Posts Tagged MABAS Box Alarm

Brush fire in Palatine 3-10-12

Mar 10

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Brush Fire, Fire | Comments off

Saturday, the Palatine Fire Department was called for a brush fire in the Cook County Forest Preserve area roughly bordered by Lake-Cook Road and Rand Road. Setting up on Dee Road which is west of Rand off Lake-Cook, Palatine’s Battalion 8 arrived with Engine 82 and Lake Zurich Engine 4. They found fire burning in tall grass through an area which is largely marshland with almost two feet of soggy ground covering much of the area.

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These conditions prevented the use of brush rigs and access was gained on foot until the Cook County Forest Preserve District Wildland Team arrived. Several pickups with skid-mounted-units came to the scene along with an ATV equipped with a small tank and booster line.

large brush fire in near Palatine IL Cook County Forest Preserve District 3-10-12

Lake Zurich Engine 4 responded auto-aid to the brush fire. They were on a hydrant with a hose line of several hundred feet leading into the grass. Larry Shapiro photo

The Palatine and Lake Zurich companies stretched several hundred feet of attack line to hit what they could reach and to protect potential residential and commercial exposures.

Larry Shapiro spent a couple of hours at the scene and submitted several images.

large brush fire in near Palatine IL Cook County Forest Preserve District 3-10-12 wildland fire

Members of the Cook County Forest Preserve District Wildland team head into the brush. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire was in a big field that largely consisted of muddy marsh lands. Larry Shapiro photo

A firefighter uses a small line off the ATV unit to wet down the grass that has not yet ignited. Larry Shapiro photo

High winds fueled the flames which continued to rage into the evening hours. Larry Shapiro photo

Heavy winds complicated extinguishing the flames and constantly pushed the fire to new fuel. After Palatine had committed all of their suppression companies to the scene and they had been working the incident for over three hours, they initiated a MABAS Brush Fire Box Alarm for additional personnel to the scene and for others to cover their town.

Low humidity, extremely dry conditions, and high winds combined to create ideal conditions for brush or wildland fires. Larry Shapiro photo

As the fire grew in intensity, additional units were requested to the scene to ensure that the fire did not communicate to any structures. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire spread to the east and threatened a number of businesses along Rand Road. Larry Shapiro photo

large brush fire in near Palatine IL Cook County Forest Preserve District 3-10-12 Palatine Fire Department Engine 82 Spartan Gladiator Crimson

Palatine Engine 82 was one of five units positioned on the property of a car dealership at Rand Road and Lake-Cook Road. Seen here on a hydrant, Engine 82 was supplying Quint 81 which had 800-feet of attack line stretching into the wooded and grassy area. Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters were able to prevent communication to any structures and struck out the box alarm shortly after 10PM.

More images will be available in a gallery on Sunday as well as a video from the scene.

Tags: brush fire, heavy winds fuel brush fire in Palatine, Lake Zurich Fire Department, large brush fire, MABAS Box Alarm, Palatine Fire Department, wildland fire

Wheeling Box Alarm 8-22-11

Aug 22

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News | Comments off

The Wheeling Fire Department received a call around 2:30AM from a townhouse resident reporting smoke in their building on Fall Court in the Cedar Run development. The building houses four units, two of which were vacant at the time. Wheeling Police arrived on the scene and reported flames visible on the west side of the building. The alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 working fire prior to companies arriving on the scene, which added units from Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, and Long Grove.

Wheeling Fire Department townhouse fire 8-22-11 Fall Court

A firefighter prepares to enter the second floor unit on Fall Court in Wheeling after the fire was knocked down. Larry Shapiro photo

Engine 24 was the first fire unit on the scene and pulled into the dead-end court. Engine 23 arrived and took a hydrant to supply Engine 24. The fire unit, which was in foreclosure, was a second floor unit with a private entrance with stairs on the west side of the building. Firefighters knocked down the initial fire in the doorway and attempted to enter the foyer to get upstairs but had to retreat as the stairs were burned through. They entered the second floor from a ground ladder and hit the remaining fire noting that an area of the kitchen floor had been compromised and there was still fire beneath the floor.

