Posts Tagged Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young

Kankakee Fire Department news (more)

Feb 25

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

At a cost outlined not to exceed $19,500, the Kankakee City Council hired the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association to search for a new fire chief at Tuesday’s council meeting … [and] the money would come out of the fire department’s budget.

The fire department has been under the direction of acting Chief Phil Perkins since the retirement of Chief Ron Young at the end of November.

If all goes as planned, Mayor Nina Epstein said the new chief could be hired as early as June 1. Anyone with the necessary education and experience can submit a resume.

Young was the city’s third-longest serving fire chief before his retirement. He served 12 years as chief. He had been with the department since February 1984.

Tags: Assistant Fire Chief Phil Perkins, chicagoareafire.com, fire chief retiring, Illinois Fire Chief's Association, Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young, Kankakee Fire Department, Kankakee Fire Department fire chief opening

Kankakee Fire Department news

Nov 24

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the daily-journal.com:

Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young — the third longest-serving fire chief in Kankakee’s history — will be leaving the 50-person department. His last day will be Nov. 30.

The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association will coordinate the search to replace Young. Assistant Fire Chief Phil Perkins will serve as interim chief.

Young, 55, has spent his entire career as a member of the fire department. He was hired at the age of 22, on Feb. 7, 1984, and spent about 33 years with the department. He worked his way through the department and served as assistant chief for eight years before taking the department’s top spot upon the resignation of then-Chief Richard Kamerad.

Young’s 12-year stint as chief is the city’s third longest, behind that of Roy Marquart’s 18-year tenure [1935-53] and John Marquart’s 14-year stint [1961-75].

Tags: Assistant Fire Chief Phil Perkins, fire chief retiring, Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young, Kankakee Fire Department, Kankakee Fire Department fire chief opening

Several injured during Kankakee fire, 4-13-16 (more)

Apr 21

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 1 Comment

Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com:

Kankakee police say arson caused a fire last week that critically injured two children who later died.

In a statement released Monday, police said investigators have developed information on a person, who after being interviewed, is suspected of starting the fire at the apartment building. Authorities say investigators are interviewing the suspect and collecting evidence. They expect the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s office to file formal charges in the near future.

Killed by the fire were 2-year-old Ju’shaun Watson, who was pronounced dead on Sunday at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, and 4-year-old Justice Stewart, who died Friday at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

A 65-year-old woman suffered smoke inhalation, a 25-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman suffered burns on their hands. Twenty were left homeless.

Tags: 2-Alarm fire in Kankakee, Ju'shaun Ward, Justice Stewart, Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young, Kankakee Fire Department, two boys injured in Kankakee fire

Several injured during Kankakee fire, 4-13-16 (more)

Apr 16

Posted by Admin in Fire scene audio | 2 Comments

2-Alarm fire with a 3-Alarm EMS Box for apartments over commercial fire with rescues at 894 W. Station St. (radio traffic is a condensed timeline) from radioman911.com – Audio by Broadcastify

Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com:

Two brothers, ages 2 and 4, were critically injured in an apartment fire in Kankakee. Their 55-year-old grandmother, a 22-year-old woman, a 25-year-old man and a firefighter were also hurt. Investigators are trying to pinpoint what caused the three-alarm fire. They said it started in a rear stairwell, blocking some escape routes. Firefighters had to make several rescues.

Justice Ward, 4, and Ju’shaun Ward, 2, are struggling to survive. They were airlifted to University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital and Loyola University Medical Center. They were both trapped inside a second-floor apartment as it burned. The boys’ mother and seven of their siblings, including an infant, made it out safely. Their grandmother suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to Riverside Hospital in Kankakee. She told a relative, Harold Williams, about those frightening moments.

“Kids was hollerin’ and screamin’ because, you know, they didn’t know where they was. So they had to feel through the smoke to try to get them out of there. So luckily the fire department came and kind of saved their lives,” Williams said.

Firefighters arrived at the scene just before 2 a.m. Wednesday. The building, located in the 800-block of West Station Street, has two businesses on the first floor, eight apartments on the second floor and 22 residents.

“Upon our arrival, we had heavy smoke from the second story with numerous victims from numerous windows on the second floor,” Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young said.

The 25-year-old man jumped from a window. He was rushed to Riverside, where he’s being treated for burns and a fracture. The 22-year-old woman was also taken to Riverside for burns. A firefighter had minor burns on his face. He was treated at the scene.

“All of the doorways to the apartments fed into a single hallway, so they couldn’t go out the front door to get out. That’s why they went out windows,” said Chief Ron Young, Kankakee Fire Department. “I’m proud of my people. I am proud of their professionalism and their courage.”

Tags: 2-Alarm fire in Kankakee, dramatic radio traffic from Kankakee fire, fire scene audio recording, fireground audio recording, Ju'shaun Ward, Justice Ward, Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young, Kankakee Fire Department, radioman911.com, two boys injured in Kankakee fire