Ron, one of our readers, informed us that Rolling Meadows received a new ambulance from Medtec on an IHC 4300 chassis. It is painted black over red which is a first for Rolling Meadows. It is unclear when the ambulance was delivered, since the photo below depicts the unit in bright sun with leaves on the trees.
The new Ambulance 15 in Rolling Meadows is this IHC/Medtec Type I sporting a new black over red color scheme. Presumably it is a 2010 model based on the background. Foster Coach photo
Lake Zurich has now been added to the departments in MABAS Division 4. They have four stations of which one is in Deer Park and another is in North Barrington. This is a 100% Pierce department for suppression apparatus with four Saber engines, a Dash tower ladder, and a squad with a commercial IHC 4400 chassis. The ambulances are a mixture of Road Rescue and Medtec Type I units on IHC chassis.
The four engines are virtually identical though they span being built between 1997-2002. All but one carry 1,000 gallons of water and have foam tanks. The downtown engine has 750 gallons of water on board.
Lake Zurich Fire Station 4 is located at 21970 Field Parkway in Deer Park. This two-bay house is similar to the other outlying stations. Larry Shapiro photo
There are many new pieces of apparatus for our area currently on display at the Fire Rescue International 2010 trade show at McCormick Place. Among them are:
The first Spartan Gladiator Crimson 103′ rear mount aerial ladder built for Chicago was displayed at the Fire Rescue International (FRI) 2010 trade show. Larry Shapiro photo
This Freightliner/Medtec Type I ambulance for the Algonquin lake-in-the-Hills Fire Department was on display in the Pierce booth. There were a total of three units on the trade show floor for this department. Larry Shapiro photo
The smaller than normal pump enclosure and built-in cross lays on the new Ferrara engine for the Algonquin Lake-in-the-Hills Fire Department resembles a trend in apparatus design which was first introduced several years ago by Pierce. Larry Shapiro photo
A Spartan Super Vac (SVI) heavy rescue for Cherry Valley with walk-around body, light tower, front bumper hydraulic rescue tools, air cascade system and an abundance of slide-out shelving and trays. Larry Shapiro photo
A gallery showing several of these units can be seen on Larry Shapiro’s site HERE.
Jul 15
The site has been missing a few images from Niles (Division 3) and Karl Klotz has submitted one of these; Ambulance 3’s rig. It is a 2007 IHC 4400/Medtec Type I MICU.
Troy has taken delivery of their second Pierce Arrow XT engine bearing their new color scheme. This is Engine 2221 (the previous one was 2211).
The second Pierce Arrow XT engine for Troy shown in the new colors. Pierce photo
Algonquin has two new units in production at Ferrara. Similar to Buffalo Grove, they purchased an engine and a tower ladder. Reportedly, that’s where the similarities end though as the Algonquin units are said to be fully loaded. The first set of production photos at the Ferrara plant can be seen HERE for both units.
Algonquin also received a new ambulance from Medtec this spring.
The Countryside FPD is Lake County is expecting a new Horton ambulance and a tender from US Tank very soon.
Production history of the new tender being built by US Tank for Countryside. US Tank photos
Glenview has reportedly placed an order now for two engines from Pierce. Though both will feature the Arrow XT cab and chassis, one will have a conventional pumper body similar to engines 6 & 7 while the second will have a rescue style body like engine 8 which was shown HERE.
Huntley is expecting a new IHC 4300 Type I ambulance from Medtec.
Highland Park is in the initial stages of designing specifications for a new ambulance. Currently, their ambulances are Type III units on E-Series Ford chassis. The new unit will reportedly be a departure from this style and will be a Type I design featuring an F-Series chassis from Ford.
Apr 23
A 2010 Ford/Horton Type I ambulance has been assigned as ambulance 6614 for the Gardner VFD.
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
