Archive for September 4th, 2020

Peoria Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from centralillinoisproud.com:

The Peoria Fire Department is losing 22 firefighter positions. Thursday, councilman Denis Cyr explained why he voted yes on the proposal to decommission two engine companies, after voting no the previous week.

He chose the best option for his constituents who consistently tell him they are tired of paying higher taxes and fees. His goal is to be fiscally responsible, but in order to keep the taxes, services needed to be cut. He was in favor of closing two engine companies. He did not want to close the company in his district, but left it up to Peoria Fire Chief Tony Ardis who said it will be Engine 4 and Engine 20.

Cyr said he has been getting a lot of heat from the community, but he cannot please everyone. He adds he has also received good feedback from people who are against higher taxes.

From Peoria Firefighters Local 50 Facebook page:

It is clear what the priorities of the City Council are. Its never been so starkly clear. 6 positions in 2016. 18 positions in 2019. 22 positions as of tonight. 46 positions in 4 years. https://www.pjstar.com/…/council-cuts-two-peoria-fire-engin…

Last night, six members of the Peoria City Council voted to reduce the Peoria Fire Department by permanently closing two fire engines and eliminating 22 firefighter positions. Fortunately or unfortunately, Peoria Firefighter/Paramedics are already working short staffed so the number of actual layoffs could be as few as 8. These dedicated men and women have not only faced the COVID 19 Pandemic head on, but also the dangers associated with being a firefighter. Please take a look below as they are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, coaches, mentors, City of Peoria residents, and there to help in your time of need!! Oh, and one of them is currently overseas defending our country on active duty in the military! This is irresponsible and slap in the face to them as they have called Peoria home!!

Accompanying the closures of Station 20 on Wilhelm Road and Station 4 on SW Jefferson, 22 positions and 8 layoffs are acceptable by a majority of the City Council. The Council continues to brutalize the Firefighters. #EssentialNotEssential

City leaders have said time and time again that “fires are only three percent” of what we respond to in a calendar year. For the third time in just as many days, Peoria Fire Department resources are stretched thin again leaving large holes across the city for limited response coverage due to a fire and a vehicle rollover. Imagine for a moment in less than thirty days, our city will have two less fire engines and twenty two less firefighters. This is reckless and irresponsible!!! Please voice your opinion to help overturn this dangerous situation! #Local50#ThereWhenYouNeedUsMost

ACT FRIDAY: Every standard ever written is usually written because of a tragedy or a loss. Why policy makers can’t understand that or choose to ignore it is completely baffling. You cannot cut or reduce Public Safety without affecting the public’s safety because it doesn’t fit your story, narrative or position. The standard is clear and Peoria is substandard throughout the city. If you don’t have a standard emergency travel time of 4 minutes to where you and your loved ones live and sleep, you should be asking why that is acceptable. And if you are soon to have your substandard response time tanked further, you should be asking why that is acceptable. And if you don’t know if you do or not, your District, At-Large and Mayoral representatives should be able to inform you. They have b

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Working fire in Belvidere, 9-2-20

Excerpts from wifr.com:

The Belvidere Fire Department was called to the 600 block of W. Locust Street for a report of smoke coming from a multi-family apartment building at 10:36 a.m Wednesday morning (9/2/20). First responders Firefighters reported light smoke showing from the rear of the three-story building while evacuation was taking place.

The fire was found and extinguished in a second level apartment of the 16-unit apartment complex. 

The fire was ruled accidental and caused $20,000 damage to the structure which is valued at $950,000. Area departments that responded with Belvidere were Boone County Fire Districts #2 and #3, Cherry Valley Fire, Marengo Fire, Boone County EMA, OSF Lifeline, and the Capron Rescue Squad.

Firefighter stretches hose at fire truck

Tim Olk photo

smoke from apartment building

Tim Olk photo

Firefighters at t he scene of a small fire in an apartment building in Belvidere, IL 9-2-20

Tim Olk photo

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Box Alarm fire in Mundelein, 9-2-20 (more)

More from the Box Alarm fire in Mundelein, 9-2-20

Mundelein Fire Department press release

click to download 

 

 

flames from roof of a strip mall

Steve Redick photo

Firefighters battle fire at strip mall

Steve Redick photo

Firefighters battle fire at strip mall

Steve Redick photo

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New aerials for Chicago (more)

This from Arvell Dorsey Jr.:

Truck 22 in their new rig today. I took a quick photo of it after I emptied their carts.
new E-ONE ladder for Chicago FD Truck 22

Arvell Dorsey Jr

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New engine for Newport Township FPD

From the Custom Cab and Boody LLC Facebook page:

Newport Township F.P.D., Wadsworth, IL

This pumper is the first one of two identical units built on Spartan Metro Star MFD flat roof chassis. The apparatus is powered by a Cummins L9 450HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000EVS transmission. The chassis is equipped with an EMS cabinet in the rear of the cab and a Groenveld automatic greasing system. The pump is a Hale QMAX 1500-GPM pump equipped with a FoamPro 2001 dual tank foam injection system. It supplies water to three (3) crosslays, one (1) front bumper discharge, three (3) 2 ½” discharges, one (1) 3” LDH discharge with 5” storz adapter, deck gun discharge with Akron Apollo monitor and one (1) Hannay booster hose reel. The truck is also equipped with a 6” rear suction inlet. The pump is controlled at the side control pump panel with a Vernier throttle control and a Hale Total Pressure Master (TPM) relief valve system. The water tank is a UPF 1500-gallon Poly Tank with two (2) 25-gallon foam cells.

The apparatus body is an all extruded aluminum body with flush mount hinged aluminum doors and a single Gortite aluminum rollup door at the rear of the body. The body is supplied with Black Line-X coated steps, catwalks and body panels for durability and appearance. The compartments are equipped with multiple adjustable shelves, slide out trays and PAC-TRAC tool boards. The apparatus ladders are stored at the passenger side on a Ziamatic dual arm ladder rack that also stores two (2) lengths of hard suction hose. The apparatus hose bed is supplied with a hinged aluminum diamond plate hose bed cover with vinyl flap enclosures at the rear of the hose bed. The apparatus is equipped with a Smartpower HR-15, 15kw hydraulic generator to supplied 120/240VAC power to the apparatus including two (2) Hannay electric cable reels with 200’ of 10/4 cable and a Circle D junction box on each reel and a Command Light CL602A-W4 LED light tower. The warning lighting is an all Whelen Super LED warning light package.

Spartan Metro Star/Custom Cab and Body fire engine for the Newport Township FPD in Wadsworth, IL

Custom Cab and Body LLC photo

Spartan Metro Star/Custom Cab and Body fire engine for the Newport Township FPD in Wadsworth, IL

Custom Cab and Body LLC photo

thanks Keith

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