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Posts Tagged Dennis McGuire Jr.

Robbins 2nd Alarm fire 4-1-12 (part 2)

Apr 3

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

More from Dennis McGuire, Jr.

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

While waiting for a water supply to be established, an officer from Garden Homes observes the intense fire and the daunting task that lies ahead in knocking it down. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

 

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

Another image showing the substantial fire that was facing firefighters. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12 Hazel Crest Fire Department Pierce Skyboom

Hazel Crest Engine 1226 deployed the master stream from the Skyboom aerial. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

Firefighters making a hit on the fire. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12 Dixmoor Fire Department engine

Dixmoor Engine 33 is pumping after receiving a continuous water supply. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

Heavy fire continues to burn as companies work to control it. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

Another foam line is used to combat the intense fire. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

A front end loader was brought in to gain access to the pile of tires that was surrounded by the cars.
Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

An end loader works to clear a path for firefighters to get at the remaining hot spots. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

It took companies 3 hours to bring the fire under control.
Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

Part of the fire was on the opposite side of a creek which hampered the efforts of firefighters. Here, the Robbins tower ladder gets water on that fire across the creek that ran along the south end of the fire. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Here is a list of most departments that were on-scene:
Robbins
Blue Island
Merrionette Park
Garden Homes FPD
Frankfort
Northwest Homer FPD
Posen
Crestwood
Midlothian
Flossmoor
Phoenix
Dixmoor
Hazel Crest
Oak Forest

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Robbins 2nd Alarm Fire 4-1-12 (part 1)

Apr 3

Posted by bgshap in Fire, Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 1 Comment

From Dennis McGuire, Jr:

 

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

A large field of tires and cars burns in Robbins, IL on April 2nd. Dennis McGuire, Jr Photo

 A 2nd alarm fire last night for the large tire and car pile in a junk yard. A police officer was on patrol and noticed heavy smoke in the area of 137th St. and Kedzie Ave. Robbins was toned out, with the first engine on-scene reporting a fire, I arrived shortly after the first engine.

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

A Dixmoor Captain surveys the blaze. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

From Dennis McGuire, Jr:

At three different locations on the fireground, 1,000' of 4" supply line has been dropped to supply water to the engines. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

An area of approx. 200×100 of nothing but tires, car parts, and cars was burning. Due to a major water problem, a tanker request was made with departments such as Frankfort, Northwest Homer, and Flossmoor arriving to fill the Dixmoor engine that was at the main body of fire. A request for a hose wagon from Chicago was made, which included 6-1-1, Engine 81, and 2-2-6, but they were held up en-route.
Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12 Robbins Fire Department tower ladder

The Robbins Tower Ladder getting ready to work. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

From Dennis McGuire, Jr:

The Robbins Tower Ladder can be seen in the background hitting the fire with an elevated master stream. Dennis McGuire, Jr.

From Dennis McGuire, Jr:

Nothing but cars and tires burning freely in the scrap yard. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

A Garden Homes firefighter prepares to hit the fire with foam. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12

The Dixmoor engine awaits a secure water supply from area tankers. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Large tire fire in Robbins IL 4-2-12 fighting fire with foam

A firefighter uses a hand line to apply foam on the fire. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

 

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Riverdale Fire Department apparatus updates

Apr 2

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

Dennis McGuire, Jr. tells us the following:

Riverdale has traded in their Pierce engines for twin E-Ones which went thru Fire Service.  One of the Pierce engines (831) was sold to Joplin, Missouri. The other engine (830) was supposedly sold to a department downstate.
Also the 1971 Snorkel from Oak Forest is no longer on the roster and is in the process of being sold to a business in Crestwood that has plans to rebuild it into a memorial truck.
Riverdale Fire Department Engine 831 went to Joplin MO

The engine as it looked in Riverdale.

Riverdale Fire Department Pierce engine Joplin, Missouri Fire Departemnt

The 1995 Pierce Saber repainted for Joplin, MO (X-Riverdale, IL). Fire Service, Inc. photo

 

The Toyne squad is supposed to be at Fire Service for a complete rebuild.

Riverdale Fire Department HME Toyne Squad 851

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New Network TV Show Chicago Fire – update

Mar 31

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | No Comments

Dennis McGire, Jr. informs us that:

The Battalion 25 buggy being used in the show Chicago Fire  is a 2003 Ford Explorer, shop #B-490. This was formerly assigned to the Fact Team, which was an EMS team that would go to special events.

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Dolton Box Alarm 3-31-12

Mar 31

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News | 4 Comments

Dennis McGuire, Jr. submitted the following:

Dolton FD had a Box Alarm this morning around 0630-0700 at 300 Sibley Blvd. It was a large vacant building 200×200 with a bow string truss that had been used as an  entertainment center. A Buds Ambulance crew noticed smoke coming from the building and called it in. A Dolton engine got on-scene and found fire thru the roof in the rear. Upon entry the crew went to the 2nd floor and found fire in a room and in the walls on the interior. This 2-story area was built inside the open area of the building.  A good knock kept the fire from spreading to the rest of the heavy timber building.

MABAS 27 MVU was special called to vent the heavy smoke conditions in the open floor area in the center of the building.
I got there after the fire was knocked. This building had been built as a Model City Food grocery store.
fire in vacant building on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton 3-31-12

A view showing the A-D corner of the vacant building at 300 W. Sibley Boulevard in Dolton. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

fire in vacant building on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton 3-31-12

Damage is visible where the fire burned through the roof. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

fire in vacant building on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton 3-31-12 Riverdale Engine 834

Riverdale Engine 834 was on a hydrant across the street. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

fire in vacant building on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton 3-31-12 Tempest MVU

The MABAS 27 MVU was special called from Crete Township. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

fire in vacant building on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton 3-31-12 South Holland Tower 663

South Holland Tower 663 was setup on the 'D' side of the building. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

fire in vacant building on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton 3-31-12

Firefighters help to re-bed 1,000 feet of 5" hose. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

fire in vacant building on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton 3-31-12 MABAS MVU

The Mobile Ventilation Unit at working clearing smoke from the large building. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

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MABAS in the news

Oct 29

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | 1 Comment

Dennis McGuire, Jr. found a summary article HERE from a downstate Bloomington publication about MABAS.

BLOOMINGTON — Mutual aid for fires or a variety of other disasters is just a single call away with a statewide system called Mutual Aid Box Alarm System.

MABAS, headquartered in Wheeling, has 68 divisions and includes all but one county in the state, said Greg Peters, finance section chief.  The organization also has relationships with other states and is hoping eventually to provide mutual aid across state lines, Peters said.

Peters said the MABAS system was created in 1968 to provide the Cook County area with an emergency box alarm system.

After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, a terrorist task force was created by Illinois’ governor. MABAS already had a system in place, so it became a charter member of the task force.

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Chicago Sun-Times Looks Into City Administrative Salaries

Oct 15

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | No Comments

Dennis McGuire, Jr. spotted an article on the Chicago Sun-Times web site which looks into pay raises for multiple city administrators including Fire Commissioner Hoff plus a new deputy commissioner in charge of the fire prevention bureau. Aids and police officials are also highlighted. Excerpts include:

Even with 517 layoffs, $417 million in budget cuts and $220 million in higher taxes, fines and fees, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s first city budget rewards a handful of top mayoral aides.

Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff is in line for a nine percent pay raise — from $185,652 a year to $202,728.

There’s also a nine percent pay hike — to $178,740 — for the newly-appointed deputy commissioner in charge of the scandal-scarred Fire Prevention Bureau.

Hoff dumped the old deputy after firing just four of the 54 firefighters accused of padding mileage expenses to the tune of $100,000 in 2009 alone. Six other firefighters have retired and 43 others face suspensions ranging from 30 to 60 days.

While the Chicago Police Department is closing three district stations and eliminating 1,252 police vacancies, Supt. Garry McCarthy’s chief of staff will get a nearly ten percent bump — to $185,004.

The entire article is HERE.

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Chicago to Consolidate Police & Fire Headquarters & Special Units

Oct 13

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

Dennis McGuire, Jr. found an article about various consolidation of the Chicago Police and Fire Departments as well as the closing of three District Police Stations.

The Chicago Tribune reports that:

The Chicago Police Department will close three district police stations in 2012 — Wood, Belmont and Prairie — consolidate police and detective areas from five to three and merge Police and Fire Department headquarters and specialized units, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday.

Instead of having “overlapping functions” in the Police and Fire Departments overseeing anti-terrorism, marine activities, helicopter and bomb and arson, those units will join forces under “single leadership” for “better coordination at key moments,” the mayor said.

The merger of special units and the combined Police and Fire headquarters at 35th and Michigan will create a “more agile bureaucratic structure” that Emanuel called unprecedented.

“No other city to date has looked at both the headquarters and integrating certain areas into kind of a single public safety mission,” the mayor said, joking that the Police and Fire Departments would maintain “separate football and softball teams”

Read the complete article HERE.

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Fire departments discuss combining services

Sep 29

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | 7 Comments

Dennis McGuire, Jr. found an article discussing a possible merger of sorts between three suburban fire and police departments.

La Grange officials voiced unanimous support to pursue a program of shared services with Western Springs and LaGrange Park in the first of three presentations Sept. 26 on the concept.

The study, sponsored by the Metropolitan Mayors and Managers Caucus and funded in part by a grant, was designed to examine similarities between the three villages regarding community characteristics and public safety operations.

The three towns have very similar populations, number of square miles and financial resources. Differences lie in emergency services with LaGrange Park and Western Springs employing paid, on-call firefighters and a private paramedic service, compared to La Grange, which has full-time firefighters.

The project also identified opportunities to share public safety services and made seven recommendations in a three-phase approach, beginning with combining emergency dispatch services.

The analysis of calls for emergency services suggests the total call volumes could be met from a single dispatch center with a potential savings of three full-time and four part-time workers. Other communities may be invited to join the system in time.

Departments could also share a record and reporting system.

Fire department trucks could be shared, and police services could be combined with overlapping responsibility between the communities for the supervising shift sergeant. Eventually, policing districts within and between the communities could be consolidated into larger ones.

Read the complete article from TheDoingsWestern Springs HERE.

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CFD assigns new apparatus to Truck 51

Aug 15

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Fire Service News, New Delivery | 8 Comments

Dennis McGuire, Jr. informs us that the Spartan/Crimson 103′ rear mount aerial carrying shop #E336 which had been assigned to Truck 51 has been taken out of service for some sort of mechanical or electrical malfunctions and the current disposition of this piece is not known. Truck 51 has been reassigned a Spartan/Crimson with shop #E341 which was originally slated for Truck 62.

Chicago Fire Department Truck 51 2009 Spartan/Crimson 103' rear mount

Truck 51 was originally assigned shop #E336 as shown here. The unit has been taken out of service and the disposition is unknown. Truck 51 now has shop #E341. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

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