Two of the new Spartan Gladiator/Crimson 103′ rear mount aerial ladders have gone into service. Trucks 9 and 51 have received the new units.
Chicago Truck 9 received their new apparatus carrying shop #E337. It is a 2010 Spartan Gladiator Classic/Crimson 103' rear mount aerial. Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro tracked down Truck 9 several hours after the company picked up their new apparatus at the fire department shops.
The Sauk Village Fire Station. Karl Klotz photo
The Sauk Village Fire Department in MABAS Division 27 has been added to the site. Sauk Village has a relatively new fleet of Crimson apparatus on Spartan chassis with Gladiator cabs featuring the Evolution trim package. The rigs are black over red with a gold stripe. This scheme replaces white apparatus with a blue strip that the department has been running for quite some time. There is still one white engine left in the fleet, a 1995 Spartan Gladiator/S&S TM engine.
Among the units from Crimson are an engine, a pumper/squad, and one of the area’s few mid-mount tower ladders. Previously, Sauk Village ran with a Hendrickson/3D/Darley/65′ Snorkel and another engine from S&S on a Spartan chassis.
Sauk Village recently retired this 1980 Hendrickson 1871L/3D/Darley 65' Snorkel and replaced it with a 2008 Spartan Gladiator Crimson mid-mount tower ladder. Larry Shapiro photo
Chicago firefighters responded to a fire in a mattress store at 6019 N. Lincoln Avenue Friday night and fought a relatively small interior fire. The building had a bow string truss roof but the fire did not extend past the ceiling. The strip center where this fire occurred was the site of a previous fire a number of years ago. Upon checking for extension in the neighboring property, firefighters found charring from a previous fire along the rafters.
Truck 56 had their main to the roof, and since they are due to take delivery of a 2010 Spartan/Crimson 103′ aerial to replace their Seagrave 100′ aerial, this might play out to be the last fire for this rig before it heads to the spare fleet.
Larry Shapiro arrived as the Still & Box was struck out and took a few images of the scene. A small gallery can be viewed HERE.
Chicago Truck 56 was the first truck to the Still & Box on Lincoln Avenue. Since they are due to receive a brand new unit, this may be the last fire for the Seagrave unit. Larry Shapiro photo
Although not visible from the outside at night, this strip center has a bow string truss roof. The fire was contained to the interior before it was able to weaken the roof supports. Larry Shapiro photo
Command Van 2-7-1 was running with this spare unit (G513) last night. Larry Shapiro photo
Most of the visible damage to the interior of the store and the merchandise is from heat and smoke. The fire was located in the rear of the building. Larry Shapiro photo
The building sustained a previous fire some years ago as indicated by the charring on the rafters that was discovered in the adjoining unit while firefighters were checking for extension. Larry Shapiro photo
South Elgin had a house fire on Thursday at 10N917 Gale Street in Elgin Township (Kane County). The fire was apparently blamed on a bird’s nest which ignited and sent fire into the attic of the home. It was a 15-degree day that felt like 5 degrees with the wind.
Scott Peterson submitted several shots from the scene after the fire was brought under control.
A view from the front of the one-story house at 10N917 Gayle Street in unincorporated Kane County. Scott Peterson photo
Firefighters work on the roof of the house after the fire was knocked down. Multiple attics required several vent holes. Scott Peterson photo
This shot from the rear shows the extent of the attic fire. Scott Peterson photo
From The Courier-News:
According to preliminary reports, firefighters were called to the home just after 9:30 a.m. by the home’s two occupants. Firefighters found fire in a wall and a deep-seated fire in the attic, with flames coming out of windows on both sides of the structure. Reports stated that the home actually had multiple attic units as a result of remodeling projects and the fire had spread among them.
The Courier-News has an article about the fire HERE.
Departments that responded to provide mutual aid included Elgin, Pingree Grove, Elburn, Bartlett, Hanover Park, and West Dundee.
South Elgin’s new Spartan/Crimson mid-mount tower ladder staged at the fire. Scott Peterson photo
Elburn Tender 307, a 3000-gallon pumper/tanker built by Alexis on a 1988 Peterbilt chassis was also on the scene. Scott Peterson photo
Elgin Engine 4 was on a hydrant down the street from the fire. Scott Peterson photo
Pingree Grove responded to the fire with this tandem-axle pumper/tanker on a Spartan Gladiator chassis. Scott Peterson photo
South Elgin had two engines, a tower, and a tanker on the scene. Here is Engine 1, a Spartan/Crimson parked down the street. Scott Peterson photo
The second department in MABAS Division 27 has been added. South Chicago Heights, a single station department that covers 1.5 square miles operates two ambulances and two engines. Ambulances are from Wheeled Coach and Osage. Engines are from Crimson and American LaFrance (before it was bought by Freightliner). This is one of the few departments in the area operating a Type II style ambulance. Images were provided by Jack Connors.
