Archive for August, 2018

Fire Service news

Excerpts from the pantagraph.com:

Governor Bruce Rauner on Sunday vetoed legislation to expand benefit rights for paramedics and emergency medical technicians by defining them as firefighters in municipal collective bargaining agreements.  The veto of the two measures, which were passed with overwhelming, veto-proof bipartisan majorities, was in line with his previous pronouncements that Springfield shouldn’t dictate unfunded state mandates on local governments.

But Rauner went further, castigating the legislation as perpetuating the decades of political corruption that has plagued the state of Illinois for too long. “Time and again, elected officials have granted sweeping benefits and power to the unions in exchange for campaign contributions and political support, creating a system of entrenchment, waste and bad government,” Rauner wrote in his veto message of one of the measures.

While Rauner wrote he had the utmost respect for paramedics, he said the legislation granting them firefighter status “widens the already bloated union population in the public sector — increasing the union’s entrenchment and wealth — and puts a significant financial and administrative burden on local governments.”

The governor has adamantly maintained he is not anti-union, but he has a long record of attacking public-sector unions, including the Chicago Teachers Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

He was a factor behind a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled nonunion public employees do not have to pay fair share fees to the union bargaining unit for the nonpolitical costs of negotiating labor agreements. The ruling reversed a 40-year precedent.

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Palatine Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Over the objections of a residential construction trade association and others, Palatine will require automatic sprinkler systems for new single-family homes starting next year, under a revised ordinance that proponents say will improve safety if a fire starts.

Addressing the opponents, Palatine Fire Chief Scott Andersen said the sprinklers provide vital protection against the spread of flames beyond the point of origin. 

“You can survive 150 degrees for quite some time,” Andersen said. “You can sit in a sauna for an hour and you’ll be fine. You cannot survive a thousand degrees. And if someone’s in there, guess who’s going in there to get them out? I don’t care if it’s a thousand degrees or 1,500 degrees at the floor, my guys are going in.”

Palatine officials said the sprinklers are projected to add $3,500 to the cost of a typical single-family house in the village. That extra expense drew concern from Greater Chicago Homebuilders Association governmental affairs chief Paul Colgan.

“Fire sprinklers should be a choice of the homeowner,” Colgan said. “Like we said earlier, multifamily, mid-rise, high-rise, yes, fire suppression systems, sprinkler systems have their place there. But in a single-family home, or in certain townhouse developments where there is good fire separation between the units, they’re not needed.”

Village council members voted 4-2 to make the sprinklers mandatory in new two-family buildings, townhouses and single-family homes beginning Jan 1. The ordinance revisions, recommended by the International Code Council, were first discussed at a May village council session.

Mount Prospect has a similar single-family home sprinkler ordinance that became effective in April.

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New engine for Downers Grove (more)

Updated production photos of the new Ferrara Igniter pumper being built for Downers Grove

Ferrara fire engine so H6331 being built

Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Ferrara fire engine so H6331 being built

Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Ferrara fire engine so H6331 being built

Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Ferrara fire engine so H6331 being built

Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Ferrara fire engine so H6331 being built

Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Ferrara fire engine so H6331 being built

Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

Ferrara fire engine so H6331 being built

Ferrara Fire Apparatus photo

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21st Annual Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show (more)

This from Asher Heimermann:

My video of the 2018 parade – 

The Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Parade traveled down the streets of Aurora, Illinois on Friday, August 3, 2018. Video by Asher Heimermann/Incident Response.

 

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Knollwood Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

A debate between homeowners and officials of the Knollwood Fire Department on how to best serve the community’s future needs at a reasonable cost could come to an end Tuesday.

Some officials say it makes sense to merge the Knollwood department with agencies in Lake Bluff, Libertyville, and Lake Forest. Others say merger talk involving the small fire department in unincorporated Lake County should wait until 2019 — after voters are eligible to elect board members to the fire protection district.

