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Keeping track of Chicago area fire departments

FEMA Grant for Roberts Park FPD

May 14

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department History, Fire Service News | No Comments

Martin Nowak found this notice on the Roberts Park Fire Protection District website pertaining to a recent FEMA award.

FEMA Grant:  Chief Ketchen reported on the recent FEMA award through the Assistance to Firefighters Program in the amount of $119,000.00.  We will use these
funds to upgrade our alerting systems in both fire stations and to establish a microwave link between them.  The District’s co-pay is $11,900 and as the Chief prepares the budget for the coming fiscal year, he will incorporate that amount under capital expenditures.  Chief thanked Lieutenant Chris Spoo for his assistance in procuring this grant
In addition, an interesting link HERE on the same website shows the department’s former apparatus:

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Storage yard fire for Central Stickney 5-10-12 (update)

May 13

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire | No Comments

More images were submitted from the huge storage yard fire that Central Stickney had on Thursday.

large storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD 5-11-12

Central Stickney tower sits near the Forest View engine as heavy smoke is generated from the debris that is burning.

large storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD 5-11-12

The deck gun from Summit Engine 952 is directed at a section of the burning debris.

large storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD 5-11-12

Several engines work with deck guns as the fire is spread over a large area.

large storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD 5-11-12

The deck gun from the Forest View engine goes to work.

large storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD 5-11-12

Another shot of Forest View Engine 813 working.

large storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD 5-11-12

A monitor nozzle is used on a section that has been largely knocked down.

large storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD 5-11-12

Central Stickney Engine 907 was also flowing a deck gun.

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Vintage Pirsch ad with CFD

May 13

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus | 5 Comments

In this reprint from a September, 1953 issue of Fire Engineering Magazine, the Peter Pirsch & Sons Co. of Kenosha, WI highlights 50 years of building fire engines for the Chicago Fire Department. The ad states that they started with 27 Pirsch Horse Drawn Wagons built in 1907, then there were 3 Pirsch equipped motorized chemical and hose cars in 1912 (the first motorized apparatus in Chicago), followed by 2 Pirsch equipped 600-gallon pumpers in 1916, and then 15 Pirsch 1,000-GPM 2-door cab pumpers built in 1953.

Peter Pirsch & Sons Co ad from 1953 Fire Engineering Magazine

Bill Friedrich collection

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Crystal Lake Fire & EMS units

May 12

Posted by bgshap in Reader submission | 1 Comment

Tyler Tobolt sent some photos he took of apparatus in Crystal Lake.

Crystal Lake Fire Department Engine 340

Crystal Lake Fire Department Engine 344

Crystal Lake Fire Department Squad 359

Crystal Lake Fire Department Brush 361

Crystal Lake Fire Department Ambulance 353

Crystal Lake Fire Department Ambulance 354

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Broadview Fire Department Training 5-10-12

May 12

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 7 Comments

The Broadview Fire Department conducted live fire training exercises on Thursday at Filmore and 17th. They did room fires in a vacant house for several hours before the house was well involved. Tim Olk was on-hand and submitted several images of the firefighters, the apparatus, and the fires. Other MABAS Division 20  departments were also included in the training evolutions.

Broadview Fire Department live fire training

Firefighters make entry with a well-involved font porch. Tim Olk photo

Broadview Fire Department live fire training Berkeley Fire Department engine

Berkeley Engine 351, a Spartan/Darley in front of the fire building. Tim Olk photo

Broadview Fire Department live fire training

A Broadview firefighter heads to the bucket as heavy fire burns through the roof. Tim Olk photo

Broadview Fire Department live fire training

Broadview's tower is elevated to deploy a master stream. Tim Olk photo

Broadview Fire Department live fire training Grumman AerialCat tower ladder

Broadview's one-of-a-kind Grumman AerialCat tower ladder on an American LaFrance Century Series chassis. Tim Olk photo

Tim has a large gallery of images HERE.