Buffalo Grove firefighters force the door to a neighboring unit in the same building as the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Wheeling firefighters cut through the overhead door to gain access to the garage. Larry Shapiro photo

The alarm was elevated to a Box Alarm when all of the companies were working and there was a fear that fire was running the outside wall and might involve the common attic space. Additional units responded from Deerfield, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Palatine, Northbrook, and Prospect Heights, but these units were released soon after they arrived on the scene as the fire did not spread beyond the initial unit.

Firefighters were forced to access the second floor unit from a ground ladder as the stairway was compromised. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro went to the scene and arrived shortly after the bulk of the fire had been extinguished. He submitted several images and has a gallery with more photos HERE.

Wheeling Engine 24 was the first unit on the scene and setup in the 'A' Sector. Larry Shapiro photo

Engine 23 took a hydrant at the end of the court and laid a supply line to Engine 24. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire burned the stairway which was the only access to the second floor unit from the ground. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire reportedly originated in a wall between the garage and the front entryway. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: Buffalo Grove Fire Department, Larry Shapiro, MABAS Box Alarm, townhouse fire, townhouse fire in Cedar Run, Townhouse fire on Fall Court, Wheeling Fire Department

Beach Park gets help after storms

Jul 14

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 7 Comments

The storms that passed through the area on Monday evening caused heavy damage to many communities. Beach Park requested a MABAS Box Alarm to get help with the damage in their district. Jeff Rudolph sent in some camera phone pictures from the staging area located at Beach and Sheridan.

Beach Park Ambulance 1242. Jeff Rudolph photo

The Lake County Quad 2 Mobile Command Post. Jeff Rudolph photo

Buffalo Grove Quint 27. Jeff Rudolph photo

Lake Forest Utility 241. Jeff Rudolph photo

Mutual aid companies staged. Jeff Rudolph photo

Tags: Beach Park Fire Department, Buffalo Grove Fire Department, Jeff Rudolph, Lake County Quad 2 Command Post, Lake Forest Fire Department, MABAS Box Alarm, storm damage

IL companies assist with Pleasant Prairie WI Box Alarm

May 21

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department News, Fire Service News, Reader submission | Comments off

Jeff Rudolph again traveled across the border on Thursday to a fire in Wisconsin and had the following description:

Pleasant Prairie, WI pulled box 56-01 to the Box Alarm level for a fire at Dejno’s Inc @ 7533 75th St. Fire was showing on arrival from a roof top hopper unit that is used to load saw dust. Winthrop Harbor, IL went change of quarters to Pleasant Prairie Sta.1 and Newport 1415 went to the scene. Mutual aid companies also came from Bristol, Somers, Kensoha, and Salem. One FF was slightly injured and was treated and released at the scene. Extensive overhaul had to be done to make sure all of the smoldering dust was extinguished.

Pleasant Prairie WI Fire Department commercial fire 5-19-11

Firefighters from Newport Township went to work on the roof. Jeff Rudolph photo

Pleasant Prairie Truck 5631 setup to the roof of the industrial building. Jeff Rudolph photo

Pleasant Prairie Tanker 5615 supplies water to companies at the scene. Newport Engine 1415 is seen alongside. Both are Pierce units. Jeff Rudolph photo

Pleasant Prairie Engine 5612 was also pumping at the scene. It is a 2010 Pierce Quantum pumper/tanker. Jeff Rudolph photo

Additional images from the scene can be seen on Jeff’s Flickr site HERE.