For any decision made, whether it’s Lake Forest, Libertyville or Lake Bluff, the current board should wait for board members to be elected, not appointed,” Knollwood Fire Chief Jon Harlow said. “It’s what the community asked for.”

A public meeting regarding merger possibilities is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. A merger vote could take place during the hearing, officials said.

Situated between Shields and Libertyville townships, the Knollwood Fire Department serves an area less than 1 square mile. The department handles about 550 fire calls a year from 668 homes and about 1,800 residents, officials said. The department is controlled by the three-person Rockland Fire Protection District board, which is appointed by the Lake County Board. It has an annual budget of $640,000, officials said. That changes in April 2019 because residents voted overwhelmingly — 363 to 85 — via a referendum to elect board members.

No matter what happens with any merger, the district board will remain intact, said fire district President Dan Rogers. He said the board will serve as oversight for Knollwood residents who pay taxes to the Rockland Fire Protection District. Board members will serve as a paper board only, and be tasked with negotiating service contracts with whatever entity potentially takes over fire services.

“When I was appointed to the (Rockland) board and started to see the cost associated with running a fire protection district, when I started to see the inner workings of it, I started to look at other options because of cost,” Rogers said. “Everyone has been talking about consolidation because of the overhead costs associated with running a fire district.”

The discussions led to proposals from Lake Forest, Libertyville and Lake Bluff. The first proposal calls for Lake Forest to handle half the calls in Knollwood, while Libertyville handles the other half. The cost of fire service in the joint proposal would initially be $450,000 annually. A second proposal calls for Lake Bluff and Knollwood to merge, Rogers said. That would require the merged department to purchase one or two ambulances in the coming years.

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Cicero Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

Two people were injured in a fire Sunday morning at a three-story apartment complex in Cicero. The fire started about 6:30 a.m. in a second floor unit at the Eureka Apartments, 1639 S. 50th Court. The blaze quickly spread to the back of the building, where it ignited and consumed the back wooden porch before moving to the third floor.

Firefighters rescued 60 people and six cats from the burning building. Officials were working to find families temporary shelter until they’re able to find long-term housing as the building was deemed uninhabitable.

aftermath of apartment building fire

Cicero Fire Department photo

aftermath of apartment building fire

Cicero Fire Department photo

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Golf Outing for MABAS Division 24

MABAS Division 24 golf outing

MABAS Division 24 golf outing

MABAS Division 24 golf outing

click on any of these pages for a larger, downloadable file

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2-Alarm fire in Milwaukee, 8-18-18

This from Asher Heimermann:

Firefighters battled a 2-alarm fire for several hours on Saturday, August 18th at Family Dollar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The fire was reported around 3:45 PM at the corner of Hampton Avenue and Teutonia Avenue. The building had a bowstring truss roof. Firefighters from the Milwaukee Fire Department and neighboring North Shore Fire Rescue responded.

Milwaukee Police took one person into custody in connection with the fire.
 

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21st Annual Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show (more)

This from Steve Redick:

A few images from this year

Oswego FD water tanker

Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD Reserve Snorkel 661

Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD Truck 9

Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD Reserve Snorkel 661

Steve Redick photo

Oswego fire engine

Steve Redick photo

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Former Chicago firehouse for sale

Engine 88’s old firehouse for sale 

3500 W 60th St
Chicago, IL 60629

5 beds 3 baths 3,046 sqft

This unique two story firehouse turned home is thoughtfully designed for what today’s larger family needs. The first floor welcomes you into a living room, dining room, and kitchen. A long staircase leads to the second floor which features four bedrooms plus one ensuite, a second living area, and a two shower, two stall bathroom. An attached garage and oversized driveway complements this wonderfully designed home. Steps away from nearby schools, grocery stores, and public transportation. Look no further as this home has everything you need!

renovated former Chicago firehouse fore sale

renovated former Chicago firehouse fore sale renovated former Chicago firehouse fore sale renovated former Chicago firehouse fore sale

thanks Dennis

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