Archive for April, 2011

Former CFD Commissioner sues Daley

The Chicago Tribune has an article HERE stating that former Chicago Fire Commissioner Brooks is suing Mayor Daley and Daley’s chief of staff Ray Orozco (former CFD Fire Commissioner) for forcing Brooks to resign.

Former Chicago Fire Commissioner John Brooks sued Mayor Richard Daley on Friday alleging that he was forced to resign last year over false allegations of sexual harassment.

The federal suit, which also named Daley chief of staff Raymond Orozco, alleged that Orozco told Brooks last May 1 that “Mayor Daley wants you out… because of the allegations of sexual harassment against you.”

After Brooks protested, Orozco said that if he did not resign, he would be fired and that a termination “would destroy his name and reputation in the industry” and would diminish his pension, the lawsuit said.

On May 7, Brooks contacted the fire department’s pension board and told officials that he was retiring.

The lawsuit alleged that about three months later, an outside lawyer hired to independently investigate concluded that the sexual harassment allegations “were completely false and fabricated.”

 

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Rockdale Fire Department correction

On November 25th of last year, we added the Rockdale Fire Protection District, in MABAS Division 15 to the site. A photo by Karl Klotz featuring Rockdale Engine 2011 was posted with erroneous information. We are grateful to ‘Joe’ from Rockdale who has provided the correct information in a comment.

Hello! I'm a member of the Rockdale Fire Dept. A correction needs to be made 
here. Engine 2011 is somewhat mislabeled. Originally built by FMC in 1988(Job 
#7388), it has a Pem-Fab T-942 open cab chassis with the Sentinel body. The pump 
& tank size shown are correect. In 1999, the engine was involved in an accident 
in which the cab was damaged. The Fire Dist. contracted with RPI of Tipton, IN. 
to replace the damaged cab. The remains of Pem-Fab Truck manufacturers had 
2-T964 cab shells left. 1 of them became the new cab for this engine. In May of 
2000, this engine was placed back in service. It continues to provide protection 
today.

The photo information has since been updated.

Rockdale FPD Engine 2011 Pemfab FMC Sentinel

The original post referenced the chassis as being a proprietary design for FMC by Spartan, when in fact it was built by Pemfab. The brochures shown below illustrate two different Spartan designs that were featured. Although cabs and chassis were supplied by both companies, the Pemfabs were not photographed for the literature, even though they were listed as being provided for the custom pumpers. The Pemfab is differentiated from the Spartan by the square black front grill and the side air vent positioned horizontally above the front wheel, whereas the Spartan has a full width black facia and a vertical air vent that is integral with the side and rail. The previous blog post also listed the body style as an Omega, when in fact Joe is correct that it was a Sentinel (SSIII).

FMC Fire Apparatus Sentinel pumper brochure

This Sentinel brochure illustrates an engine from Baltimore which was built around a Spartan chassis with a 4-door cab. Larry Shapiro collection

FMC Fire Apparatus Sentinel pumper brochure

The engine featured on the inside panel of this brochure was also built on a Spartan chassis with a 2-door cab. The Spartan version had the full width black facia and the air vent integrated with the handle. Larry Shapiro collection

FMC Fire Apparatus Sentinel pumper brochure

The rear cover of the FMC Fire Apparatus Sentinel brochure lists the Pemfab cab and chassis for the custom pumper. Larry Shapiro collection

FMC Fire Apparatus Sentinel pumper brochure

Inset of the Sentinel brochure showing the specifications for the SSIII custom chassis. Larry Shapiro collection

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Vintage ad highlights Northfield FD

Today at Firegeezer.com, there is another post in their ‘Looking Back’ series where they show ads from Fire Engineering Magazine dating back to the 1950s. The current post shows an ad for B.F. Goodrich fire hose which depicts two firefighters and an engine from Northfield which appeared in April of 1957.

Fire Engineering Magazine ad from Apirl 1957

This ad from the April 1957 issue of Fire Engineering Magazine features the Northfield Volunteer Fire Department. photo courtesy of Firegeezer.com

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House explosion in Hickory Hills

A loyal reader of this site, Campbell Holinger, was at the house explosion this evening in Hickory Hills and has submitted several images. Campbell says that the incident occurred at 9122 Barberry, in Hickory Hills which is covered by the Roberts Park Fire Protection District. They initially requested a full still alarm for the fire which was followed by a TRT Box Alarm and an EMS Box Alarm. Around 1820 they returned all companies not on the scene, which included most of the TRT equipment and the balance of the EMS Box.