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New engine for Munster

May 11

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Delivery | No Comments

The Munster Fire Department in MABAS Division 24 has taken delivery of a new engine. Built by Custom Fire of Osceola, WI, it is on a Spartan chassis with a Metro Star cab, a 1,750-GPM pump, 750 gallons of water, and 30 gallons of foam. The engine has been delivered but is not yet in service.

Munster Fire Department new engine from Custom Fire on a Spartan chassis

Munster Fire Department's new engine 2223 from Custom Fire on a Spartan chassis. It features a Metro Star cab, 750-gallon water tank, 30-gallon foam tank, and 1,750-GPM pump. Custom Fire photo

thanks Rob

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Storage yard fire for Central Stickney 5-10-12

May 11

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News | 2 Comments

The Central Stickney Fire Protection District was assisted by several neighboring fire departments yesterday afternoon fighting a large fire in a storage yard. The fire produced heavy smoke which could be seen for many miles. WGN has an article with a video HERE and the Chicago Tribune has an article with a video HERE. Tim Olk went to the fire and submitted several images. The fire was at 6200 W. 51st Street.

storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD

Smoke engulfs several fire companies working at the storage yard fire. Tim Olk photo

storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD

Firefighters deploy a hand line. Tim Olk photo

storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD

The deck gun working off Central Stickney Engine 907. Tim Olk photo

storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD

Central Stickney Tower Ladder 906, a 1995 Simon-Duplex 75' LTI. Tim Olk photo

storage yard fire in Stickney Central Stickney FPD

Forest Park firefighters move in close with a hand line. Tim Olk photo

Tim has a large gallery with more images HERE.

 thanks Chris

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The color of fire trucks (part 7)

May 11

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department History, Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos | 3 Comments

MABAS Division 5 encompasses McHenry County. There are 18 departments in the division and several had non-red apparatus over the years. Only three departments had fleets that were lime green and white or yellow; the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District, the Lake in the Hills station of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, and the Woodstock Rural Fire Protection District (now part of the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District). According to the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District website, in October of 1993, the Woodstock Rural Fire Protection District, Woodstock City Fire Department, and Woodstock Rescue Squad merged together to form the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.

Eight other departments had red fleets, but at one time each had a unit that was painted differently. (Crystal Lake, Hebron, Harvard, the Marengo Rescue Squad, Richmond, Spring Grove, Union, and Woodstock City)

The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department  purchased a small rescue squad in 1982 that conformed to the Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications, one of which required that it be delivered painted lime green.

Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department 1982 E-ONE rescue squad

Crystal Lake bought this 'DOT' spec rescue squad from E-ONE in 1982. Bill Friedrich photo

 

The Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District had a brush truck which was blue in contrast to the rest of the fleet that was painted red.

Hebron Alden Greenwood Fire Protection District brush unit 805

Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Brush 805 was a unique unit within their fleet painted blue. It was on a 1973 GMC chassis with a Stahl body. It carried 250 gallons of water with a pumping capacity of 450 gallons-per-minute. Bill Friedrich photo

 

The Harvard Fire Protection District and the Harvard Rescue Squad ran out of the same station. The Rescue Squad had an orange and white squad which was the only piece with this paint scheme.

Harvard Rescue Squad 1977 Welch

The Harvard Rescue Squad had this 1977 Ford/Welch unit. Bill Friedrich photo

 

The Richmond Fire Protection District had a rescue squad that was painted white.

Richmond Fire Protection District rescue squad

This 1967 Dodge/Stahl unit ran as Squad 1451 for the Richmond Fire Protection District. Bill Friedrich photo

 

The Spring Grove Fire Protection District had a squad unit and a tanker that were painted white.

Spring Grove Fire Protection District Rescue 1807

The Spring Grove Fire Protection District had this 1977 GMC Step Van that was modified by department personnel. It was Rescue 1807. Bill Friedrich photo

 

The Union Fire Protection District ran a white Ford/Darley engine in 19__ which was the only lime green piece in the fleet.

