This from Drew Smith:
All-Hand Pace Bus Fire for E39, S9, S42, B9, and A9 at Apple and Milwaukee
On Thursday, February 6th at 3:10 p.m. E39 and B9 were dispatched to a car fire at Apple Drive and Milwaukee Avenue in Prospect Heights. Engine 39 arrived and reported the fire was in a Pace Bus a block west of Milwaukee and they were dropping a line. Battalion 9 arrived two minutes later and asked RED Center to send Squad 9 also. The bus driver reported to B9 that all passengers were off and none were injured. The fire involved the rear section of the bus which spread to both sides and underneath, including all four rear tires. S9 used a second line on the fire.
Due to the stubborn nature of the fire and the severe weather B9 asked RED Center to send Ambulance 9 and Wheeling Squad 42 for assistance. Foam from E39 was used. S9 and S42 used a K-12 saw to cut open the sides and floor to access the fire. However, cutting the floor was futile due to the design of the bus and the fact that the underside of the frame is covered with a metal plate. S9’s driver had to shovel out a fire hydrant to secure a positive water supply. Several SCBA masks and regulators froze up and frozen foam coated several firefighters like snowmen. More than a dozen spare air tanks were used before the fire was out. After more than an hour firefighters were able to have Pace’s wrecker lift the bus so they could ensure the fire was completely out.
Drew Smith photo
Drew Smith photo
Drew Smith photo
Drew Smith photo
Drew Smith photo
Drew Smith photo