Both homeowners were transported to the hospital in unknown condition.
The Chicago Tribune has an article with a video clip HERE.

“The whole front of the house was all blown out, the side of the house was blown off,” he said.”The roof looks like it went up three or four feet and came down.”

Polensky (a neighbor) said that a retired couple had lived in the raised ranch home for years and he said he saw the couple walking out of the home appearing uninjured. Police said no one was injured.

He said that when crews arrived, large plumes of smoke streamed out of the home as though something were smoldering inside. Currently nearly a dozen fire crews were in the area and were going to surrounding homes checking for gas.

House explosion in Hickory Hills IL

The split level house which appears to have lost a level. Campbell Holinger photo

House explosion in Hickory Hills IL

A shot of the 'B' side of the house with the wall blown out. Campbell Holinger photo

House explosion in Hickory Hills IL

This shot shows the 'B/C' corner of the house. Campbell Holinger photo

House explosion in Hickory Hills IL

Roberts Park Truck 31 is positioned in the 'A' Sector. Campbell Holinger photo

House explosion in Hickory Hills IL

North Palos Truck 804 responded to provide mutual aid to the scene. Campbell Holinger photo

Campbell has images posted on Facebook HERE.

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more historic galleries in the works

As historical galleries are added to more fire departments that are represented on the site, we are pleased to be adding images that Karl Klotz has begun to scan from his collection. There is quite a bit of work involved to scan, collate, and label the image files that come in, and Karl’s images are a welcome addition. Here are just two of the images that have been submitted for inclusion in future galleries.

East Joliet Fire Department TeleSqurt

Hendrickson/Pierce/TeleSqurt from East Joliet. Karl Klotz collection

Richton Park Fire Department engine

Richton Park Engine 27 on a Hendrickson chassis with an 1871-W cab. Karl Klotz collection

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Lake Villa ambulance

Martin Nowak found this new delivery link on the Osage Ambulance website showing an ambulance for Lake Villa. (Lake Villa Fire Protection Type III Ford (E450) Super Warrior)

One of two ambulances. Jeff Rudolph had an image of the first new ambulance which was posted HERE.

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Winnetka updates

Karl Klotz took advantage of some nice weather recently and sent some updated photos of apparatus in Winnetka. The page now has posed images of Battalion 28, Engine 28R, and Ambulance 28R to replace on-scene photos that were previously posted.

 

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Berwyn 2-11 alarm fire at 28th & Ridgeland – update

Audio from the 2-11 alarm fire yesterday in Berwyn can be found HERE from radioman 911 at Justin.tv

Youtube videos from the fire:

 

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Berwyn 2-11 alarm fire at 28th & Ridgeland

Steve Redick submitted the following images.

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

The Stickney quint on-scene after the fire was knocked down. Steve Redick photo

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

This view shows two sides of the fire building, well after the fire was knocked down. The extent of the damage is visible to the upper floor. Steve Redick photo

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

Berwyn's Spartan/Crimson engine 903 was pumping at the scene in a one-way street with parked cars on either side. Steve Redick photo

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

Berwyn Quint 901 was also on a hydrant supplying multiple hand lines. Steve Redick photo

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

River Forest Engine 222 was in staging down the street. Steve Redick photo

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11 MABAS 11 Air Unit

The MABAS Division 11 air unit out of Oak Park was on the scene to fill air bottles. Steve Redick photo

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

Berwyn Truck 904 had an elevated master stream working when the fire broke though the roof. Steve Redick photo

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Berwyn 2-11 alarm fire at 28th & Ridgeland

Tim Olk and Steve Redick both took in the fire in Berwyn although they arrived much later than Josh who was behind the first due truck.

Tim submitted a few images as did Steve.

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

A Berwyn firefighter exits the building after rescuing a tenant's pet. Tim Olk photo

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

The North Riverside tower ladder is bedded after the fire has been knocked down. Tim Olk photo

Berwyn Fire Department 2-11 alarm at 28th & Ridgeland 4-23-11

The Stickney aerial remains deployed after the fire is out to safeguard against flare-ups. Tim Olk photo

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