Tags: Dust Bin Collector Fire, Jeff Rudolph, MABAS Box Alarm, Newport Township FPD, Pierce Quantum, Pierce Saber, Pleasant Prairie WI Fire Department, pumper tanker, pumper/tanker

Wheeling 2-11 alarm fire 5-19-11

May 20

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News | Comments off

Wheeling IL Fire Department 2-11 townhouse fire 5-19-11

Upon arrival, fire companies were met by a large fire on the exterior of the townhouse that had communicated into the unit. Larry Shapiro photo

The Wheeling Fire Department received multiple calls shortly before 11PM reporting a fire along the outside wall of a four-unit townhouse on Ottawa Court in the Tahoe Village complex. Upon the arrival of police officers, the address was corrected to 573 Custer Court. The response was upgraded to a Code 4 working fire before the first fire units arrived on the scene based on the calls that were coming into the dispatch center. Companies arrived to find heavy fire that had full control of the exterior wall and had communicated into the first and second floors in addition to the attic. Mutual aid companies reported seeing the header against the dark sky from several miles away.

Before a permanent water supply could be established, firefighters used tank water to knock down the exterior fire. Larry Shapiro photo

All of the residents were out of the building when the fire department arrived and went to work. There was an initial concern about the establishment of a permanent water supply and the alarm was quickly upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm and then to a second alarm. Heavy fire initially kept companies from entering the unit. later, a mayday was called for a firefighter working on the second floor. He sustained a knee injury but was able to exit the building on his own and later refused medical treatment on the scene.

Firefighters use a hand line to darken the fire on the exterior in the 'C' Sector. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire was held to the end unit with the neighboring unit sustaining some minor smoke damage and drywall damage from companies checking for extension. Apparently the homeowner had been cooking in a smoker along the exterior wall which is believed to be the cause of the fire.

The fire had a hold on the attic of the end unit but was knocked down before it could communicate to the next unit. Larry Shapiro photo

Mutual aid was from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, and Long Grove on the Code 4 alarm. The Box Alarm brought Rolling Meadows, Des Plaines, Prospect Heights, North Maine, Glenview, Northbrook, and Elk Grove Township. The 2nd Alarm brought companies from Morton Grove, Niles, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Deerfield, and Northfield.

Firefighters perform overhaul on the exterior of the unit near the point of origin. A gas grille and a smoker were stored in this area and the smoker was reportedly being used too close to the structure. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk both took in the fire. Larry submitted several images and has a gallery HERE. Tim has a gallery HERE.

Tags: 2-11 alarm fire, Larry Shapiro, MABAS Box Alarm, structure fire, Tim Olk, townhouse fire, Wheeling Fire Department

Schaumburg Box Alarm 3-27-11

Mar 27

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 6 Comments

Schaumburg Fire Department house fire on Kingsport Drive 3-27-11

Firefighters apply foam to the garage area to contend with fuel leaking from the car. Larry Shapiro photo

The Schaumburg Fire Department received calls of a car on fire in an attached garage around 4PM this afternoon. First arriving companies found heavy fire venting from the garage and the second floor above. The volume of fire was reminiscent of another house fire for the same shift in Schaumburg two weeks ago. The alarm was immediately upgraded from a Code 3 to a Code 4 and the first two engines were instructed to lay dual lines to the front of the house. A Box Alarm was transmitted for change of quarters companies only as Battalion 5 requested the remaining Schaumburg suppression units to the scene. The threat of extension to the exposure on the west side of the house at 233 Kingsport Drive was severe though companies were able to keep the fire from impinging on the neighbor’s house.

Schaumburg Truck 53 is deployed to give firefighters access to the burned out second floor and roof area. Larry Shapiro photo

Schaumburg Engine 1 was in front of the house with several hand lines off including a foam line. Larry Shapiro photo

Schaumburg Squad 55's rig was down today so the squad company ran with the spare tower ladder. Quite an unusual scene is pictured here with three Schaumburg trucks at the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

The Daily Herald has an article HERE. According to the article, the homeowner was of aware of the fire.

