rolling Meadows has identified land on Algonquin Road for one of two proposed city fire stations.

The city council will vote Tuesday night on a purchase and sale contract for a 77,195-square-foot site at 3201 Algonquin Road, where the former Woo Lae Oak Korean restaurant has stood vacant for three years.

Aldermen will take a first reading vote to authorize spending $1.3 million for the land, owned by Judicial Drive Property Holdings, LLC. A final, second reading vote is scheduled for Sept. 26.

The council will also vote on an ordinance amending city zoning code to allow fire stations within T-1 and T-2 office zoning districts. The Algonquin Road site is within the T-1 district.

If approved, the land purchase would lead to construction of a new Station 15. It would replace the aging downtown station at 3111 Meadow Drive.

The city’s other firehouse, Station 16 at 2455 S. Plum Grove Road, would be replaced with a new station to the east, as part of the fire department’s relocation plan aimed at improving response times and reducing fire risk throughout town.

Tuesday’s vote is significant, since the city’s elected officials have been debating whether to move and/or build fire stations for more than a decade. Though new Mayor Len Prejna supports replacing only Station 15, the newly-seated council took a 4-2 informal straw vote in June to proceed with plans to replace both stations.

Critics have said the estimated $9 million cost to acquire properties and build two new stations is too much.

Fire Chief Scott Franzgrote said that number — calculated two years ago — is still a target, but inflation may increase the price.

Aldermen have been meeting in closed session since January to consider about a dozen sites for the two new stations, leading to Tuesday’s planned open session vote on the Algonquin Road site. The location is about a half-mile from where the city considered building a third fire station. The council decided to build that station in 2014 but reversed course the next year and decided to remain with two stations but in new locations.

Negotiations, meanwhile, continue to acquire land for the second station.

Franzgrote said it would be ideal to build both stations and have them open at the same time, but the property acquisition process for the second site may not make that possible.

The earliest construction could begin for the new Station 15 is next spring, with completion 18 months later, Franzgrote said.

The council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at 3600 Kirchoff Road.

thanks Dan

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New engine for River Forest

From the MDA Chicagoland and Northern Illinois Facebook page:

Thank you River Forest Fire Department and Local 2391 for raising $2,771 for MDA! #FilltheBoot#AFFIStandWithLizzie

River Forest firefighters collected money for the MDA

River Forest FD photo

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Vintage Chicago 5-11 Alarm fire, 6-24-66

This from Eric Haak:

The following images were taken just after noon on June 24, 1966. The fire was in the Western Lumber Company yard at 2732 W. Madison Street and was a 5-11 +2 specials. One of the great things about these old images is that they show what many of these areas once looked like. The wider angle views show Madison looking west just before California. A few years later, this area would be decimated by the 1968 riots. The other nice thing about this series of images is that it shows the early attack in the first picture and then the Snorkels being brought in by the last picture. In that last picture, the building on the left with the Rocky’s Grill sign on it is just about the only building left standing today. Nearly every other building you see in these images are a thing of the past.

historic fire scene photo in Chicago

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

historic fire scene photo in Chicago with Fire Commissioner Robert J Quinn

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

historic fire scene photo in Chicago with wooden aerial ladder

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

historic fire scene photo in Chicago

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

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New engine for Forest Park (more)

This from Jeff Braun Jr:

Here are a few photos of the new Forest Park Engine 401 in full service at the HOBO Grand Opening. Thanks. (9/12/17) -Jeff Braun Jr (COUNTY-WIDE FIRE PHOTOGRPAHY)

Forest Park FD Engine 401

Jeff Braun, Jr. photo

Forest Park FD Engine 401

Jeff Braun, Jr. photo

Forest Park FD Engine 401

Jeff Braun, Jr. photo

Forest Park FD Engine 401

Jeff Braun, Jr. photo

Forest Park FD Engine 401

Jeff Braun, Jr. photo

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