Archive for November, 2017

Vintage 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 3-25-66

Nov 16

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 9 Comments

This from Eric Haak:

These images come to you from the early morning hours of March 25, 1966. This was a 5-11 +1 special at 3951 South Canal Street. The building was owned at the time by the Siegmund Warner Company which produced some sort of sporting goods. The interesting thing is that the larger building that you see the fire building attched to still exists and has been vacant for a while. The 5th image shows a collapse in progress. The 6th image is taken looking north towards Pershing and both of the buildings in the background still stand. The last photo is looking west towards Normal Avenue. Still time is recorded as 0451. Hope you enjoy!

massive fire in Chicago in 1966 vintage Chicago police cars

March 25, 1966. This was a 5-11 +1 special at 3951 South Canal Street in Chicago. The building was owned at the time by the Siegmund Warner Company. From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

massive fire in Chicago in 1966 with Snorkel working

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

vintage Chicago FD Snorkels Snorkel Squad 1

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

Tags: Chicago FD Jeep high pressure engine, Chicago Fire Department history, classic Chicago fire scene photos, classic Chicago police cars, massive fire in Chicago in 1966 with Snorkel working, Siegmund Warner Company fire, vintage 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, Vintage 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago 3-25-66, vintage Chicago FD Snorkel Squad 1, vintage Chicago police cars

Bridgeview Fire Department history

Nov 16

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos | 6 Comments

This from Mike Summa:

TBT- This was Bridgeview Fire Department’s 1987 KME 1871/Darley 1500/750 E416. Photo taken before switch to white over red. Enjoy and comment.
Mike Summa

Bridgeview Fire Department 1987 KME 1871/Darley 1500/750 Engine 416.Mike Summa photo

Tags: Bridgeview Fire Department, Mike Summa, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday, vintage fire truck photo

North Riverside considers privatizing the fire department (more)

Nov 16

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the rblandmark.com:

Despite an assurance from the North Riverside mayor in October that the village was through trying to privatize firefighting services through the courts, on Nov. 3 the village’s law firm filed a petition asking the Illinois Supreme Court to hear the case.

In the petition, the village’s attorney argues that the Illinois Court of Appeals created significant constitutional issues by ruling that an apparent contract impasse had to be resolved through an Illinois Labor Relations Board arbitrator.

The ruling, according to the village granted constitutionally prohibited special privileges and gives labor arbitrators power the Illinois General Assembly never intended.

The village continues to claim, as it has throughout the more than 3-year-old court case, that it has the unilateral right to terminate its contractual relationship with union firefighters, whose most recent deal ended April 30, 2014. The village attorney also argues that it has the right to outsource work performed by union members, based on an appellate court ruling concerning a school district that outsourced bus-driving jobs formerly held by union members.

That appellate ruling creates a conflict with the North Riverside ruling, the village argues, which necessitates intervention and clarification by the state’s Supreme Court.

The mayor admitted that it’s unlikely the Supreme Court will accept the case and said he expects the dispute between the village and the firefighters’ union to wind up before an arbitrator, as directed by the appellate court.

“We’ll go full-blown arbitration to dissect the contract and start from scratch,’ the mayor said. “The arbitrator can hopefully meet in the middle ground and come up with something that’s fair to both sides.”

Why petition the Supreme Court at all, and incur additional expenses? The mayor says that the village’s law firm pledged to file the petition without charge.

According to a spokeswoman at the Chicago office of the Supreme Court clerk, the soonest the court may announce a decision on whether to hear the case is the end of January 2018.

The attorney representing North Riverside Firefighters Union Local 2714 said he will file a response to the motion before the Nov. 27 deadline and that the village’s theory of how to interpret the Illinois Labor Relations Act turns decades of accepted law on its head.

thanks Dan

Tags: court rules against North Riverside village management, North Riverside considers privatizing the fire department, North Riverside files lawsuit in hopes of privatizing the fire department

Donald Stanley Rimgale; August 3, 1940 – November 13, 2017

Nov 15

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 2 Comments

From beveragefamilyfuneralhome.com:

Donald S. Rimgale, Sr., 77, originally of Chicago, IL, died Monday, November 13, 2017 peacefully at home in Elmhurst, IL. He was born August 3, 1940, the son of Adam Donald and Stella Pearl (Lis) Rimgale.