Annarella, who had lived in that Schaumburg house since Dec. 14, 1978, was in her kitchen when she heard someone pounding on the front door alerting her to a roaring fire inside the attached garage.

“It was Ruth and Skip Barchfeld,” she said. “They saved my life. They are the heroes.”

Annarella safely bolted from the house, but could do little to stop the flames.

Companies applied foam to the garage and car within as leaking fuel was prevalent.

Schaumburg Fire Department house fire on Kingsport Drive 3-27-11 Pierce Velocity

Engine 51 runs with a 2008 Pierce Impel shown here on a hydrant in front of the house. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro went to the scene and arrived after the fire was knocked down. He submitted several images and has a gallery HERE.

Damage to the house was extensive as can be seen here during the overhaul phase. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: Daily Herald, E-ONE engine, E-ONE tower ladder, foam hand lines, garage fire, house fire on Kingsport Drive, Larry Shapiro, MABAS Box Alarm, Pierce Impel, Pierce Velocity, Schaumburg Fire Department, Schaumburg house fire

Berwyn Box Alarm 3-27-11

Mar 27

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News, Reader submission | 1 Comment

Berwyn had a Box Alarm this afternoon at 2311 Harvey. The first company on scene reported heavy smoke and fire showing from a two-story bungalow. Mutual aid companies were from Stickney, Cicero, North Riverside and Forest Park. Josh Boyajian was at the scene right after the first engine and saw heavy smoke with fire on the second floor. He submitted several images.

Berwyn Fire Department house fire on Harvey 3-27-11

Berwyn Engine 903 is on a hydrant at the end of the block. Josh Boyajian photo

Companies had a long leadout to reach a hydrant on a different main. Josh Boyajian photo

Berwyn's Seagrave aerial was in the 'A Sector' with the main extended. Josh Boyajian photo

Heavy smoke met first companies on their arrival. Josh Boyajian photo

Companies laddered the second floor to deploy hand lines. Josh Boyajian photo

Fire vents through the roof on the A-D corner of the structure. Josh Boyajian photo

Berwyn Engine 903 pulled past the fire to the hydrant at the end of the block. Josh Boyajian photo

Tags: Berwyn Fire Department, Berwyn house fire, Cicero Fire Department, Forest Park Fire Department, house fire, house fire on Harvey, Josh Boyajian, MABAS Box Alarm, North Riverside Fire Department, Stickney Fire Department

Schaumburg Box Alarm 3-13-11

Mar 13

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News | 2 Comments

Schaumburg Fire Department house fire Holyoke Court 3-13-11

Schaumburg Engine 53 and Truck 52 are deployed in the 'A Sector' in front of 808 Holyoke Court. Larry Shapiro photo

The Schaumburg Fire Department received a call reporting a house fire around 4:30AM. The homeowner reportedly left something unattended on the stove which ignited. The fire spread quickly and one resident fleeing the house had to wake a neighbor in order to notify the fire department. Upon arrival, first units were met by heavy smoke escaping from the front door of the split level house at 808 Holyoke Court. The smoke stayed low in the cul-de-sac and enveloped the engine in front of the house. Fire involved the entire first floor as the first line was advanced and the shift commander upgraded the alarm to a MABAS Box Alarm within minutes. The rear of the house was fully involved and fire travelled to the second floor and into the attic.

An overview shows the location of the house in the cul-de-sac with limited access for apparatus. Larry Shapiro photo

Fire vents through the attic as companies work on the second floor to pull ceilings and hit the fire. A RIT stands by in the foreground. Larry Shapiro photo

Access was hampered for companies as the stairway burned through which required the deployment of almost a dozen ground ladders around the house. Companies were initially ordered to work off the ladders to pull ceiling for access to the attic fire until they were able to enter the second floor and work from inside the house. Multiple hand lines were deployed from all sides of the house.

