Archive for August 11th, 2011

New ambulance for Evanston

Aug 11

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Fire Service News, New Apparatus Order | 1 Comment

Northwestern University has donated roughly $253,000 to purchase a new ambulance for the Evanston Fire & Life Safety Department. An announcement posted this week can be found HERE on the City of Evanston website.

Northwestern University will donate a new ambulance to the City of Evanston, Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl announced today.

“We appreciate very much the continued support of Northwestern University for our fire and life safety department,” Mayor Tisdahl said. “Northwestern University is a wonderful part of our community, and we are grateful to receive this generous donation.”

The new ambulance, which will be an advanced life support transport unit, will go into frontline service this fall, as soon as the licensing process is completed,” said Greg Klaiber, Evanston Fire and Life Safety Services Chief. “The new ambulance will replace a current unit that the city will then keep in reserve for use as needed. The new ambulance includes a power cot, power oxygen lift and a heart monitor/defibrillator”

In 2009 Northwestern donated $550,000 to the City for the purchase of a new fire engine, which went into service the following year.

Tags: Evanston Fire and Life Safety Department, Evanston Fire Department, new ambulance order, Northwestern University donates new ambulance

Franklin Park 3-11 alarm fire and EMS Box Alarm 8-11-11

Aug 11

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News, Fire Service News, Reader submission | 6 Comments

Shortly before 2AM on Thursday a motorist made a cellular 9-1-1 call and reported a fire at 3010 Mannheim Road in Franklin Park. First arriving units were met by heavy fire in the front lobby and on the third floor of a large, three-story, vacant motel property that is setup in the shape of an ‘H’ with a banquet hall in the rear. The building has been vacant for several years, and Franklin Park firefighters knew that the structural integrity of the building was suspect and they preplanned to take a defensive stance upon arrival if the building caught fire.

Franklin Park 3-11 alarm fire on Mannheim Road 8-11-11

The banquet hall on the right is surrounded by guest rooms. Heavy fire burns in the back of the main building which faces Mannheim Road and has spread to the adjoining wing on the left. Steve Redick photo

When the first companies found heavy fire, they immediately requested a MABAS Box Alarm from MABAS Division 20. A 2nd alarm was requested roughly 20 minutes later. Six elevated master streams were eventually put to work around the building with the Melrose Park Bronto (working it’s second 3-11 alarm fire in a 12 hour span) setup on the south (‘B’), Leyden Township to the west (‘C’) with an E-ONE HP75, Rosemont to the north (‘D’) with their Pierce tower ladder, and the other three were working on Mannheim Road in front of the building (‘A’). This included another Bronto from Elmwood Park, a Seagrave rear mount from Franklin Park, and another Pierce tower from Schiller Park.

Schiller Park Tower 454 is working in front of the fire building on Mannheim road. Steve Redick photo

Engines that were due up to the 2nd alarm were two from Franklin Park, and one each from Stone Park, Elmhurst, River Grove, Norwood Park, Northlake, and Bensenville. Chicago Squad 7 from O’Hare was also due on the 2nd alarm.

Franklin Park 3-11 alarm fire on Mannheim 8-11-11

The Melrose Park Bronto Skylift was positioned on the south side of the complex using the master stream to combat the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Franklin Park, 3-11, night, vacant, fire, elevated master stream, E-ONE, Bronto, Elmwood Park, Melrose Park, Schiller Park, Leyden, Rosemont, smoke, Chicago Squad 7

Firefighters from Elmwood Park are above the roof on the southeast corner of the structure on Mannheim Road. Larry Shapiro photo

An EMS Box Alarm was also struck which brought ambulances from Schiller Park, Leyden Township, River Grove, and Bensenville in addition to an ambulance from Northlake. This allowed for multiple ambulances to be on standby for the multiple Rapid Intervention Teams that were part of the preplanning to accommodate the size of the property and the potential for unsafe conditions.

Schiller Park Tower 454 was on Mannheim at Center Avenue, the northeast corner of the building. Franklin Park Truck 2 and the Elmwood Park Bronto are further down the street. Larry Shapiro photo

A 3rd alarm fire box was initiated roughly an hour into the fire to provide relief companies for the crews that were working. This brought Maywood Truck 502 along with engines from River Forest, Berkely, and Hillside.

Franklin Park's engine tagged a hydrant at the corner of Mannheim and Schiller Boulevard to supply water to Truck 2. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire proved to have a hold throughout the main building and required several instances where all lines were shut down to allow the fire to burn through the roof so that firefighters could have access to extinguish the flames. Several hand lines and multi-versals were put to use supplementing the elevated master streams.