Don retired from the Chicago Fire Department after 31 years in November 1996. As an active member of CFD Union Local 2 he served as Business Agent and various other union positions throughout his career. Companies that he served on were Snorkel Squad 2, Flying Squad 3, Squad 4, Squad 5, Engine 88 and the Office of Fire Investigation (OFI). He received numerous commendations throughout his years of service. Don proudly became chief of the Sandwich Fire Department contributing to the community in which he and his family resided for many years. He retired from the Sandwich Fire Department in July 2016 following aggressive cancer treatment.

It was during his years of service as an arson investigator, with the OFI, that his movie career launched. Don was the inspiration behind Robert DeNiro’s character, Inspector Don Rimgale, in the blockbuster film, “Backdraft” (1991). Don made his debut in the film having other small speaking parts, and is credited in the movie’s closing credits. During this time, he became a member of the Screen Actors Guild, obtained an agent and then continued to audition for movie and television parts.

He had roles in “Baby’s Day Out”, “Gladiator”, “Chain Reaction”, “The Fugitive”, “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Part Two Mask of Sanity”, and “Under the Bus”. Television appearances were made in the “Untouchables”, “Missing Persons”, “Angel Street”, “Early Edition”, “Legacy of Lies” and “Polish Hill”. Don was a featured guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight.

Survivors include his wife Sharon (nee Klug) Rimgale of 30 years, sister Barbara of Orlando, FL, brothers Ron (Bernie) of Nashville, TN, Adam, Jr. of Tucson, AZ; his children Becky Mannarelli, Donald “Donn” Rimgale, Jr., Roxanne (Tim) Gardner, Rachel Rimgale, Staff Sergeant Robert Rimgale (retired), Staff Sergeant Timothy (Brittany) Rimgale currently serving in the U.S. military; grandsons Mike Mannarelli, Ryan Rotter, Griffin and Simon Gardner and granddaughter Abigale Rimgale; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Daniel (6), grandson Jonathan (6), and his parents.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at the Sandwich Fire Department, 310 E. Railroad St., Sandwich, IL at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 25. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. Cards of condolences may be sent to his family in care of Beverage Family Funeral Home, 104 Terry Street, Sandwich, IL. www.beveragefamilyfh.com

thanks Dan

Tags: Chicago Fire Department, Donald S. Rimgale, Inspector Don Rimgale, Sandwich Fire Department

Mundelein and Libertyville Fire Department news

Nov 15

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 4 Comments

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Mundelein and Libertyville will share a tower ladder in what officials says is a common-sense way to improve efficiency and lower costs for taxpayers in both towns.

Under terms of an agreement approved Monday by the Mundelein village board and expected to be accepted in Libertyville, the Libertyville tower ladder would be available to Mundelein for an annual fee that will offset maintenance and future replacement costs.

Mundelein’s tower ladder is not past its prime and doesn’t need replacement, but the move will provide the department and village with options, according to Deputy Chief Chief Bill Lark.

The agreement depends on Mundelein’s ability to sell, lease, or trade their ladder truck.

Under terms of the five-year pact, Mundelein would pay $14,000 for the first year with an annual increase of 3 percent thereafter. Libertyville’s truck and trained personnel would be needed about five times a year. The villages provide automatic mutual aid for structure fires through a separate 2015 agreement.

Libertyville Fire Chief Rich Carani said the villages have been talking about a number of options for about two years in an era of tight budgets and desire to make tax dollars stretch.

Ladder trucks have fairly long life spans because they don’t drive as many miles as engines. But a new one costs $1.3 million or more.

“When looking at operational use versus cost, fuel, and associated maintenance to keep a vehicle like this operational, it makes more sense to share these types of assets,” said Eric Guenther, Mundelein’s public safety director.

