Posts Tagged Flossmoor Fire Department

Flossmoor Fire Department history

Mar 6

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 1 Comment

This from Mike Summa:

This is the Flossmoor Fire Dept.’s 1969 Chevy brush truck. Sorry, no specs available. This was photographed some 20 years later and it still looks good. Enjoy.

Mike Summa

Mike Summa photo

Tags: Flossmoor Fire Department, Mike Summa, vintage fire truck

Flossmoor Fire Department news

Oct 29

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the hfchronicle.com:

Flossmoor village board members agreed this month to a partnership with Park Forest that allows the fire departments in both communities to share a pumper that has been moved to reserve status.

Fire Chief Chris Sewell said the partnership, over time, will permit Flossmoor to reduce its vehicle replacement schedules by one fire truck. That would reduce replacement costs by one-third and save the village about $1 million in the next 30 years. The cost of a new fire engine is now in excess of $500,000, he said.

Flossmoor currently has three engines, each with a 20-year service life. Under the plan, the fire department will move to two trucks – that means the vehicles will be replaced once every 10 years and Park Forest will move to a similar replacement plan.

When one of the villages replaces an engine, the old one will be rotated to reserve status for five years. Both communities will always have two front-line engines for daily response purposes. The engine that is moved to reserve status can be used by either department when a front-line engine is down for routine maintenance or repairs.

By implementing the partnership, both communities will be in full compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, which call for 20 years of service from front-line vehicles and an additional five years for trucks in reserve status.

Both communities have a 3,500 gallon per minute pump requirement set by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) and maintain the three engines to meet that number.

Sewell said Flossmoor and Park Forest have similarities that make the agreement possible. Both towns have similar street designs and functional needs in regard to fire apparatus. Park Forest is the only nearby community with a Capital Replacement Fund similar to Flossmoor’s account for the long-range replacement of vehicles and other major equipment used by municipal departments.

Also, both towns participate in the Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency (IRMA), an insurance pool for municipalities and other governmental agencies in Northeastern Illinois. If either community terminates its IRMA membership, it could lead to the end of the agreement, Sewell said.

Flossmoor currently has a shared ambulance agreement with both Homewood and Hazel Crest.

thanks Dennis

Tags: Fire Chief Chris Sewell, Flossmoor Fire Department, neighboring fire departments agree to share reserve apparatus, Park Forest Fire Department

Flossmoor Fire Department update

Aug 26

Posted by Admin in Ambulance photos, Fire Department News | 4 Comments

This from Brad Steinweg:

I noticed that Flossmoor’s former 1372 is still listed so I have a picture of the current one. It is a 2014 Dodge Ram 3500. Not sure on the box, I believe it’s a Horton. The former 1372 was sold to Chicago Heights. I have included a picture of that as well. Photo credit on the current rig goes to Joseph Usselman.

-Brad S.

Joseph Usselman photo

Brad Steinweg photo

Tags: ambulance photos, Brad Steinweg, Chicago Heights FD ambulance, Flossmoor Fire Department, Joseph Usselman, new ambulance for Flossmoor FD

Flossmoor firefighters recognized for their actions

May 1

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the hfchronicle.com:

Two Flossmoor firefighters were honored this week for their heroic actions during last November’s fatal house fire on Hagen Lane. Captain Matt Berk and Firefighter Zach Jebens received the Valor Award from the 100 Club of Chicago.

The fire, which broke out just before 8 p.m. on Nov. 7 at 2035 Hagen Lane, led to the death of homeowner Josephine Tropp, who died six days after she was rescued from the blaze.

At the annual Valor Award ceremony, Berk and Jebens joined firefighters and police officers from Chicago and two other suburban communities who were recognized for their heroism. The Valor Award is presented to police officers, firefighters and paramedics who, by their actions, performed above and beyond the call of duty.

Berk received the award from his father Greg, who was Flossmoor fire chief for 28 years; Greg Berk was also Wheaton fire chief for 10 years before retiring after 46 years in the fire service.

Flossmoor Assistant Chief Keith Damm narrated the account of events on the night of the fire.

Upon arriving at the house, fire crews found a hellish inferno. Fire was coming out of two sides of the single-story structure. Windows on the front and right sides had broken from the intense heat being radiated from the fire, allowing more oxygen to enter the home and intensify the blaze.

The police officer on the scene informed the crew that they had one person in custody and confirmed that an elderly woman was trapped inside the home.

Because of the large amount of fire, crews moved hoses to the front door. As the crew started to enter the burning structure there were several explosions inside the home. The residents had stored a number of oxygen tanks in the living room, to the right of the entry door, and the tanks were exploding from the intense heat of the fire. Crews said the fire was burning so hot that they could see right through the flames.

Berk directed efforts to evacuate the victim from the house through a bedroom window. Once outside the house, she was taken by stretcher to a Thornton Fire Department ambulance. Jebens led the successful attempt to resuscitate the victim.

Josephine Tropp later died from her injuries. Her daughter, Denise Tropp, told police she started the fire. She has been charged with arson and murder.

thanks Dan

Tags: Captain Matt Berk, Firefighter Zach Jebens, Flossmoor Assistant Chief Keith Damm, Flossmoor Fire Department, Flossmoor firefighters were honored, Valor Award from the 100 Club of Chicago

Box alarm fire in Chicago Heights, 2-6-16

Feb 6

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Scene photos | 3 Comments

This from Eric Haak:

The Chicago Heights Fire Department had a MABAS Box on Saturday morning (2/6) for a fire in a Walmart that is under construction at 21000 S. Western Avenue. As far as I could tell, it was probably construction materials on the interior and did not involve the structure. There were two aerials up and ready but no water was used on the roof. I was not allowed to get any closer than the construction fence so the images you see here were taken from a distance. Was able to at least shoot a few rigs.