Archive for August 10th, 2018

Fire Service news

Excerpts from the pantograph.com:

Rural emergency medical services face increasing pressure from several areas. The Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act would reauthorize a $20 million annual federal grant program from fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2023 to directly support rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, and purchasing supplies and equipment. Individual grants would not exceed $200,000. The bill would provide grant funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration for public, tribal, and private nonprofit agencies in rural communities nationwide.

In June, the Senate passed the Farm Bill, which included the SIREN Act as a bipartisan amendment. The bill is now before a conference committee where the House and Senate will reconcile the differences of their respective bills.

The SIREN Act is supported by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Association of Counties, National Association of Towns and Townships, and National Volunteer Fire Council.

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Chicago Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

Closing in on the mandatory retirement age of 63, Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago is still awaiting word on whether he will be forced out or allowed to stay on as a civilian commissioner. Preoccupied with more pressing concerns, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has delayed the decision for so long, Santiago will turn 63 before the city council reconvenes in September, when a vote could be taken on an ordinance permitting him to stay on. That means that, unless Emanuel makes a change, an executive order would be needed to temporarily allow it.

There is precedent for civilians at the helm of Chicago’s public safety departments. Former Mayor Jane Byrne had a civilian fire commissioner in William Blair. The Chicago Police Department has had two civilian superintendents.

Santiago was chosen in February, 2012 to replace Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff, one of the most decorated firefighters in the city’s history. Hoff abruptly announced his retirement after declaring that he was deathly against closing fire houses or reducing the minimum staffing requirement on fire apparatus — the issue that triggered the bitter 1980 firefighters strike.

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Chicago Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

A single parent of two toddlers, Tashonna Williams has mostly worked at fast-food restaurants since graduating Bogan High. She is among 30 young people from the inner city set to begin EMT training on Monday, through $30,000 in donations from the city’s Black Fire Brigade group, to cover their tuition, books, and uniforms.

When black Chicago firefighters launched the nation’s first such organization in June, among their stated mission was to impact inner-city violence by mentoring young people from their new Ashburn neighborhood headquarters at 8404 S. Kedzie. At the grand opening, president and founder Quention Curtis had presented his own personal check for $10,000 to send 10 young people from the South and West sides to EMT school. In the wake of news coverage, however, the Brigade was flooded with inquiries — from young people seeking that life-changing opportunity, and from donors wanting to help.

After the 90-day course, the 15 male and 15 female candidates between the ages of 18 and 30 will receive the certification required for an Illinois EMT license, which is transferable nationwide. They’ll also get job placement from the Brigade, which was founded to preserve the history and heritage of Chicago’s African-American fire and EMS personnel and help prepare more African-Americans for the firefighter exam.

Out of a total force of 5,100 firefighters, 697 are African-American; of 840 paramedics, 53 are African-American.

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As seen around … Portage Park

This from 75Seagrave:

Chicago FD Engine 94

75Seagrave photo

Chicago FD Engine 94

75Seagrave photo

 

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