Posts Tagged Chicago Heights Fire Department

Christmas eve fires from previous years

2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 12-24-22

House fire in Milwaukee, 12-24-21

Fatal fire in Elgin, 12-24-20

Working fire in Chicago 12-24-19

Working fire in Chicago, 12-24-17

Chicago Heights Box Alarm 12-24-10

4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 12-24-94

 

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New ambulance for Chicago Heights FD

From the Fire Service, Inc. Facebook page:

Congratulations and a big Thank You to Chief Jeffery Springer and the members of the Chicago Heights Fire Department on the recent delivery of a new Frontline Model M1 ambulance. This unit was built on a 2016 Chevrolet C3500 4×2 Silverado chassis. It is equipped with a 6.6L diesel. This is the 4th new unit for this busy south suburban Chicagoland department. This comes equipped with all LED emergency and interior dome lighting, Tomar Opticom System, Havis custom swing-out tablet docking station, 20A Kussmaul Super Auto Eject, custom installed Med-Vault, and an additional wall mounted suction unit/charger. This short wheel based Frontline Model M1 is the newest model in RevGroup’s long line of ambulance manufacturers and is designed as a small, sturdy, and dependable addition to any ambulance fleet. This all aluminum, extruded modular body comes equipped with over 56 cubic feet of exterior storage and 45 cubic feet of interior storage. The standard 146” long x 90” wide body comes standard with 68” interior headroom. These frontline models are also offered with or without a CPR seat. 

Chicago Heights FD Ambulance 685

Fire Service Inc. photo

Chicago Heights FD Ambulance 685

Fire Service Inc. photo

Chicago Heights FD Ambulance 685

Fire Service Inc. photo

rear of new ambulance without chevron striping

Fire Service Inc. photo

new ambulance interior

Fire Service Inc. photo

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Chicago Heights Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Chicago Heights police arrested Chicago Heights Firefighter Michael Janusek, a 12-year member of the department who also serves as its EMS coordinator, on Jan. 25 after a month-long investigation, police chief Thomas Rogers said in a statement. Janusek is charged with felony theft and official misconduct for allegedly misappropriating money from the Chicago Heights Fire Department’s foreign fire tax fund. He is currently free on a $25,000 unsecured bond after being released from custody Saturday. His status with the Chicago Heights Fire Department was not immediately known.

The police investigation found that approximately $6,000 worth of merchandise purchased with fund money, which state statute says must be used for the maintenance, use and benefit of the department, had not been authorized by the fund’s board of directors.

Janusek’s attorney Robert Olson said his client denied any wrongdoing and was still in the dark about the allegations. Olson said his client was a member of the Chicago Heights Foreign Fire Insurance Board, whose officers are responsible for spending the allotted foreign fire funds that Janusek is alleged to have stolen.

Foreign fire tax funds are derived from the insurance taxes companies outside the state pay to the Illinois Municipal League, which in turn distributes the money it collects to individual departments for use as they see fit.

Janusek, who also worked part-time as a police officer in Crestwood, resigned his position there earlier this week after the charges were announced.

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New ambulance for Chicago Heights

From the Fire Service, Inc. Facebook page:

Congratulations and a big Thank You to Fire Chief Jeffery Springer and the members of the Chicago Heights IL Fire Department on the delivery of their new 2018 Wheeled Coach, Type 1 Ambulance. This new unit is their third recent purchase and will be a welcome addition to their busy EMS fleet. This 2018 F-450 4×2 chassis comes complete with Liquid Sping suspension system, Custom Coolbar, All LED Emergency and Interior Lighting, Compartment Strip Lighting, Custom Interior configuration etc. Radios, Computer docking stations, monitor mounts, PAC tool brackets and fire extinguishers were also installed prior to final delivery. Lettering and Striping was professionally installed by Strypes Plus More. This unit was sold by Pete Lombardi. If you would like additionall information on this unit or any other recent delivery, please contact your local FIre Service Inc. reprsentative.

new Chicago Heights FD ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

new Chicago Heights FD ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

new Chicago Heights FD ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

interior of new ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

back of new ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

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Chicago Heights Fire Department news

Last week, Ron Lucarini, paid-on-call fire chief retired after 40 years of service to the community. Almost a hundred Chicago Heights paid, POC, and past firefighters stopped by to wish Ronnie well.

Mementos from his career filled two tables in the firehouse. There were many photos from newspapers of Ronnie fighting fires, toy fire engines and awards. One of the most treasured is a thank you letter from President Ronald Reagan. The President thanked Ronnie for his service while visiting Chicago Heights on June 28, 1985.

“I walked into the fire house to see if I liked it, I stayed for 40 years,” Ron said. “I have a lot of great stories … One of the good memories was an outcome of a fire on 14th street. A lady named Frankie lost her husband in a house fire. She had her life savings in a paper bag. The roof caved in and every thing was impassable. Chief Puinti and I went inside. I kicked some wood away that was blocking the flow of water. As the water was leaving the second floor, here comes a paper bag with her life savings. We gave it to her and she hugged us both so tight and couldn’t thank us enough.”