Union Fire Protection District 1975 Ford Darley tanker

Engine 1505, a 1975 Darley on a Ford L-Series chassis was the only lime green unit that the Union Fire Protection District ran with. It had a 750-GPM pump and carried 1,000 gallons of water. Bill Friedrich photo

 

The Woodstock City Fire Department purchased a Seagrave quad in 1967 that was painted white, and  they also had a white brush truck, a 1969 Dodge W300/Welch 250/200.

City of Woodstock Fire Department 1967 Seagrave Quad

The City of Woodstock Fire Department ran this 1967 Seagrave Quad as Engine 1734. It had a 1,000-GPM pump and 300 gallons of water. Bill Friedrich photo

 

The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire District had two stations in years past. The apparatus at the Lake in the Hills station was painted yellow. They had a 1968 IHC/Welch squad and there were two additional pumpers at the Lake In the Hills station that were painted chrome yellow;  a 1972, IHC Cargostar-Alexis  750/750, and a 1975, IHC Cargostar-Bean  750/1000.

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District 1968 Welch rescue squad

Trucks at the Lake in the Hills fire station used to be yellow and the apparatus at the Algonquin station were red. This 1968 IHC/Welch rescue squad was on of three yellow units. Bill Friedrich photo

 

The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District changed their fleet from lime green/white to red/black.

Nunda Rural Fire Protection District Engine 1336 FMC

The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District trucks used to be painted lime green and white like the 1984 Ford C8000/Darley 1250/1000 shown here. Bill Friedrich photo

 

When the Woodstock Rural Fire Protection and the Woodstock City Fire Department were separate entities, the rural apparatus was painted lime green & white.

Woodstock Rural Fire Protection District Spartan Darley top-mount engine

The Woodstock Rural Fire Protection District ran this 1986 Darley with a Spartan 4-dr CFC cab. The top-mount pump panel controlled a 1,000-GPM pump and the engine carried 1,00 gallons of water. Larry Shapiro photo

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CFD 4-5-6 involved in rollover crash 3-28-12 (update)

May 10

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | 3 Comments

Photos of the 2006 Ford Expedition that was assigned to 4-5-6 and was involved in a crash in late March, are currently featured on the City of Chicago online auction page.

2006 Ford Expedition involved in rollover accident

2006 Ford Expedition involved in rollover accident

2006 Ford Expedition involved in rollover accident

2006 Ford Expedition involved in rollover accident

thanks Dennis

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Consultant urges consolidation among DuPage County Fire Districts

May 10

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | No Comments

The Chicago Tribune has an article about a consultant’s recommendation that several DuPage County fire districts and municipal fire departments should consolidate services.

Fire departments in DuPage County should consider consolidating or sharing services as a way to save taxpayer money, a consultant recommended today.

The recommendation was made by the firm Crowe Horwarth in the latest round of audits of DuPage County agencies whose members are appointed by the County Board chairman.

But Crowe Howarth expanded its reach on the topic of fire district consolidation to include not only the county-appointed districts but all fire departments in the county, including those operated by municipalities.

“Consolidation, shared services, and best practices discussions should include all districts and municipalities providing fire protection service within the county,” the audit report says. “The majority of these bodies were not within the scope of this (audit); however, significant county-wide savings can be achieved through such efforts, and further study is necessary.”

County Board member Grant Eckhoff, R-Wheaton, has spent three years pressing for consolidation of the county’s fire protection districts.

“There is too much government,” Eckhoff said. “We simply cannot continue to afford the services we have at the same taxes, and if we don’t find better ways to deliver local, county and state services, taxes are going to go up.”

Cronin called the fire districts “one of our best opportunities to achieve consolidation at the local level.”

Of the nine districts whose members are appointed by the County Board chairman, six are “paper” districts with no infrastructure that instead collect property taxes and contract with neighboring fire departments for fire protection and emergency medical services.

Many serve unincorporated areas.

The entire article which also looks into the DuPage Airport Authority and DuPage Emergency Telephone System Board can be found HERE.

thanks Chris

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