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Keeping track of Chicago area fire departments

Archive for April 19th, 2018

Fatal fire in Harvard, 4-19-18

Apr 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the NorthwestHerald.com:

The Harvard Police Department and Harvard Fire Protection District responded about 3:15 a.m. Thursday to 405 E. Blackman St. for a fire that began in the basement of the home.

A 10-year-old boy, 14-year-old girl, and 55-year-old woman escaped the fire and were uninjured. A 63-year-old man was found in the basement and declared dead on the scene.  The man was temporarily staying at the residence.

The Illinois State Fire Marshall is conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire, and said it appears to be accidental and attributed to careless smoking. The fire caused about $75,000 in damage and had little extension into other areas of the home.

Hebron and Capron Rescues, Marengo, Woodstock, McHenry, and Sharon fire departments also responded.

thanks Scott

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Rolling Meadows Fire Department news (more)

Apr 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

The Rolling Meadows woman who sustained critical injuries in a house fire early Friday succumbed to those injuries and died on Monday.

The medical examiner’s office determined Karen Ann Braschko, 80, had died from burns sustained in the house fire. The fire was believed to be caused by a careless use of smoking materials.

Emergency crews Police and firefighters were dispatched to the house at 4:44 a.m. Friday after a 911 operator got a call from a woman coughing, before the phone disconnected. The woman and her 45-year-old son were in the front yard when firefighters arrived. With obvious burns to her body, she was rushed to the hospital. Her son was treated and released.

The fire department doesn’t know how the fire started specifically, but the investigation into the fatal fire is closed.

thanks Scott

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Vintage 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 1-17-92

Apr 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic FD radio trafic, throwbackthursday | Comments off

More from Steve Redick for #TBT:

I found my archive of the famous West Town gas explosions 1-17-92 at 937 N. Racine. A valve failed causing high pressure gas supply to an entire neighborhood resulting in explosions and fires over a large area. The radio traffic is pretty intense. Some of the voices I recognize in the office Dan Bull, Lee Madison, and Mike Kerr, in the field Bob Hoff Batt 6. Bob Walters Truck 19, Wally Lynch E43, Ed Fitzgerald 271, Ray Orozco JR on Truck 7, and Duke Scneider on E57.

We were at the fire Duke had and I’ll never forget he said to us at the time “there are 61 trucks in this friggin city and you can’t find me at least one?” He was on his own at a well involved factory fire. Many will also recall Bob Hoff found a fire, made rescues, drove them to the hospital, and returned back to manage that and a few other incidents. This whole event was really something to see. I was there early on with the watch from work as we were passing nearby on the way home. Unfortunately I did not have my camera. 

 

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Worth Fire Department history

Apr 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | 6 Comments

This from Mike Summa:

For #TBT, these are what I call the Worth twins, 2 FordC/Darleys, unknown age or specs.  Enjoy and comment.
Mike Summa
vintage Worth FD engine 6713

Mike Summa photo

vintage Worth FD engine 6723

Mike Summa photo

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American LaFrance Aero Chief units in the Chicago area

Apr 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | 6 Comments

From Larry Shapiro for #TBT:

Here are other American LaFrance Aero Chief units from my collection in addition to the Zion unit that was featured preciously. 

1969 American LaFrance 900 Series Aero Chief 90

Reg.# 12-1-1314
1969 ALF 900 Series Aero Chief 90 from Elgin, IL. Larry Shapiro photo

American LaFrance Aero Chief

Reg.# 8-1-429
1967 ALF 900 Series Aero Chief 90 from LaGrange, IL
Originally delivered as a quint, this Aero Chief had it’s pump and tank removed. A large equipment compartment replaced the pump. Larry Shapiro photo

1971 American LaFrance 1000 Series Aero Chief 90

Reg.# 14-1-2331
1971 ALF 1000 Series Aero Chief 90 Quint from Libertyville, IL. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

1970 American LaFrance 1000 Series Aero Chief 90

Reg.# 14-1-2131
1970 ALF 1000 Series Aero Chief 90 Quint from Rolling Meadows, IL. Larry Shapiro photo

Data and narrative for these photos is from THE AMERICAN LAFRANCE AERO CHIEF PROJECT

This website is the result of a twelve year project to document the production and history of the American LaFrance Aero Chief. The Aero Chief was introduced in 1962 and continued in production until 1974. 171 Aero Chief platforms were built. It came in three sizes: 70′, 80′, and 90′. Most Aero Chiefs were built on the custom American LaFrance chassis, but there were several built on various commercial chassis. Many of them had pumps and even more had tandem rear axles.

The photos on this site come from a variety of sources. I have photgraphed 65 of them, but the remainder come from many other photographers, including Glenn Vincent, Mike Martinelli, Scott Berringer, Kevin McKeon, Garry Kadzielawski, Bill Friedrich, Don Feipel, Bill Hattersley, Paul Barrett, Scott Mattson, John Floyd, Al Whitlock, Don Loeb, Dan Decher, Ralph Decker, Jon Umbdenstock, Ron Bogardus, Wayne Sorensen, Chuck Madderom, Richard Bartlett, Dave Stewardson, Ken Wible, John Langley, Todd Lincoln, Dan Jasina, Tom Shepherd, Mark Rzepnicki, Andrew Henry, Mike Bakunis, and a host of others whose names have faded from my feeble memory. If you have sent me photos and you can’t find your name, please contact me and it will be immediately corrected. Additional photos came from many of the fire departments who owned Aero Chiefs. To all these contributors, I am forever in your debt.

The information on this website will be updated as it becomes available. Any additional information or photos are always welcome. Please contact me through the link at the bottom of this page. Thank you and enjoy!

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