Alexis Fire Equipment photo
Alexis Fire Equipment photo
Alexis Fire Equipment photo
Alexis Fire Equipment photo
Archive for October, 2017
New squad for Sandwich FPD
Oct 21
Chicago Fire Department news
Oct 21
Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:
The Chicago Fire Department’s 75 advanced life-support ambulances will be equipped with powered electric cots to minimize paramedic injuries and speed patient treatment.
Three years ago, the cots were field-tested on Chicago ambulances with mixed results. When paramedics complained that the motor made the cot too heavy, the city decided not to go through with the purchase.
Paramedics continued to place patients on standard stretchers and lift them into the ambulance, despite the risk of shoulder, neck, and back injuries.
Now, the city is prepared to try again.
“Beginning in late 2017 and into 2018, CFD will replace all ambulance cots with motor-elevated units,” the city’s 2018 budget overview states.
Joe Davilo, EMS Director for the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, said he was indifferent to the upgrade.
Last year, the Chicago Fire Department spent $50.5 million on overtime – 66 percent over its allotted budget for 2016 – with the largest totals going to paramedics.
This year, the fire department got off to another record start, with $13.9 million in first-quarter overtime spending. That was up 12 percent from the $12.4 million in overtime spending during the same period last year.
A retired Chicago paramedic, who asked to remain anonymous, predicted that electric cots would eliminate as much as 30 percent of all paramedic injuries suffered on the job and overtime triggered by those absences.
The veteran paramedic said, “Putting more ambulances on the street would be even better. What’s killing us is running from one call to another all day and all night.”
thanks Niko
Photo by Ashley McFall
Excerpts from the kanecountychronicle.com:
A fire that ignited overnight in a vacant barn at 42W600 block of Route 64 off Mary Drive near St. Charles in Campton Hills quickly turned into an inferno. The initial call for the structure fire came in at 2:05 a.m.
Horses were scheduled to move into the stables the next day and the blaze completely destroyed an indoor riding arena.
The Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District received assistance from 20 fire departments. Damage to the equestrian center was estimated to be $570,000.
The main barn and the attached arena plus a storage and residential building were completely destroyed.
The fire was brought under control by 3:50 a.m., but units were still on the scene at noon Oct. 20, addressing numerous hot spots.
thanks Dan
Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:
Investigators said a gasoline leak into the water supply was the cause of a large explosion and fire at a condo building in south suburban Willowbrook.
Firefighters from at least 10 departments responded to the Knolls Condominium complex in the 6100-block of Knoll Wood Road Friday morning.
Tri-State Fire Protection District officials believe the gasoline leak originated at a Speedway gas station in neighboring Westmont. There is still gasoline running through sewers from Westmont to the water reclamation plant eight miles east.
Officials are continuing to flush out the water system and are also trying to open the sewers so the gasoline fumes can escape. Fire officials said there have been 10 explosions as a result of the gasoline leak, and no serious injuries have been reported.
A resident pulled a woman out of the building as Willowbrook police and firefighters arrived. She was taken to Loyola Hospital for treatment and is expected to be okay. No other injuries were reported.
“What the fire department has determined either gasoline or some other flammable chemical had been introduced to into the sanitary system,” said Willowbrook Fire Chief Robert Pavelchik.
The Environmental Protection Agency and sanitation district were notified. Anyone who lives in the area and notices the smell of gasoline should open their windows and doors, turn off all ignition sources, and call 911. Fire officials said people are allowed to use their appliances.
At the condo building, all ignition sources – both electric and gas – were immediately turned off and residents were evacuated from their homes. But the calls for help actually started Thursday night, when residents reported smelling gas.
“We had to sleep in our front room because in our room, in the master bedroom where me and my girlfriend sleep, the bathroom smelled like gas. I smelled gas all through our bathroom,” said resident Christopher Simmons.
“They couldn’t find the source and here we are again this morning, in the same neighborhood,” Pavelchik said.
“I believe they could have did more than what they did last night. All they did was come here and turned off the alarm and left,” Simmons said.
The American Red Cross was contacted to provide aid to those who have been evacuated. They will not be allowed to return until investigators determine the source of the explosion and correct the problem.
Firefighters responded to a separate fire early Friday afternoon in the 300-block of 63rd Street. They were able to rescue a dog from the smoky blaze and no one was hurt.
thanks Scott
Overseas request
Oct 20
HiI’m over in England and am planning a visit to Chicago next year.Do you have anyone i could correspond with re questions on my visit to photo apparatus?ThanksMark Corfield.
From the Aurora FD Facebook page:
Station 7 is coming along. Mayor Irvin and Alderman Juany Garza and Wegman Construction Company hold a picture of what the new station will look like upon completion.
Aurora FD photo
Aurora FD photo
Aurora FD photo
thanks Josh
Excerpts from the Dailyherald.com:
Arlington Heights will increase its ambulance transport fee by 275 percent, though officials say only uninsured nonresidents who use an ambulance while in town would actually have to pay the higher fees.
As of Nov. 1, the village will charge $1,500 per transport and add a charge of $12 per mile — though deductibles, co-payments, mileage or other associated costs for village residents would be waived under a plan approved by the village board this week.
That means a nonresident who isn’t covered by insurance, Medicare or Medicaid would have to pay the fee, though Deputy Fire Chief Bernie Lyons said the village would take a compassionate approach to the collection of fees.
Officials say patients who claim a hardship would be directed to the village’s emergency assistance program. Those who provide a hardship letter from their hospital could get a write-off, as is currently the case with homeless patients.
Arlington Heights now charges $400 to $450 to residents and $600 to $650 to nonresidents for ambulance transports — rates that have remained unchanged for 11 years.
Officials say they’re looking to fill a $900,000 budget gap caused by state cuts to the village’s share of income and sales tax revenues. They say the cost of providing emergency medical services also has risen, as has demand from residents. The fee hike would add $960,000 to the $1.7 million the village already collects in transport fees.
Trustee Tom Glasgow was the lone village board member to vote against the fee increase this week.
“We subsidize the parking garage, health clinic, police and chamber of commerce. If we can subsidize those things, we can subsidize this as well,” Glasgow said. “To raise it for people who truly can’t afford it, I have an ethical problem with that.”
Andres Medical Billing, the village’s billing contractor, reports its clients charge $350 to $2,600 per transport. Naperville recently raised its fee to $1,800, and Elgin is considering doing the same.
Private ambulance services on average cost $2,000 per transport.
This from Mike Summa:
Here is a photo of Chicago Ridge Engine 3, a 1950’s Mack B. Picture taken off the Ridge’s facebook. Identity of firemen not known. I was surprised, as I did not know Chicago Ridge was a Fire Protection District. Enjoy and comment.Mike Summa
photo from the Chicago Ridge FPD Facebook page
This from Eric Haak:
This week I am sharing these images from a 5-11 alarm on January 28, 1965. This was an abandoned grain mill at 2203-09 South Lumber Street. For those who are familiar with this area, it is the present location of Ozinga concrete just south of Cermak along the Chicago River. The second image is of Engine 8 and the last image shows Engine 23. I can count 13 master streams flowing in image 4. Still time was reported as 4:47pm. Hope you enjoy.
5-11 alarm fire in Chicago on January 28, 1965. This was an abandoned grain mill at 2203-09 South Lumber Street. from the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown
from the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown
from the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown
from the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown
CFD Engine 23. from the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown
