Deputy Fire Chief Peter Pilafas « chicagoareafire.com

Posts Tagged Deputy Fire Chief Peter Pilafas

Oak Park firefighter dies after shift (more)

Jan 13

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

An Oak Park firefighter died Monday night just hours after finishing his shift. Firefighter Kenneth K. Harris, 56, was found dead in his Berwyn home the evening of Jan. 11. Harris was a 28-year veteran of the Oak Park Fire Department.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Peter Pilafas, Harris had just worked a 24-hour shift, ending the morning of Jan. 11. Afterward, Harris put in another six hours of fire prevention work. “I actually saw him on Jan. 11 in the morning,” Pilafas said. “He just got off a shift. He seemed perfectly fine.”

With the department still coming to grips with the loss of its colleague, Pilafas recalled only positive memories of his late friend.

“He was a hard worker who was a fireman’s fireman,” Pilafas said. “He truly understood the commitment of the job, loved being a firefighter, loved the Oak Park Fire Department and loved serving the village of Oak Park. What’s going to be missed is he always put a smile on your face even when you had a bad day. He’s not replaceable. He will be sorely missed.”

Harris leaves behind a wife, five children and three grandchildren.

thanks Dan

Tags: Deputy Fire Chief Peter Pilafas, IAFF Local 95, Kenneth K. Harris, Oak Park Firefighter dies after shift, Oak Park Firefighter Paramedic Ken Harris

4-Alarm apartment building fire in Oak Park, 10-20-15

Oct 21

Posted by Admin in Fire Scene photos | 3 Comments

The Oak Park Fire Department had a 4-Alarm fire in a four-story apartment building at 267 Washington Boulevard shortly before 10PM (10/20/15).

Brad Bartley photo

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

More photos are at firescenes.net

Excerpts from OakPark.com: photos

Black smoke and heavy flames from a 22-unit apartment building fire near Percy Julian Middle School raged into early Wednesday morning, but no injuries are reported.

The Oak Park Fire Department was called out to the four-alarm fire in the 200 block of Washington Street at about 9:30 p.m. and faced heavy flames from the rear of the building, Deputy Fire Chief Peter Pilafas said.

“When they did arrive it was flames from the ground to the roof,” Pilafas said.

Pilafas said that at about midnight the fire was contained to the building of origin and that no residents were reported injured or missing. The Red Cross was on the scene aiding displaced residents. Pilafas said the building, just east of the corner of Washington and Cuyler, was “a complete loss.”

One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was transported to Loyola Medical Center for treatment.

Fire departments from eleven surrounding communities aided in fighting the fire, Pilafas said.

One residential building to the east of the apartment building suffered some damage due to radiant heat from the blaze, Pilafas said, but no other buildings appear to have been affected.

Tags: 4-Alarm fire in Oak Park, Brad Bartley, Deputy Fire Chief Peter Pilafas, Gordon J. Nord, night fire scene photos, Oak Park Fire Department