Archive for September 22nd, 2022

Chicago Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was accused Thursday of scrapping a Chicago Fire Department promotion list — and saddling taxpayers with excessive overtime costs — to get even with a controversial city council member who was second in line to be promoted.

Last year, Lightfoot lashed out at Ald. Jim Gardiner over profane, threatening, and misogynistic text messages he sent to people, including Lightfoot’s political consultant and chief of staff to Finance Chairman Scott Waguespack . Lightfoot also asked then-Inspector General Joe Ferguson to investigate.

One week later, Gardiner rose on the council floor to issue a rare public apology for the embarrassment his messages caused. He received a rare rebuke from the Cook County Democratic Party and remains under federal investigation for allegedly retaliating against some Northwest Side constituents for political purposes.

Now, Gardiner is turning the tables on Lightfoot — with a recent lawsuit to back up his claim. He is a Chicago firefighter on a leave of absence from the department. He said the mayor, with whom he has clashed repeatedly, tossed CFD’s 2009 promotion list simply because he was second in line to move up to the rank of lieutenant. The list has been up since 2013. CFD policy is to exhaust the list before putting up a new one.

David Barron and Michael Lynch, two white firefighters awaiting promotion to lieutenant filed a lawsuit Aug. 30 in Cook County Circuit Court accusing the city of violating their rights by scrapping the list and suspending promotions, even though there were 40 vacancies as of April — and even more now.  That has forced firefighters to work excessive amounts of overtime while the city races to finalize a new list from a lieutenants’ exam administered by the city in 2019, the firefighters’ attorney said.

The hiring plan requires the city to document the reason for retiring the promotion list. But, in response to a Freedom of Information Request filed by one of the aggrieved firefighters, the city responded that no such document existed.

The lawsuit, which an attorney hopes to turn into a class action, seeks promotions, back pay, and lost seniority for the roughly 60 firefighters whose names appear on the now-scrapped list.

Gardiner himself faces two federal lawsuits. One accuses him of harassing, intimidating and falsely arresting a constituent who picked up a cellphone Gardiner’s ward superintendent left at a convenience store. The other accuses him of violating the First Amendment rights of 45th Ward residents by deleting their criticisms of him from his official Facebook page. The city has refused to represent Gardiner in either suit.

Though one of his obscene text messages suggested otherwise, Gardiner has maintained he has “never withheld, nor have I ever instructed or condoned my staff to withhold city services from any resident.”

It’s not the first time Gardiner and Lightfoot have clashed. Shortly after taking office, Gardiner accused the mayor of rewarding his vanquished predecessor John Arena with a $129,996-a-year job in the Department of Planning and Development.

A few months later, Arena resigned from that post after Gardiner accused him of using his job as city planner to continue fighting the man who beat him.

thanks Dennis

 

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House fire in Blue Island, 9-21-22

This from 312 FIRE PHOTOS:

Blue Island, Illinois had a box alarm on Sept. 21st, 2022 in a 2-sty brick home that was well-involved when the first companies arrived. An aggressive interior attack by Blue Island and Posen resulted in a victim being pulled out. Companies were hampered by the overgrowth around the property and the overhead power lines running in front.  Most photos can be seen here

#chicagoareafire.com; #BlueIslandFD; #312firephotos;

312 FIRE PHOTOS

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312 FIRE PHOTOS

#chicagoareafire.com; #BlueIslandFD; #312firephotos;

312 FIRE PHOTOS

#chicagoareafire.com; #BlueIslandFD; #312firephotos;

312 FIRE PHOTOS

#chicagoareafire.com; #BlueIslandFD; #312firephotos;

312 FIRE PHOTOS

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #HME; #BlueIslandFD; #312firephotos;

312 FIRE PHOTOS

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312 FIRE PHOTOS

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312 FIRE PHOTOS

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Loves Park Fire Department news

Excerpts from wrex.com:

Loves Park Fire Department officials announced the opening of a new fire station on Wednesday at 5180 Rock Valley Parkway on the east side of the city. The station is in a former auto body shop that was remodeled to fit the needs of the fire department and will house an ambulance and a quint. A building dedication and open house will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. for the public with cake and coffee until 11 a.m.

Back in February, the Loves Park City Council approved the $1.5 million project. All funding was through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

The City of Loves Park will continue to operate the station on Windsor Rd. The Grand Ave. station, the original city hall built in 1947, will close as a fire station and be used by the city’s public works department.

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Palos Heights Fire Protection District history

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

For TBT- Fire departments from Cal Park, to Blue Island to Palos Heights in MABAS 22 have had American LaFrance apparatus.  The Palos Heights FPD’s Engine 6403 is one of two remaining ALF products still in service.  This is the Heights’ 2004 Alfco Eagle/3D 1250/750. Enjoy and comment.
Mike Summa
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Mike Summa photo

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