This from John Keller:
Engine 92 and Truck 45 arrived at 3830 w 108th PL to find a 1-story ranch-style residence with smoke showing through the front windows. Truck 31 made second truck due to Battalion 21 and Truck 40 getting stuck by a train. Engine 92 got a quick knock. 2-7-5 and Squad 5 were canceled in-route. Engine 75 made an emergency change to Engine 92. Fire was extinguished and only minor injuries.
Companies:
On the Still – E92/E120(Spare)/T45/T31/B21(Spare)
On the Working fire – 2-7-5/Sq5/T40(RIT)/B20(RIT)/A72(RIT)/A17(Standby)/PFC4-5-6(Standby)More photos HERE:
chicagolandfirephotos.smugmug.com/
chicagolandfirephotos.smugmug.com/
chicagolandfirephotos.smugmug.com/
chicagolandfirephotos.smugmug.com/
#1 by Tim on March 20, 2022 - 12:31 PM
Thanks John. I was curious how it was done up there.
#2 by John Antkowski on March 20, 2022 - 1:59 AM
Tim, In many parts of the city fire stations are close to the border. For instance Milwaukee’s Engine 18 had a truck company in their house. It was ladder 10. The city had closed that company because of so called budget constraints. The city of Bayside also has a truck and they are not far from 18’s first in area. The one stipulation was that they had to have 4 on the rig to respond into Milwaukee. Some of the cuts went into the inner city, as well, but for the most part they are relying on the suburbs for help. The paramedic system is county wide and has been like that way since 1973. So Med units have been crossing over city lines for years. They seem to have been building up to a county fire department. They changed running cards automatically having suburbs involved. They also updated the radio system to be able to dispatch some cities from waukesha county. Personally, I had always thought it would go the other way, Milwaukee would take over the smaller communities. For instance, take the city of Saint Francis a small city located in the eastern part of Milwaukee. They have one firehouse. Their community takes up a good 10 to 12 square miles. They recently opened a huge modern firehouse with the police and city hall located with them. They have a truck company but not fully staffed they flip flop on the needs of the run. So, for engine’s 7 and 11 St Francis is their first in Truck, Ladder 121. Milwaukee’s Fire houses in this area are thin and stretched out. The last house closure was Engine 17. With them gone everyone else has longer runs and time to get help increases. I personally don’t know if they will ever see a county Fire department. This project is different from MABAs. I have been on MABAs runs in Cudahy Wisconsin Not far from St Francis they don’t want anything to do with shared services. The MABAS companies come from different areas. At the airport the Air Guard has a structural engine that can be included, In specific emergencies. Off the base. If I missed something let me know. Thanks
#3 by Tim on March 19, 2022 - 7:29 PM
John, how does Milwaukee or the suburbs do it? Closest vehicles are assigned regardless of town?
#4 by John Antkowski on March 19, 2022 - 1:29 PM
Yes Milwaukee runs with the suburbs. They call it shared services. When I was there it was looking like they slowly building a county wide fire department. The running cards were changed with automatic responses with the suburb’s. They cut companies in Milwaukee to spend money for other uses. They updated the alarm bureau. Interesting though Cudahy Wisconsin did not enter into the shared services. They were in Mabas only. Which I thought was strange. I also believe that Waukesha County was also coming into shared services. If anyone knows please correct me if I’m wrong.
#5 by Tim on March 18, 2022 - 9:37 PM
So let’s have this discussion…as I’m not for or against either way.
Pretty long run for 31 and 40. There are a few closer suburban trucks, Alsip, Merrionette Park, Evergreen Park. The city doesn’t really do anything with the burbs, especially out south. I know there’s a dispatch lag, a manpower difference, tradition, egos, etc. On the flip side of that the inner ring suburbs don’t usually call the city but they have. Case in point the Fox Lumber Fire in Alsip (5-11 and 2 specials). Engine 92 is just over 2 miles away and I think they weren’t called until the 3rd alarm, along with Engine 81 and their hose wagon. When fire companies are sitting nearby in quarters and are not due just kind of pisses me off.
Many big cities run auto aid with their suburbs, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, FDNY, sounds like Milwaukee (some of you guys can chime in here).
I know the city of Indy isn’t completely covered by Indy Fire. Pike, Wayne, Decatur townships, etc. cover parts, so that’s a little bit of a different animal. And all those depts. have 4 man fire companies whereas many Chicago south suburbs don’t.
So just thinking “out loud” here.