Several hours into the fire all of the lines were shut down so the fire could burn freely to allow firefighters better access to it. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire grows in intensity without water being applied. This in turn gave firefighters more access to fight the fire that was burning beneath the intact roof. Larry Shapiro photo

The alarms were finally struck out near 8AM as it appeared that companies finally had gotten the upper hand and were able to reach all of the deep seated fire which proved to be quite stubborn.

Several area photographers, Steve Redick, Tim Olk, Larry Shapiro, and Gordon J. Nord Jr., were at the scene overnight and will have images to post at different times during the day. As the images become available, the posting will be updated. Larry has a gallery HERE, and Steve has a gallery HERE.

Tags: Chicago Fire Department Squad 7, defensive fire operations, E-ONE, E-ONE Bronto Sky-Lift, E-ONE HP75, elevated master stream, Elmhurst Fire Department, Elmwood Park Fire Department, Franklin park Fire Department, Gordon J. Nord Jr., large fire on Mannheim Road, Larry Shapiro, MABAS 3rd Alarm fire, MABAS Division 20, Melrose Park Fire Department, nghtime fire, Norwood Park FIre Department, O'Hare Airport Fire Department, Pierce tower ladder, River Grove Fire Department, Rosemont Department of Public Safety, Rosemont Fire Department, Schiller Park Fire Department, Seagrave Maurauder ladder, Steve Redick, structure fire, Tim Olk, vacant building fire, vacant motel fire in Franklin Park

Maywood 3-11 alarm fire 8-10-11

Aug 11

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News, Reader submission | Comments off

Maywood 3 alarm fire 8-10-11 at 326 Randolph

The header as seen from a high-rise building in Oak Park. Dan McInerney photo

Firefighters prepare to put the Melrose Park Bronto Skylift into operation as the attack went defensive. Dan McInerney photo

The center of the courtyard off of Pine Street provided a vantage point for multiple hand lines directed into the upper floors of the fire building. Dan McInerney photo

The Maywood Fire Department received a call around 9AM this morning from contractors renovating a four-story vacant building. Preliminary reports indicate an accident involving a torch from a worker near the cockloft of one building of this five-building complex. A 2nd alarm was requested from Maywood companies shortly after arrival and the fire was eventually elevated to a third alarm. The structure was brick with concrete floors and the fire ran the length of the attic space burning off much of the roof before it collapsed in sections.

Aerial master streams from the Maywood and Melrose Park aerials along with a hand line from the ground go to work on the east side of the fire building shortly after companies were pulled out of the building. Dan McInerney photo

Heavy smoke is venting through the roof of the fire building as seen from 4th Avenue looking to the north east. Larry Shapiro photo

Maywood firefighters working off the tip of Truck 502's aerial work to gain access to the cockloft so they can reach the seat of the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Maywood Truck 502, a Spartan/Darley/Nova-Quintech was setup on 3rd Street on the east side of the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Looking south on 3rd Avenue from Randolph the fire building is seen as part of a larger complex of buildings. The fire was contained to the building of origin. Larry Shapiro photo

Maywood firefighters operate a hand line directed into the top floor. John Tulipano photo

A wider shot shows one hand line, the Maywood truck, and the stream from the Melrose Park aerial working on the east side of the fire building. John Tulipano photo

Fire breaks through the roof above where firefighters from Maywood are working to reach the cockloft. Larry Shapiro photo

Before they can continue their ventilation work, the Maywood firefighters standby as lines from the ground and the Melrose Park tower are directed at the flames. Larry Shapiro photo

As fire travels from the north to the south along the roof and cockloft, firefighters direct their streams to the southern end. The roof on the north end has collapsed. Dan McInerney photo

Maywood responded to the scene with a truck, three engine, and an ambulance. Mutual aid came from Melrose Park, Westchester, and Forest Park with trucks, North Riverside and River Grove with ambulances and engines from Broadview, Berkely, Bellwood, Stone Park, Elmwood Park, Hillside, and River Forest. The Maywood, Westchester, and Melrose Park trucks had master streams working, and engines supplying water were from Stone Park, River Forest, Bellwood, Berkely, plus two from Maywood.

Larry Shapiro, John Tulipano, and Dan McInerney were at the fire and submitted several images.

Maywood firefighters work to gain access to the hidden fire behind the mansard roof as the fire continues to vent through the roof. John Tulipano photo

As fire breaks through a new section of the roof, the master streams are re0directed. John Tulipano photo

Fire has reached the south end of the roof as seen from Pine Street and 3rd Avenue. Larry Shapiro photo

Companies worked inside the building until the fire took control of the roof and firefighters were notified by the contractors that there were several propane tanks plus two Bobcat Skid-Steer loaders inside.