Archive for January 20th, 2021

Gurnee Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Former Gurnee Fire Chief Samuel J. Dada, who was so revered that village leaders named a street after him, died Friday at the age of 91. He started with the department in 1948 when it was a volunteer outfit with three trucks run out of McClure’s Garage and Towing. Six years later, he was Gurnee’s fire chief, a position he held for 35 years.

Beyond his service with the fire department, Dada also was the village superintendent of public works and a building commissioner for a time.

Dada, who had moved to Arkansas, would return for the annual Gurnee Days celebration every year and would spend time talking to old-timers and sharing tales of old Gurnee.

According to a history of the department written by Dada in 1978, the village’s first fire hydrant was installed at Warren High School and was used both for filling the department’s water tanks and for hauling water to residents’ cisterns. He wrote that the department first hired dispatchers in 1958. Before then, daytime calls were answered at McClure’s Garage and nighttime calls went to the homes of firefighters. In 1972, the volunteer fire department disbanded and a professional department was established.

Dada and his wife of 62 years, Corrine, had five children, 15 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

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New engine for Coal City FPD

From Seagrave Fire Apparatus Facebook:

The Coal City Fire Protection District of Coal City has on order and in production a Seagrave Marauder pumper. Thank you Coal City for your trust in Seagrave. 

* Seagrave Marauder stainless steel 131″ cab
* Cummins X12 500-HP
* 37″ cab access compartments
* 30″ rescue bumper
* Waterous CSU 2000-GPM pump
* Stainless steel pump plumbing
* 1000-gallon water tank
* TFT Monsoon Monitor
* Stainless steel 176″ body
* Whelen LED warning light package
* Command Light LED light tower w/ Spectra LEDS
* 199-inch wheelbase

SO 78K82

drawing of Seagrave Marauder fire engine for the Coal City Fire Protection District

click to download

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Bensenville Fire Department news (more)

From the Bensenville Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2968 Facebook page:

It’s been a long year, but we are finally putting Ladder 107 back in service. This is the most vital piece of equipment we have and directly impacts the safety of our residents when they need us.

Bensenville FD Truck 107

Bensenville Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2968 photo

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