Archive for October 1st, 2010

Area fires and departments featured in new book

Area fire photographer and legend Tim Olk has teamed up with a publisher to create a coffee table book highlighting many years of fires, fire departments, rescues, firefighters, rigs and fire service events in and around Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.  The book features hundreds of photos and shows many area individuals … maybe even you or certainly someone that you know. Unlike some books sold, this book requires a minimum of 400 copies to be pre-ordered before the publisher puts the book into production. It’ll make a great addition to the collection or library of any fire service enthusiast or more importantly to all of those who are featured within its’ pages! See the flyer and send in your order today!

Tim Olk fire book

Tim Olk fire book

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Wheeling Dedication of Station 24

The Wheeling Fire Department will be formally dedicating their new headquarters Station 24 tomorrow (Saturday, October 2, 2010) .

Wheeling Fire Department Station dedication

Wheeling Fire Department dedication

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North Maine FPD Engine 1

North Maine District Chief Mike Fox has updated us again on the progression of Engine 1R into Engine 1. The 1992 Pierce Arrow reserve engine has been undergoing rehab and upgrades at Alexis Fire Equipment for several months. As mentioned in a previous post, when it is completed, it will move up as the front line engine replacing the 2003 American LaFrance Eagle. General body work, the addition of high sides on the officer’s side, air conditioning, and an extended chrome bumper with front intake represent several areas being worked on in addition to the changeover from a white cab roof to black. Previous posts can be seen HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE (or simply enter North Maine into the search field at the right)

The unit recently came out of the paint shop and the folks at Alexis took some photos which are shown below.

North Maine FPD Engine 1

Driver's side view of Engine 1 with the new color scheme. Alexis photo

North maine FPD engine 1

Rear view of the driver's side after coming out of the paint shop. Alexis photo

North Maine FPD engine 1

Officer's side of Engine 1 showing the completed high side compartments, Alexis photo

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New ARFFs for Chicago

The Chicago Fire Department is expecting to receive three new Oshkosh Striker ARFF units by the end of the year. The first of these units was due in August and has not yet arrived. On a recent trip to Pierce, a reader took the photo which is shown here that shows all three of the ARFF units completed, one which has a Snozzle articulating boom with a piercing nozzle.

The closest of these units can be seen numbered for 6-5-5 which runs out of Rescue 2 currently with a 2000 Oshkosh TI-3000. This is the ARFF Commander’s unit.  The others are probably 6-5-3 at Rescue 1 (now operating with a 1992 Oshkosh T12) and 6-5-6 which currently has a 1994 Oshkosh T-3000 with a Snozzle out of Rescue 2.

Pierce factory final inspection

Three Oshkosh Striker 3,000-gallon ARFF units are seen here in the final stages of completion at the Pierce factory last week.

As an added bonus, the heavy rescue shown in the foreground of this photo is the new unit for the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Emergency Services Team (NIPAS EST) on a Velocity chassis.

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