Posts Tagged Norwood Park Fire Protection District

Working fire in Norwood Park, 4-7-23

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New truck for Norwood Park FPD (still more)

From Pierce mfg FB:

Called the “Island In The City,” Norwood Park Fire Protection District is bringing home their new #Velocity 100’ #AscendantTower. With the help of the aerial platform, the district will be able to tend to their many high-rise buildings. The mid-mount platform was chosen for its maneuverability and better visibility in the front of the truck. Covering 6.5 square miles while responding to 4,000 calls a year, the area is home to more than 25,000 residents.
 
Overall length: 44’ 11”
Pump: Hale 1,500-GPM
Tank: 300-gallon
Job Number: 36069
thanks Danny

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New truck for Norwood Park FPD (more)

From Macqueen Emergency:

Here is the latest update on the graphics for Norwood Park Tower 103

Norwood Park FD Tower 103

Macqueen Emergency photo

fire truck graphics

Macqueen Emergency photo

fire truck graphics

Macqueen Emergency photo

fire truck graphics

Macqueen Emergency photo

thanks Danny

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New truck for Norwood Park FPD (more)

From MacQueen Emergency @macqueenemergency

Update on Norwood tower aerial has been installed
fire truck being built #chicagoareafire.com

Pierce photo

fire truck being built #chicagoareafire.com

Pierce photo

fire truck being built #chicagoareafire.com

Pierce photo

fire truck being built #chicagoareafire.com

Pierce photo

thanks Danny

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New truck for Norwood Park FPD

This from Danny Nelms:

Update from macqueen on the new Norwood Park mid mount aerial

Norwood Park Fire Department
Job: #36069 | Illinois | Velocity 100′ Mid Mount

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Area apparatus orders

Here is a list compiled by Josh Boyajian of current area apparatus on order:

Alsip – Seagrave Engine

Berwyn – E-One Metro 100 Low Profile Ladder

Blue Island – Sutphen 100’ MM Ladder

Bolingbrook – (2) E-One Engines

Buffalo Grove – E-One Engine

Carol Stream – E-One RM Tower Ladder

Cicero – Pierce Impel Engine

Crestwood – (2) Seagrave Engines

Geneva – Pierce Ascendant Ladder

Hampshire – Pierce Enforcer PUC Engine

Joliet – E-One RM Tower Ladder

Lisle Woodridge – Pierce Ascendant MM Tower

Lockport – Seagrave Apollo Tower Ladder

Lombard – Pierce Enforcer Engine

Melrose Park – Pierce Impel Engine

Morton Grove – E-One EMAX Engine

Oak Brook – Pierce Ascendant Ladder

Oak Brook – Pierce Enforcer Engine

Norwood Park – Pierce Ascendant MM Tower

River Grove – Ford E-450 Wheeled Coach Ambo

Skokie – Pierce Enforcer Engine

Stickney – Ford F550 Horton Type 1 Ambo

Sugar Grove – Sutphen Engine

Thornton – Sutphen 75’ MM Ladder

Tri State FPD – Pierce Enforcer Ascendant Ladder

Western Springs – Pierce Saber Engine

Westmont – Pierce Impel Engine

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Norwood Park Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Dave Blondell, a longtime member of the Norwood Park Fire Protection District, was sworn in as the new chief Monday in a ceremony at the firehouse in Harwood Heights. He has been serving as acting chief of the department, which serves Norridge, Harwood Heights, and Norwood Park, since former chief Terrance Vavara resigned in May. Blondell will earn an annual salary of $130,000.

He his 7-year-old son Bodie pinned his new badge alongside his wife, Erin, and 12-year-old daughter, Sydney.

Blondell joined the department in 1993 as a paramedic student, became a paramedic assigned to an ambulance the next year, and served as a firefighter and paramedic from 1996 to 2006. In 2006, he became a lieutenant, a role he served in until 2011 when he moved to commander. From 2017 until May of this year he served as deputy chief. He has also served as the department’s public information officer and as president of Norwood Park Fireman’s Association IAFF Local 4210.