“There was a house fire right down the street from # 1 station” recalls Ronnie. “I was the first one at the house. Myself and a police officer tried to go in the back door, I got down to crawl into the kitchen but the heat and smoke were to intense. After the fire was out, I went back into the kitchen and I was about two feet away from one child. I felt really bad. I kept thinking if only I could have held my breath for a few more seconds maybe I could have gotten him out. He and his two other brothers died.”

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New ambulance for Chicago Heights

From the Fire Service Inc. Facebook page:

Thanks to Chief Jeffery Springer and the Chicago Heights Fire Department on the new order of a 2018 Wheeled Coach F-450 ambulance. This is Chicago Heights’ third Wheeled Coach and is another excellent addition to their busy EMS fleet. The new unit comes equipped with Whelen LED emergency and interior dome lighting, Liquid Spring Suspension System, custom interior cabinet configuration, LED compartment strip lighting, power cab and module door locks, OptiCom emitter, Federal EQ2B siren, Vanner inverter, custom SCBA/gear compartment and extended conversion warranties. We congratulate the CHFD and appreciate their continued business with Fire Service Inc. and Wheeled Coach. Delivery in approx 90 days. We will post additional pics once the unit arrives. 

drawing of Wheeled Coach ambulance

Chicago Heights FD ambulances

 interior of new ambulance

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Working fire in Chicago Heights , 5-24-17

This from Brad Steinweg:

Pictures from Chicago Heights’ house fire on 15th & Lowe on Wednesday. Pretty well knocked when I got there, in overhaul and hitting hot spots. Also pictured is Flossmoor’s former ambulance 1370 which now belongs to Chicago Heights as ambulance 681. While fighting the house fire, they also responded down the street for a vehicle smoking heavily.

-Brad S.
Chicago Heights FD ambulance formerly a Flossmoor FD ambulance

Brad Steinweg photo

house fire scene in Chicago Heights IL

Brad Steinweg photo

Chicago Heights FD Truck 672 formerly from the Tinley Park FD

Brad Steinweg photo

house fire scene in Chicago Heights IL

Brad Steinweg photo

car smoking

Brad Steinweg photo

house fire scene in Chicago Heights IL

Brad Steinweg photo

house fire scene in Chicago Heights IL

Brad Steinweg photo

HME Ahrens Fox fire engine

Brad Steinweg photo

HME Ahrens Fox fire engine

Brad Steinweg photo

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New ambulances for Chicago Heights

From the Fire Service, Inc. Facebook page:

Congratulations to Chicago Heights Fire Department on the delivery of their two, 2016 Wheeled Coach Type I ambulances. We thank you for your business and look forward to working with you again.

Chicago Heights Ambulance 687

Chicago Heights Ambulance 687. Fire Service, Inc. photo

rear of new ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

two new ambulances for the Chicago Heights Fire Department

Fire Service, Inc. photo

Fire Service, Inc. photo

two new ambulances for the Chicago Heights Fire Department

Fire Service, Inc. photo

Chicago Heights Ambulance 687

Fire Service, Inc. photo

lighting package on new ambulance

Fire Service, Inc. photo

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New ambulances for Chicago Heights FD

From the Fire Service, Inc. Facebook page:

Congratulations to Chief Jeffery T. Springer and the Chicago Heights Fire Department on the purchase of two (2) new Wheeled Coach ambulances. These new Type I units will feature a custom COOLBAR HVAC system, all LED lighting and a custom interior configuration. We appreciate your business and want to welcome the Chicago Heights Fire Department to our Fire Service family. Delivery in approx. 90 Days. We will post pics as soon as they are available.

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Chicago Heights Fire Department news

Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com:

Budget problems are forcing Chicago Heights to reduce its number of firefighters and the community is banding together to fight the cuts.

Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez sent out a letter to residents last week detailing a five-point modernization plan for the fire department of 57 full-time firefighters. It includes hiring part-time firefighters to cut down on overtime and pension costs and reducing the manpower at fire stations from 17 to 15 per shift.

“We are not proposing any cuts into our full-time fire department, but what we are looking to do is we would like to add on certified part-time firemen,” Mayor Gonzalez said.

Chicago Heights Local 711 is against the plan. They’ve been trying to get the word out with the “Keep 17” signs that are popping up in yards across town.

“Any number of cuts to that 17 is devastating to operational safety whether it is dealing with multiple ambulance calls or structure fires,” Chicago Heights Local 711 President Steve Koenig said.

The mayor said the city would use some of the savings to upgrade their ambulance fleet. Residents say they just want to make sure their level of service isn’t compromised.

The mayor stressed that the talks are ongoing with the union and a final decision has not been made.

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