Archive for October, 2022

Of interest … Boston firefighters helping out

Excerpts from cbsnews.com:

A high school student from the Boston neighborhood of Roslindale got the perfect Halloween costume to complement his wheelchair on Friday. Jose Bello suffers from muscular dystrophy, which leaves him wheelchair-bound, but he also loves firefighters. 

This Halloween, his mother reached out to a company called Magic Wheelchair to get her son a costume. Much to her surprise, the company, along with the Boston Firefighters Local 718, made her son a firetruck costume complete with lights and sirens. 

“When I heard of Magic Wheelchair and saw the incredible work that they have done especially for MDA families, I knew I wanted Jose to have this experience as well,” said mother Stephanie Bello. 

She filled out the application and said he wanted a fire truck.

“For as long as I can remember Jose has always admired and loved firefighters,” Stephanie said. “Jose talks about how brave firefighters are and how strong they are and how he wants to be just like them.” 

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, the local firefighters union, and Magic Wheelchair all said events like Friday’s are important to raise awareness about the disease. 

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Fatal fire in Hanover Park, 10-30-22

Excerpts from nbcchicago.com:

Sunday, a fire was reported at approximately 3:52 p.m. in a residence in the 7300 block of Thornwood Street in Hanover Park. Two children were inside the home at the time of the fire and managed to escape.

When firefighters arrived, they found flames pushing from the back bedroom and smoke coming from the roof. Once crews were able to extinguish the fire, they entered the home and found a woman, who was pronounced dead.

The woman who died was identified as Jovenica Valencia, 83, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The two firefighters sustained minor injuries and were expected to fully recover.

While the fire is believed to be accidental, an investigation remains ongoing.

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Decatur Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from the herald-review.com:

On Saturday, community members were invited to walk through Decatur’s Fire Station 3 one last time during an open house organized by History of the Heartland, a sponsor of community events highlighting historic preservation and stories of Macon County structures and people.

Several current firefighters stopped by the open house to reminisce. The amount of work and the size of the building were what made the station a popular house for the firefighters. Mark Allen, a retired firefighter that worked at the station in the past, displayed several pieces of fire memorabilia during Saturday’s event including equipment and uniforms that dated back nearly 60 years.

The station was one of the older and smaller fire houses in Decatur before the city began building larger facilities a few years ago. Firefighters moved to their new location around the corner on Fairview Plaza a year ago.

A local businessman is in the process of purchasing the nearly 100-year-old building. Although the location and aesthetics of the station were enticing, he will be changing several details. The lower level will be expanded 45 feet into the lot west of the building. Other buildings he owns are being used for construction materials and business-related items, so he plans to store several of his vehicles in the old fire station. Plans for the upper level will include three executive-level apartments. 

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New utility for the Midlothian Fire Department

Photos from Public Safety Direct Facebook page 
#chicagoareafire.com; #MidlothianFD;

Public Safety Direct photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #MidlothianFD;

Public Safety Direct photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #MidlothianFD;

Public Safety Direct photo

thanks Martin

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New trucks for Chicago FD

From Chi-Town Fire Photos

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #CFd; #chi-townfirephotos; #EONE;

Chi-Town Fire Photos

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #CFd; #chi-townfirephotos; #EONE;

Chi-Town Fire Photos

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Illinois Fire Service News

Excerpts from rockrivercurrent.com:

A new state law that goes into effect Jan. 1 requires all homes to have smoke detectors with a 10-year sealed battery life or a hardwired system.

The Rockford Fire Department and the Illinois Firefighters Association held a news conference on Wednesday to draw attention to the law and urge property owners to make the necessary changes now. The sealed-battery smoke alarms are considered more reliable than previous technology, where 9-volt batteries could run out of power or be removed by owners while cooking who then forget to replace them.

There were 97 residential fire deaths in Illinois in 2021, and nearly 70% of those deaths happened in homes without a working smoke alarm, according to Margaret Vaughn, Illinois Fire Safety Alliance and Illinois Fire Association government affairs director.

Smoke detector laws aren’t new. Since 1988, the Illinois Smoke Detector Act has required all dwellings to have the devices. Home built after 1988 have been required to have hardwired systems, but those built prior to that could use battery-operated alarms. The change represents a change in technology that provides for longer battery life, and the new law will largely apply to homes built before 1988 that will now be required to use the 10-year sealed system.

You are more likely to die in a residential fire today than you were years ago because of the toxic gases emitted from the synthetic materials in modern homes, as flashover can how happen in three to five minutes as opposed to almost 30 minutes a generation ago.

The 10-year battery smoke alarm doesn’t require battery replacement. At the end of its life cycle the alarm will automatically alert the homeowner to replace it. It should also save the average homeowner $40-$60 in battery costs over the life of each alarm, according to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance.

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Racine FD tower ladder for sale

Found at govdeals.com:

1990 Emergency-One mid-engine Hush 95′ Stratospear platform aerial
Auction Ends 11/8/22 4:27 PM ET
Remaining 12 Days 6 Hrs
This item is subject to an auto
extension of the auction end time.
This item is subject to Seller Approval.
Refresh Bid & Time
Tax See Payment Instructions
Buyer’s Premium 12.50%
Starting Bid $500.00
Bids 9
High Bidder m****j
Current Bid $2,025.00
Bid Increment $25.00
Minimum Bid $2,050.00

1990 Emergency-One mid-engine Hush 95′ Stratospear fire truck. Starts and runs. Engine has oil blow by. Recently taken out of service by the Racine Fire Department. The unit just had $40k in new paint, brakes, and repairs. 45,220 Miles, 3,775 hours. See attached inspection form for more details.

#chicagoareafire.com; #EONE; #FireTruck; #RacineFD; #firetruckforsale; #Hush;

Racine Fire Department photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #EONE; #FireTruck; #RacineFD; #firetruckforsale; #Hush;

Racine Fire Department photo

thanks Martin

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New engine for Sugar Grove FPD

From Sutphen Corporation Facebook:

Thank you, Sugar Grove Fire Protection District for your trust in Sutphen and your local dealer, Legacy Fire Apparatus- Midwest. For more info about this custom pumper, check out the link 
#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #Sutphen; #SugarGroveFD;

Sutphen photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #Sutphen; #SugarGroveFD;

Sutphen photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #Sutphen; #SugarGroveFD;

Sutphen photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #Sutphen; #SugarGroveFD;

Sutphen photo

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Skokie Fire Department history

This from Larry Shapiro for #TBT:

From a 2-alarm fire at 9660 Laramie in Skokie, 5-10-09

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #Pierce; #Saber; #pumper; #SkokieFD; #TBT;

Larry Shapiro photo

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new engine for Wood Dale FPD

Wood Dale FPD minute from 9/20/22

#chicagoareafire.com; #WoodDaleFPD;

thanks Tim

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