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Norwood Park Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Norwood Park FPD firefighters responded to a call  by a passerby of a basement fire in a single-family residence on the 4100 block of North Ozark Avenue on November 3rd. Family members were not at home at the time.

Firefighters encountered some tough fire including heavy smoke and zero visibility to make their way to the basement area, where they successfully contained the fire.

When the family returned home, they asked about a dog. Lt. Stanley Koy, the incident commander, sent a crew from Franklin Parkinto t he house where they found the dog.

The fire was not suspicious and was electrical in nature. The house sustained moderate smoke damage, as well as some structural damage and the family will be displaced for some time.

thanks Dan

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Norwood Park Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Terrence Vavra, the new fire chief for the Norwood Park Fire Protection District, originally studied to be an architect.

Working with architects, though, he began to see how the legal side and structural aspects demands of the job might interfere with his vision of an architect’s life.

“About the same time,” he recalled, “my dad and I were standing on a porch, and we saw the engine go by and guys hanging off the back, back in the day when you could … and I said yow — I wonder where they’re going; that would be cool to do as a side gig.”

That side gig turned into a 40-year career, starting as a volunteer firefighter with the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District in 1976 becoming fire chief of Buffalo Grove and the emergency management coordinator, before retiring in 2015.

In February of this year, the Board of Trustees of the Norwood Park Fire Protection District named him the new fire chief for the district. The board approved a three-year contract at a special meeting on Feb. 9. The trustees cited Vavra’s extensive career and focus on training and leadership as strong factors in his final selection.

Vavra succeeds Chief Kevin Stenson, a 31-year-member of the department.

Vavra hold a master’s degree in management and organizational behavior from Benedictine University and a bachelor’s degree from Western University Illinois. He holds numerous certifications from the Office of the State Fire Marshal including chief fire officer, fire department safety officer, training program manager, as well as a National Fire Academy certification in command and control.

He is an active member in the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Illinois Fire Chiefs, Metropolitan Fire Chiefs and has served as a board member of the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association.

During the two years he was retired, his teaching took him from Canada to Saudi Arabia. Though the locales and local cultures were vastly different, one thing he found realized is that all firefighters are the same no matter where you go.  “They’ve got a certain personality to them which is really neat, and you can also get a cup of coffee at any firehouse in the world.”

That theory was confirmed In Saudi Arabia, when he came to meet the chief of the department where he was leading a class, “and right behind his desk was a coffee maker and he said ‘Do you want a cup of coffee?” and I thought it’s 100 degrees out, I don’t think so, but thanks for the offer.”

Norwood Park has 21 firefighters and contracts with Paramedic Services of Illinois. Two ambulances, an engine, a truck and shift commander work out of the station. The department works closest with the communities of Park Ridge, Schiller Park, and Elmwood Park.

All fire departments are facing tax caps, pension costs, and personnel costs. The problems are similar, and the question is how do we work to solve those problems.

Vavra is expected to stress training and higher education certification, beyond the certification process set out by the state Fire Marshal’s Office. At Benedictine, he worked with the school administration to set up a scholarship program, allowing firefighters to pursue higher education credits.

“When I started, everything was mechanical,” he said. “Now it’s all digital and electronic. We had fires that were wood and paper, what we classified as combustibles. Now if you look in this room you wouldn’t find any natural products.

“These are all polycarbons and plastics and things that have a huge fire potential, and the fire burns faster and higher now so we have to adapt to that.”

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2-Alarm fire in Franklin Park, 2-3-17

This from Steve Redick:

Took this in on Friday, 2/1/17… little to see firewise when I arrived but some interesting apparatus shots..

Steve

townhouse fire scene with fire trucks

Steve Redick photo

fire trucks at townhouse fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Leyden Township FPD quint at work

Steve Redick photo

firefighters on roof of fire building

Steve Redick photo

Franklin Park fire engine with hose off

Steve Redick photo

Franklin Park FD Engine 2

Steve Redick photo

River Grove FD fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Elmwood Park FD fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Norwood Park FPD fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Westchester FD fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Broadview Fire Department Engine 7

Steve Redick photo

MABAS Division 20 cascade unit

Steve Redick photo

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