Archive for October 4th, 2017

Fox River and Countryside Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the KaneCountyChronicle.com:

Fox River and Countryside Fire Protection District officials said they will seek a fifth tax increase referendum on the March 20 primary ballot, but voters may also see an advisory question, asking if they would support closing one of the district’s two stations in order to cut costs, officials said at its Sept. 25 meeting.

With the failure of four previous requests for a tax rate increase – in 2006, 2009, 2015 and 2017 – board members said they did not have enough money to buy equipment or to pay its firefighters enough to keep them from leaving for other departments.

Board members did not determine how much to ask for this time, but said they would couple it with an advisory question asking if voters would support closing one of the two stations to save money.

“We keep saying bad things will happen if the referendum doesn’t pass,” fire district attorney Ken Shepro said. “Unless they are really insiders, [voters’] perception is [that] nothing has changed. The trucks keep rolling, these guys still show up.”

Fire Chief John Nixon said they keep responding to fires and heart attacks and that makes people think the district is doing well financially.

The district serves 25,000 residents in a 38-square-mile area that includes parts of St. Charles, Campton and Wayne townships and portions of Kane and DuPage counties.

Board President Bob Handley also suggested contracting with neighboring districts – Elburn, South Elgin, Bartlett, and St. Charles – to provide firefighting services while the district would retain its ambulance service – which is 70 percent of its calls. Doing that would reduce labor costs.

“Or we could just dissolve the district and let it go wherever the state fire marshal puts it,” Handley said. “Ideally, we would pass a referendum and stay in business. Our problem is replacing our equipment and keeping our manpower. It’s a tightrope we have to walk. Unless we get the public nervous, they’re not going to do anything.”

Shepro said dissolving the district is not within the board’s authority.

“The district can only be dissolved by petition of the voters of the district and another referendum,” Shepro said. “In theory, the voters could say no, do not dissolve the district. But we don’t have the capability to maintain operations … [so] a judge comes in and decides what to do.”

If the district was dissolved, its assets and debts would divvied up to neighboring fire districts.

Officials have until January to set its referendum questions.

thanks Dan

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Aurora Regional Fire Museum news

Excerpts from the Dailyherald.com:

 The Aurora Regional Fire Museum will kick off Fire Prevention Week a few days early as part of Aurora Downtown’s First Fridays event from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. The museum will feature a variety of activities for children to partake in, information for parents on safety, as well as a variety of local artists and vendors. All activities are free, while supplies last.

Special this month will be a variety of activities in honor of Fire Prevention Week. Activities include:

• Children can color their own fire helmet and fire safety bookmark to take home.

• New York Life Insurance will be on hand to provide child safety ID kits for all parents to have in case of an emergency. New York Life’s Child ID Program is designed to help children in our

community learn how to stay safe in the home, at play, or wherever they happen to be. In only 3 to 5 minutes, a child ID kit is printed for each parent or guardian free of charge. These include a child’s photo, fingerprints, contact information, and other pertinent data needed by the police in case of an emergency.

• First Alert, the leading brand in fire safety, will be providing educational materials and fun activity sheets on the importance of whole home safety. Also included, will be a raffled basket of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and other safety products.

In addition to these special activities, the museum will feature a variety of local artists and vendors as part of their Pop-Up Shops. This month will feature everything from jams and baked goods to handmade signs. Vendors include: Splinter and Things, BoogieBean Boutique, Kiddie Capes, A Little Something Sweets, Ursula Naturals, Moondragora, Young Living Wellness, Short Bench Woodworks, The Cookie Garden, and Covered in Chocolate.

“Collaborations like this with local artists and area businesses allow the Museum to engage with the community in new and exciting ways. First Fridays provides the perfect platform and audience to try new concepts and forge new relationships,” said Executive Director Brian Failing.

Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 8-14. It has been sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association since 1922, when the commemoration began. It is observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began Oct. 8, 1871, and did most of its damage Oct. 9.

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum preserves the history of the Aurora Fire Department and fire service in our region through our collections and exhibits while educating visitors about fire safety and prevention. For more information about this event or the Museum, contact Brian Failing, executive director, at (630) 256-4141 or ed@auroraregionalfiremuseum.org.

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Crestwood Fire Department news

Excerpts from the Crestwood FD Facebook page:

We would like to thank Mayor Presta, the Board of Trustees and Chief Hardwick for the refurbishing of our 2000 KME engine. Under the supervision of Chief Hardwick the body had numerous rust spots throughout repaired . All repairs were made and the body was completely painted. All lights were up graded. We will get another 10 plus years of service from this engine.

Crestwood FD Engine 2323

Crestwood FD Engine 2323 was recently refurbished. Crestwood FD photo

Crestwood FD Engine 2323

Crestwood FD photo

Crestwood FD Engine 2323

Crestwood FD photo

Crestwood FD Engine 2323

Crestwood FD photo

thanks Josh

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Chicago Fire Department news

This from the Fleet Guy:

Going to auction:

FDE-250 1985 E-One Old Tower Ladder 21, this leaves only 2 of the open cab 1985’s left in the spare fleet.  FDE-248 & FDE -252

FDE-250 1985 E-One Old Tower Ladder 21

FDE-250 1985 E-One Old Tower Ladder 21. Fleet Guy photo

1985 E-One Tower Ladder for sale at auction

FDE-250 1985 E-One Old Tower Ladder 21. Fleet Guy photo

1985 E-One Tower Ladder for sale at auction

FDE-250 1985 E-One Old Tower Ladder 21. Fleet Guy photo

1985 E-One Tower Ladder for sale at auction

FDE-250 1985 E-One Old Tower Ladder 21. Fleet Guy photo

FDD – 544

old Chicago fire engine going to auction

FDD – 544. Fleet Guy photo

old Chicago fire engine going to auction

FDD – 544. Fleet Guy photo

FDE-238

old Chicago FD E-ONE ladder truck for sale at auction

FDE-238. Fleet Guy photo

old Chicago FD E-ONE ladder truck for sale at auction

FDE-238. Fleet Guy photo

Former Chicago FD ambulance for sale at auction

Fleet Guy photo

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