Posts Tagged Hank Sajovic

Chicago Still & Box Alarm 12-13-11

Hank Sajovic took in a fire yesterday in Chicago and provided several images and the following description:

On December 13, 2011 companies in the 14th Battalion responded to a still alarm for a fire at 4018 W. Cermak Rd.  Engine 38 arrived to find a fire in a 2-story brick apartment building measuring 25 x 60.  Truck 32, the second due truck, arrived and went to their assignment in the rear where they found the back of the structure heavily involved.  The captain notified the 14th battalion and with that report he requested a Box alarm.  Three lines were used to control the fire. The building was reportedly vacant and the fire was suspicious. The Office of Fire Investigations was requested to the scene.
Chicago Still & Box Alarm fire 12-13-11 on Cermak

Firefighters pull a line off of Engine 109. Hank Sajovic photo

Chicago Still & Box Alarm fire 12-13-11 on Cermak

Truck 48 ladders the front of the building. Hank Sajovic photo

Chicago Still & Box Alarm fire 12-13-11 on Cermak

Heavy fire showing in the rear of the building. Hank Sajovic photo

Chicago Still & Box Alarm fire 12-13-11 on Cermak

Squad 2 was using this spare apparatus. Hank Sajovic photo

Tags: , , , , , ,

Skokie Box Alarm 12-12-11 – update

Hank Sajovic submitted several images from yesterday’s building explosion in Skokie.

Skokie building explosion Kimball Avenue 12-12-11

Smoke pushes from the building on Kimball Avenue as firefighters knock down the remaining fire. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie building explosion Kimball Avenue 12-12-11

A view from the front shows heavy smoke and the extent of the blast. Hank Sajovic photo

Fire hydrant with hose attached

Skokie Engine 17 was on this hydrant one building away from the fire building. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie building explosion Kimball Avenue 12-12-11

The north side of the fire building show severe damage from the blast.. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie building explosion Kimball Avenue 12-12-11

The second floor collapsed as the supporting front wall was blown out. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie building explosion Kimball Avenue 12-12-11

Employees from Nicor go to work to shut off the gas to the building. Hank Sajovic photo

 

Tags: , , ,

Skokie Box Alarm 12-12-11

The Skokie Fire Department received a call this morning reporting a building on fire in the 8700 block of Kimball Avenue. The caller stated that there had been an explosion and there was heavy fire. Skokie units responded and found the entire front of the two-story building at 8734 Kimball Avenue had been blown out. There was fire throughout the building and an injured party in the front yard area. The alarm was elevated to a Box Alarm which brought all Skokie companies to the scene plus an engine from Wilmette, a squad from Morton Grove, and a truck from Evanston in addition to companies to cover the Skokie stations.

The victim was reported to be in serious condition. The building fire was knocked down within 20 minutes and companies remained on the scene for much of the day. The instability of the structure prevented companies from conducting any interior searches. The building is scheduled for demolition on Tuesday morning.

Hank Sajovic, Tim Olk and Larry Shapiro all took in the fire and will have images to view.

Skokie building explosion 12-12-11 Kimball Avenue

The front of the two-story building at 8734 Kimball Avenue in Skokie was blown completely out. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie building explosion 12-12-11 Kimball Avenue

Skokie Truck 18 had the front of the building and Engine 17 is off to the right side of the photo. Larry Shapiro photo

Skokie building explosion 12-12-11 Kimball Avenue

Light smoke escapes from the rear of the building as firefighters extinguish the fires. Tim Olk photo

Skokie building explosion 12-12-11 Kimball Avenue

Two elevated master streams continue to pour water into the building since firefighters were unable to make entry. Tim Olk photo

Skokie building explosion 12-12-11 Kimball Avenue

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Tim Olk photo

Skokie building explosion 12-12-11 Kimball Avenue

A view from the south shows the damage to the building. Skokie Tower 16 can be seen flowing water in the distance. Larry Shapiro photo

Skokie building explosion 12-12-11 Kimball Avenue

Skokie Tower 16 setup in the parking lot to the north and was flowing water across the neighboring building. Larry Shapiro photo

Skokie building explosion 12-12-11 Kimball Avenue

The building was unoccupied at the time of the explosion and was undergoing renovations. Larry Shapiro photo

News coverage can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Larry has a gallery HERE.

Tim has a gallery HERE.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

New CFD staff vehicle

Hank Sajovic spotted a new vehicle a for the CFD documents section

Chicago Fire Department Documents Section car

Chicago Fire Department Documents Section NGV. Hank Sajovic photo

Tags: , ,

Oak Lawn updated

Hank Sajovic submitted an image of Oak Lawn Quint 3 which has been added to Oak Lawn Station 3

 

Oak Lawn Fire Department Quint 3

Tags: , , ,

Berwyn has been added to the site

The Berwyn Fire Department in MABAS Division 11 has been added to the site through the efforts of several individuals. Photos have been assembled from Drew Gresik, Steve Redick, Hank Sajovic, and Larry Shapiro to fill in the stations and apparatus. Berwyn, a career department with 79 personnel runs out of three stations covering just under four square miles. They have a mixture of apparatus including three pieces from Seagrave plus an engine from Pierce and their newest engine from Crimson.

