Posts Tagged Morris Fire Protection District

Morris Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the morrisherald-news.com:

The Morris Fire & Protection District will be seeking a tax increase on the March 20, 2018 general election. The district approved unanimously on Nov. 16 a measure to place a referendum on the ballot to impove ambulance service for residents and visitors to the district.

If the referendum passes. it would increase the maximum ambulance tax rate for the district from 10 cents per $100 to 35 cents per $100. If the district levied the full amount available, the owner of a $100,000 home who is currently paying $3 for the service would see an increase of approximately $7 per month in ambulance service taxes.

“The district has taken a very fiscally responsible approach to budgeting and the trustees will continue this effort,” Board President Dave Bonomo said. “To meet the needs of our District taxpayers and provide outstanding ambulance and fire response we are asking for our first-rate increase in 25 years.”

The district would take the maximum increase and purchase another ambulance while the additional funds will be used to replace the 72-year-old downtown fire station. The district has a capital fund for building replacement that currently has a balance of $1.6 million dollars. The estimated cost of replacement is $2.75 to $3 million dollars.

The district serves approximately 22,000 residents across 140 square miles in Grundy County.

The board determined that the district needs to expand its advanced life support (ALS) ambulance coverage to district residents due to the continued increase of emergency medical calls. To increase ALS coverage, the district would add a third ambulance to its current fleet available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The district has been operating on the current tax rate since 1992 and feels it needs this increase to provide the needed services for the increase in calls and an aging population. If a majority of voters in the district approve, the district would be permitted to increase its ambulance levy up to a maximum of 35 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation.

In addition to the expanded ALS ambulance coverage, the district also plans to use the increased tax revenue to replace aging emergency vehicles and to retain trained personnel.

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New tower ladder for the Morris FPD (more)

Excerpts from the MorrisHerald-news.com:

The Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District’s new ladder truck has the ability to save lives and property in a way no other truck on the fleet has before.

“The tower ladder truck was put in service less than a month ago and has already paid for itself in the property it has protected,” Chief Tracey Steffes said.

At a little more than $1 million, it replaces an old ladder truck which was nearly 20 years old. Morris responds to more than 6,000 calls a year.

“Every year, the ladder is tested and it’s never had a problem. … But for the past three or four years, we’ve had to look at whether we would replace it or refurbish it,” Steffes said. “We could sell it now to a station with fewer calls, where it could last them several years, and we could put that money towards the new truck.”

The minimum cost to restore the old ladder truck would have been $575,000 with only a one-year warranty. The fire department also could sell it for $150,000 and put that money toward the new purchase.

The Dwight Fire Protection District was able to buy the truck, which Steffes said should give them far more years out of it because of a smaller call volume.

The chief said that although the cost to the district may be substantial, the savings to the residents and business are large.

“We just had our (ISO) rating done and we went from a four to a three in town and from an eight to a five in rural areas. The ladder truck has a lot to do with that” Steffes said.

The tower ladder truck is being housed at station 1 because of its size. It also houses ground ladders and other supplies needed on calls.

thanks Dennis

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Box Alarm fire in Morris, 1-24-17

Excerpts from the MorrisHerald-news.com:

The Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District was assisted by neighboring departments in battling a fire on Tuesday evening at Crown Concepts Corporation at 7080 Lisbon Road north of Morris.

Morris Fire chief Tracey Steffes said when units arrived on the scene fire was already showing through the 60 foot by 60 foot paint booth.

As of 5:25 p.m. firefighters were still battling the fire with the new tower ladder the district purchased recently.

“This truck has been called to two fires in five days, if we can hold the fire to the building it’s in, which I believe we will, it will have paid for itself already just in the savings to this business,” Steffes said.

Steffes estimates the fire caused $260,000 worth of damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

thanks Dennis

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New tower ladder for the Morris FPD (more)

From the Morris FPD Facebook page:

Firefighters create a bond between themselves and their equipment. Without our equipment we could not perform our duties. We care for our fire apparatus better than we care for our own cars at times. So today is a bittersweet day for us at the Fire District. We mark the last shift our citizens and firefighters will be protected by a remarkable piece of fire apparatus. Tower Ladder 2319 will finish it service with us and begin a new life with another Fire District. This apparatus replaced our aging 1975 American La France aerial in 1997. We have included a few action shoots along with a picture next to it’s replacement.

new and old tower ladders side by side

Morris FPD photo.

Morris FPD personnel with trucks

Morris FPD photo.

tower ladder at night fire scene

Morris FPD photo.

new and old tower ladders side by side

Morris FPD photo.

tower ladder at industrial fire

Morris FPD photo.

towre ladder at night fire scene

Morris FPD photo.

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New tower ladder for the Morris FPD (more)

From the Pierce Flicker page:

Pierce Morris FD, IL 29813

thanks Al

Morris FPD fire truck

Morris FPD Tower 29. Pierce composite

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New tower ladder for the Morris FPD

From the Morris FPD Facebook page:

Here she is. We are at Pierce Mfg. making a final inspection of the new 100 foot tower ladder

new fire truck for the Morris FPD

Morris FPD photo

fire truck being built

Morris FPD photo

fire truck being built

Morris FPD photo

fire truck being built

Morris FPD photo

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Fire departments compete at festival

Excerpts from the MorrisHeraldnews.com:

… each year at the Grundy County Corn Festival, staff from local districts and departments take their fight to the streets, where they battle using fire hoses to get a barrel past their opponent to take home bragging rights in the annual water fight contest.

… there is a method to the madness that many who come out to watch probably don’t understand … the idea is to get the weight off the pulley that attaches the barrel to the line … once the weight is off the pulley, a steady stream can knock the barrel back over the opposing team’s head, leading to victory.

The sidewalks were packed three and four people deep with spectators and younger water visitors stood in the empty parking stalls hoping to get wet from the fireman’s advancing hoses.

The kids stood, arms stretched wide, as they waited for the water to rain down on their heads as they ran and giggled under the drops. Among the spectators are often the spouses, children and parents of the firefighters.

Just like any family, firefighters often step up for one another. Some firefighters battle for more than one district to make sure there are enough people for everyone to compete. As long as they aren’t the nozzle operator for the neighboring team, they can still compete with their own team.

There were 11 teams battling recently for the championship: three from Morris Fire Protection District, two from Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District, and one each from South Wilmington Fire Protection District, Mazon Fire Protection District, Chatsworth Fire Protection District, Braidwood Fire Protection District, Lisbon-Seward Fire Protection District and Newark Fire Protection District.

 

thanks Dan

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