Ground ladders were placed at all second floor windows and at opposite corners of the roof for access and egress. Larry Shapiro photo

Both occupants escaped safely but a dog perished in the fire. The temperature at the time of the fire was in the mid 20s causing water on the ground to freeze.

Larry Shapiro made it to the scene roughly 30 minutes into the alarm and submitted several photos and a video. A complete photo gallery is available HERE.

http://shapirophotography.net/Fires%202011/SCHM%203-13.html

Schaumburg Engine 53, a 2000 E-ONE Hurricane was the first engine on the scene. Larry Shapiro photo

A firefighter from Schaumburg Engine 51 exits the house. Larry Shapiro photo

A view after the fire was knocked down shows the extent of the fire damage throughout the house. Larry Shapiro photo

Elk Grove Truck 7 was one of the mutual aid companies on the Box Alarm. Larry Shapiro photo

Mutual aid companies to the scene included trucks from Hoffman Estates and Elk Grove Village, engines from Streamwood and Hanover Park, ambulances from Elk Grove Township, Palatine Rural, and Prospects Heights, and chief officers from Itasca and Hoffman Estates.

Tags: Elk Grove Township FPD, Elk Grove Village Fire Department, fire on Holyoke Court, fire video, Hanover Park Fire Department, Hoffman Estates Fire Department, Itasca Fire Department, Larry Shapiro, MABAS Box Alarm, Palatine Rural Fire Department, Prospect Heights Fire Department, Schaumburg Fire Department, Schaumburg house fire, Streamwood Fire Department

Lyons house fire 2-20-11

Feb 20

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News, Reader submission | 1 Comment

A regular reader of our Josh Boyajian, is at the scene of a house fire in Lyons and has submitted several images from the scene. The fire is at 1037 Konrad and began in the basement. Josh reports that the house is fully involved. Mutual aid on the scene at this Full Still Alarm is from Brookfield, Riverside, Bedford Park, McCook, and LaGrange.

These images were taken just before 10AM.

Lyons FIre Department house fire on Konrod Feb 20, 2011

Light smoke is visible pushing out from the rear of the house. Josh Boyajian photo

A view from the alley shows heavy smoke though still light in color. Josh Boyajian photo

Lyons Squad 1312 is in the 'A' Sector with lines off. Josh Boyajian photo

The house is obscured from the street by all of the smoke. Josh Boyajian photo

A view fro the front shows a long driveway to a split-level house set back from the street. Josh Boyajian photo

As of 10:30AM the alarm was escalated to a MABAS Box Alarm.

Tags: house fire, Josh Boyajian, Lyons Fire Department, MABAS Box Alarm

Wauconda Box Alarm 1-22-11

Jan 22

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department News, Fire Service News | Comments off

The Wauconda Fire Department in MABAS Division 4 was called to the scene of a single-family house fire shortly after 1PM today at 1116 Madison Avenue. Companies found heavy fire in the garage of the structure that was communicating to the house and attic area. They upgraded the response to a MABAS Box Alarm bringing mutual aid from several departments. There was no one home at the time of the fire and though the garage sustained heavy damage to the roof and the vehicle parked inside was destroyed, damage to the main house was limited to the area directly behind the two-story garage.

Companies assisting at the fire were from Lake Zurich, Lake Villa, Nunda, Barrington, Round Lake, Mundelein, Countryside, and Long Grove.

Larry Shapiro took in the fire, but arrived after it was knocked down. Here are several images from the scene.

Wauconda Fire Department house fire Madison Ave Jan 22, 2011

Wauconda Engine 341 was the still engine to the fire at 1116 Madison Avenue and had three lines off. It is a 2009 HME/Ferrara Intruder. Larry Shapiro photo

From the street it would appear that the window above the garage might have been a bedroom, when in fact there was no floor or buildout in that area. Larry Shapiro photo

Also, there was no second floor above the garage floor even though there was a fair sized window installed in the wall as is visible in this street image from Google Maps.