Posts Tagged Fermilab Fire Department

Fire service loses a good friend, George Reichhardt

George ReichardtGeorge C. Reichhardt,

It is with great sadness that we mention the loss of a friend. George Reichhardt served with the East Joliet Fire Protection District, retired as a captain with the Fermilab Fire Department, and was a lifelong fire service enthusiast. George spent many years documenting new and old apparatus from area fire departments with other photographers.

George C. Reichhardt 77, of Joliet, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, Glendale Heights. George was born in Joliet to the late Charles F. and Catherine M. (nee Briski) Reichhardt. Survived by his daughter Julie K. Reichhardt; a brother Donald J. (Barbara) Reichhardt and a sister Katherine Sheck; he is also survived by step-children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter Christina A. Bourg. George was a founding member of Fire Buffs of Illinois, he was a member of HOIFEC (Heart of Illinois Fire Enthusiasts and Collectors), SPAAMFAA (Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America), International Fire Photographers Association, Reichhardt Raiders, and Blitz Brothers. He was employed as a firefighter at the Army Ammunition Plant, East Joliet Fire Protection District, Fermilab, and Rockdale Fire Protection District. He was also a FAE Instructor and MABAS 15 Fire Photographer. His hobbies included photographing fire trucks, fires, trains, towboats, collecting fire memorabilia, and he really enjoyed riding Chicago Squad 3 in the early days. His publications include: Fire Apparatus Photo Album of the Ford Tilt Cabs – The Visiting Fireman, 1985 (Editor) and Darley Fire Apparatus – The Visiting Fireman, 1987 (Editor). George also received numerous awards and certificates throughout his career. The family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel 102 E. Frances Rd, New Lenox on Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 2:00pm until time of services at 8:00pm. A fire department walk through will begin at 7PM.

 

Funeral arrangements for George Reichhardt

George Reichhardt Bell Ceremony

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Local apparatus at FDIC 2012

There were four area units on display this year in the FDIC Exhibits. New engines for Carol Stream, Fermilab, and Northlake were shown in separate booths and the MABAS 10 MVU was also in the exhibit hall.

Carol Stream Fire District Alexis Engine 29

A new engine for Carol Stream was shown in the Alexis booth. Larry Shapiro photo

Carol Stream Fire District Alexis Engine 29

Looking strikingly similar to a CFD engine, Carol Stream Engine 29 is on a Spartan chassis. Larry Shapiro photo

Fermilab Fire Department Engine 702 Spartan UST US Tank

Fermilab Engine 702 was in the UST Fire Apparatus booth (formerly US Tank, previously US Tanker). Larry Shapiro photo

Fermilab Fire Department engine 702 UST

A view of the rear chevron on Engine 702. Larry Shapiro photo

Fermilab Fire Department Engine 702 Spartan UST US Tank

The officer's side of Fermilab Engine 702 with painted roll-up doors. Larry Shapiro Photo

Northlake Fire Department Marion Spartan Engine 806

In the Marion booth a new engine for Northlake on a Spartan Metro Star chassis with the Evolution Series trim was on display. Larry Shapiro photo

Northlake Fire Department Marion Spartan Engine 806

The driver's side of Northlake Engine 806. Larry Shapiro photo

MABAS Division 10 MVU Mobile Ventilation Unit

The MABAS Division 10 MVU Mobile Ventilation Unit, housed in Lyons was also on display at the show. Larry Shapiro photo

FDIC 2012 Lukas Oil Dome Convention Center Exhibit Hall

The exhibits were in two separate building; the convention center and the sports arena. All but a select few fire apparatus manufacturers moved into the convention center as seen in this image of the sports arena. Larry Shapiro photo

FDIC 2011 Lukas Oil Dome Convention Center Exhibit Hall

This image of the sports arena from FDIC 2011 shows more fire apparatus in this venue. Larry Shapiro photo

FDIC 2010 Lukas Oil Dome Convention Center Exhibit Hall

In 2010, construction on the new convention center had not been completed, and there were many more fire trucks on display in the sports arena. Larry Shapiro photo

 

A bit of “retro” in the Pierce booth.

Most have probably seen the newest Pierce cab and chassis that was unveiled last year – the Dash CF. It featured a grille that matched the Velocity, the Impel, and the Arrow XT.

Pierce Dash CF at FDIC 2012

The Pierce Dash CF with a grille that matches the Velocity, Impel, and the Arrow XT. Larry Shapiro photo

As it turns out, the engine sits in the back of the cab and the grille is for aesthetics only. This year, Pierce displayed a 105′ rear-mount, PUC, quint on the Dash CF chassis without a grille. If one looks beyond the one-piece windshield and the cab-tilt cutouts, the unit has the appearance of an early Pierce Arrow or a Javelin.

Pierce Dash CF aerial at FDIC 2012

A 105' aerial mounted on a Dash CF chassis without the grille. The cab face has the appearance of an early Pierce Arrow and the short lived Javelin. Larry Shapiro phoo

 

 

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Large barn fire near Batavia 1-9-12

The Kane County Chronicle has an article about a fire on Monday that:

…caused more than $400,000 in damage to a barn at Stokes Excavating at 35W160 Butterfield Road in unincorporated Batavia.

Batavia and North Aurora firefighters responded to the blaze along with other area fire departments, including Aurora, Geneva and Fermilab.

Firefighters arrived on the scene at 10:29 a.m., and had the fire under control by 12:30 p.m. The fire forced the closure of Butterfield Road between Hart/Mitchell Road and Pinecreek Drive in North Aurora.

The complete article with a video and photo can be found HERE.

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Fermilab orders US Tanker

Bill Friedrich found the following from US Tanker:

US Tanker Fire Apparatus

US Tanker has just been awarded a contract to build a custom pumper for the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, IL. The Fermi Laboratory is part of the US Department of Energy and is one of the most important scientific laboratories in the world. This is a great honor for UST and we are very excited to build this new custom attack pumper. The chassis is a Spartan Metro Star with a 1500-GPM Waterous pump.

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