Berwyn Fire Department

Berwyn Station 1, their south station, is at 6434 Windsor Avenue. Hank Sajovic photo

Berwyn Fire Department

The north station, is Station 2 at 6615 16th Street. Larry Shapiro photo

Berwyn Fire Department Engine 903 2009 Spartan Gladiator Crimson

Berwyn Fire Department

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

CFD site updates

There are many CFD photos waiting to be updated on the site, and as time permits they will all find their place. Several images have been updated now:

  • Dan McInerney submitted a new image of Engine 29‘s house
  • Bill Freidrich updated the photo of High-Rise unit 6-4-16 at Engine 18’s house which was discussed in several earlier comments
Chicago Fire Department High-Rise Unit 6-4-16

This 2007 Ford E-350/Supreme Body unit is the current piece for 6-4-16, the High-Rise Unit. Bill Friedrich photo

  • Bill Friedrich and Hank Sajovic both provided images of 5-2-4, the converted sewer vac that was obtained from Streets & Sanitation last year
Chicago Fire Department RescueVac 5-2-4

On display last week at the Chicago muster was 5-2-4. This was built in 1994 by Vac-Con for the Department of Streets and Sanitation on a Ford L-8000 chassis. Last year it was obtained by the CFD and updated by RescueVac Inc. for emergency trench rescues. Hank Sajovic photo

Chicago Fire Department RescueVac 5-2-4

A rear view showing the tank assembly of 5-2-4 which carries CFD shop #G-575. Hank Sajovic photo

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

New book on Chicago Fire Houses

Skokie Fire Lieutenant and site contributor Hank Sajovic has authored a book depicting Chicago Fire Houses. The book, which Hank has been working on for quite some time, features all current houses plus closed houses that are still standing. View the book HERE.

Chicago Fire Houses 2011 by Hank Sajovic

Visit Hank’s smugmug site is HERE.

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Skokie flies WTC Patriot Flag

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

A Patriot Flag measuring 30' x 50' was flown in Skokie on Wednesday. Hank Sajovic photo

 

From Hank Sajovic, Lieutenant, Skokie Truck Co. No. 18:

The Skokie Fire Department hosted a Patriot Flag on June 16, 2011. The flag is traveling across the country and will fly in all 50 states. During the week of September 11, 2011, it will fly at all three locations were Americans were killed on 9/11/2001. The 30′ x 50′ flag was flown from Skokie Truck Co. No. 18 at the corner of Skokie Blvd and Golf Road. Members of the Skokie Fire and Police Honor Guard units provided the honors at the raising.

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

Firefighters and officers carry the Patriot Flag so that it can be affixed to the ladder sections of Skokie Truck 18. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

As the flag is secured to the extended aerial ladder, the Honor Guard featuring police officers and firefighters is seen in the background. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

The flag unfurls as the ladder is raised. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

More of the enormous flag is visible as the ladder goes higher. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

The full stature of the flag is visible with Skokie's ladder as a support. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

Members of the police and fire department honor guard. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

The flag waves proudly above the honor guard. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

The immense stature of the enormous flag can be seen here towering over the parking lot and Skokie Truck 18. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

A banner with the names of all who perished on 9/11 travels with the flag. Hank Sajovic photo

Skokie Fire Department flies the WTC Patriot Flag

Proud members of the Skokie police and fire departments at the presentation of the Patriot Flag. Hank Sajovic photo ... that's Hank kneeling on the far left ...

Skokie Fire Department Patriot Flag

Captain Dan Smith Skokie FPB, Jim Walters Skokie Deputy Chief and retired FDNY Lt Joe Torrillo who survived the collapse of both towers (at separate times. He was trapped in the first tower, rescued and then trapped on a rescue boat when the second one collapsed.) Hank Sajovic photo

 

The Trib Local (Skokie Edition) has an article HERE about the flag’s journey. Some excerpts from the article:

The Patriot Flag is traveling across the country in all 50 states and on September 11, 2011, it will fly at the three locations where Americans were killed on 09/11/01.

During the week of June 14, the flag will be in Illinois and is scheduled to fly in the following locations:

6/14 – Chicago (rumored to be at McCormick Place) – Flag Day
6/15 – Orland Park & Joliet
6/16 – Skokie & Morton Grove
6/18 – Marseilles (Middle East Conflict Memorial Wall)
6/19 – Springfield

The Patriot Flag story can be found HERE.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Summit commercial fire 3-21-11

The Summit Fire Department responded to a fire at 6135 S. Archer Ave. early yesterday morning and encountered fire through the roof of a commercial occupancy. Hank Sajovic took in the fire and submitted several images. The Sun-Times has a brief article HERE and CBS Chicago has an article HERE and the Tribune has a more extensive article HERE.

Summit Fire Department commercial fire

Central Stickney's tower in the foreground and Bedford Park's tower in the background work at the commercial fire in Summit on Monday. Hank Sajovic photo

Summit Fire Department commercial fire

The Central Stickney tower ladder, positioned in the 'B Sector' uses an elevated master stream as fire burns through the roof. Hank Sajovic photo

Summit Fire Department commercial fire

Firefighters direct a hand line through the front door of the Imperial Sauna. Hank Sajovic photo

Summit Fire Department commercial fire

Firefighters in the bucket of Bedford Park Tower 709 work the fire from above. Hank Sajovic photo

Summit Fire Department commercial fire

The Chicago Ridge tower ladder worked in the 'A Sector' on Archer Avenue. Hank Sajovic photo

Summit Fire Department commercial fire

An overview of the fire scene on Archer Avenue in Summit shows three tower ladders working the fire. Hank Sajovic photo

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,