The South Chicago Heights station at 2729 Jackson Avenue. Jack Connors photo
Karl Klotz also took in the house fire yesterday in Country Club Hills at 4440 W. 183rd Street. The temperature at the time of this fire was -20 degrees including the wind chill. He arrived before Dennis McGuire, Jr who submitted photos that were posted HERE.
Karl submitted the following images and has a full gallery which can be seen HERE.
Smoke escapes from the roof at 4440 W. 183rd Street as firefighters get water on the fire inside the house. Karl Klotz photo
Country Club Hills Engine 1120 was the first suppression unit on the scene. Karl Klotz photo
Firefighters overhaul the exterior of the house looking for hot spots of hidden fire after the main fire has been controlled by companies inside. Karl Klotz photo
As firefighters perform overhaul, they remove exterior soffits, siding, and insulation . Karl Klotz photo
Hazel Crest Truck 1220, a Pierce Lance 105' quint, was staged in front of the house. Karl Klotz photo
Country Club Hills Engine 1130, a Pierce Lance, brought additional manpower to the scene. Karl Klotz photo
Oak Forest Ambulance 162, a 2004 Ford/Road Rescue was on the scene but there were no injuries. Karl Klotz photo
A Country Club Hills firefighter awaits a new assignment after working on overhaul. Karl Klotz photo
Homewood's squad, a Country Club Hills engine, an Oak Forest engine, the Country Club Hills tower, and the Hazel Crest truck can be seen parked along 183rd Street at the fire. Karl Klotz photo
The fifth new Spartan/Crimson 103′ rear mount aerial in Chicago will be assigned to Truck 59. That makes Truck Companies 9, 31, 51, 56, & 59 the recipients of the five aerials that have been delivered to date. Each of these companies currently runs with a 1996 Seagrave except Truck 51, which has a 1995 Seagrave, the oldest ladder in front line service in Chicago. After these new rigs go into service, there will be two remaining 1996 Seagrave trucks that are assigned to Trucks 61 and 62.
As a side note, there are three 1996 HME 1871/Simon-LTI 100′ tower ladders currently assigned to Tower 21, Tower 37, and Tower 39. Due to an accident with their 2002 Pierce Dash Tower Ladder, Tower 34 is running again with their 1988 E-ONE Hurricane 95′ tower ladder.
Chicago Truck 59 and Truck 31 at the Quinn Fire Academy yesterday. All three shifts of the five companies receiving the new Spartan/Crimson aerials are rotating through the academy to receive training on the new apparatus before getting the rigs. Steve Redick photo
The rear of Truck 31 shows that all ground ladder storage is within the center of the truck. A first for Chicago is full compartmentation on both sides of the rigs. Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick happened upon the new Spartan Gladiator/Crimson aerial lettered for Truck 31 today at the Quinn Fire Academy and sent this image. Truck 31 is quartered with Engine 64, an ALS engine company. In a previous post HERE, this unit was shown without a company number, but it was labeled as a paramedic equipped truck, and now that designation has been removed.
The new unit for Truck Company 31 is this 2010 Spartan Gladiator/Crimson 103' aerial ladder carrying CFD shop #E338. Steve Redick photo
Jan 17
The Naperville Fire Department (MABAS Division 16) has made a fleet and manning change. The 1997 E-ONE Cyclone for Squad 8 has been taken out of service and stripped of its equipment. It’s current disposition is most likely to be sold. The Spartan/Crimson engine from Station 1 has been moved to Station 8 and will be the new Squad 8 with most of the vehicle extrication gear assigned to the squad. The balance of the squad’s equipment has been moved to the technical rescue truck (TRT) and the dive equipment is on the water rescue truck (WRT).
Naperville will be down one suppression company on the street. There will be no layoffs, but three vacant positions for FF/PM will not be filled
Thanks to Lieutenant Andy Hilk for updating us.
Jan 15
The Wheeling Fire Department received calls reporting a house fire in the 100 block of Manchester Drive West around 7:30PM this evening. First arriving companies reported a well involved attached garage at 115 Manchester and upgraded the response to a Code 4. This brought mutual aid from Northbrook, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, and Arlington Heights. At the time of the fire, some Wheeling companies were committed elsewhere resulting in fewer companies on the initial alarm. Companies made a quick hit on the garage fire that extended slightly into the attic, but they kept it from doing much serious damage to the house.
Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk were on the scene. Larry submitted these images and a complete gallery can be seen HERE.
Smoke escapes through the living room window of the ranch house in Wheeling. Larry Shapiro photo
Wheeling Engine 23 was the still engine to the fire. Firefighters took both pre-connects and a 2.5" off the rear. Larry Shapiro photo
Wheeling Tower 42, a 1994 100' Sutphen mid-mount tower ladder setup in front of the house. Larry Shapiro photo
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