Libertyville is only 2 miles farther from the Mundelein’s primary high-rise, most commercial properties and can access the east side of the village without being blocked by railroad tracks.

Libertyville’s truck is 18 years old and on a 25-year rotation to be replaced. But the village is considering refurbishing it to add up to 10 years to its life at a considerably lower cost than buying new.

thanks Ron

Tags: Deputy Chief Chief Bill Lark, fire department agree to share fire truck, Libertyille Fire Department, Libertyville Fire Chief Rich Carani, Mundelein and Libertyville fire departments to share tower ladder, Mundelein FIre Department

X-Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol rig for sale

Nov 15

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, fire engine for sale | 8 Comments

From the SPAAMFAA Facebook page:

1949 Ford F-7 Big Job

$3,500

Chicago, IL

1949 Ford Insurance Patrol wagon. A division of the Chicago Fire Department. Back in the old days the insurance Patrol would rush in with tarps to salvage your property after the fire department dumped copious amounts of water on it.
There are only three of these left in the world this 49 and a meticulously restored 51 and a 56 model. Whether you wanted to restore this or make a Resto rod out of it you would definitely be the only one with one around.
The body has seen better days and the doors are made out of wood with steel wrapped around them. The back door is still well hung but the front doors are rotten where they used to mount to the piano hinges and they are just wedged in place for the photographs.
Under the hood is the big 337 Ford flathead V8 which was only used in these big trucks and the Lincoln automobiles. This motor was free 10 years ago but someone left a spark plug out and it is currently stuck. The asking price for this one-of-a-kind vehicle is $3,500 complete or $2,500 without the motor and trans. The vehicle is currently located in Alsip illinois.

thanks Dennis & Dan

Tags: antique fire truck for sale, Chicago Fire Department history, Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol, former Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol Wagon for sale

House fire in Deerfield, 11-13-17 (more)

Nov 15

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 2 Comments

photos can be viewed HERE

Tags: chicagoareafire.com, Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District, Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD Press Release, house fire in Deerfield

House fire in Deerfield, 11-13-17

Nov 15

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department News, Fire Scene photos | 2 Comments

Deerfield-Bannockburn firefighters were called to 1131 Osterman Avenue Monday morning for a report of smoke coming from the second floor of the two-story house. First arriving units confirmed smoke and upgraded the alarm to a working fire. The fire appeared to originate on the first floor and was extinguished quickly.

Units at the scene were Deerfield-Bannockburn Engine 20, Squad 19, Truck 20, Battalion 20, 2000, and 2001; highland Park Battalion 33 and Truck 33; Northbrook Battalion 11, Ambulance 11, and Engine 10; Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Ambulance 52, Engine 52, and 5201; and Lake Forest Truck 421.

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Tim Olk photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Tim Olk photo

Tim Olk photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters carry ground ladder at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

Tim Olk photo

Tim Olk photo

Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD Deputy Chief Ray Larson

Tim Olk photo

Larry Shapiro photo

more photos at Shapirophotography.net

Tags: Deerfield Engine 20, Deerfield Truck 20, Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District, Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD Engine 20, Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD Squad 19, Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD Truck 20, Highland Park FD Battalion 33, house fire in Deerfield, Larry Shapiro, Northbrook FD Battalion 11, shapirophotography.net, Tim Olk

Hoffman Estates Fire Department news

Nov 14

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Hoffman Estates Fire Chief Jeffrey Jorian will retire this month after 35 years with the village.

Jorian joined the Hoffman Estates Fire Department as a firefighter in September 1982 and moved steadily through the ranks over the years. He was sworn in as fire chief in September 2013.

Among Jorian’s accomplishments under his various ranks was managing the department’s transition to Northwest Central Dispatch, leading the Dive Rescue Team, serving as the department’s first full-time training officer, and coordinating the first multiagency training among Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Schaumburg, and Palatine.

Deputy Chief Patrick Fortunato will be the acting chief when Jorian retires on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Tags: Deputy Chief Patrick Fortunato, Hoffman Estates Fire Chief Jeffrey Jorian, Hoffman Estates fire chief to retire, Hoffman Estates Fire Department