Archive for September, 2011

O’Hare Airport Disaster Drill – update

Sep 19

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

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. submitted several images depicting the Chicago Fire Department personnel at work during Saturday’s disaster drill at O’Hare.

Chicago Fire Department disaster drill at O'Hare Airport

The drill took place behind the International Terminal at O'Hare and included a portable aircraft training prop that was on fire along with several portable free standing burn devices. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

ARFF 6-5-3 works to extinguish the aircraft fire behind the International Terminal. The United Airlines plane in the background was also used in the drill scenario. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Firefighters and EMS personnel put together the triage area with portable tents and colored tarps corresponding to the injury classification assigned to each victim. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Firefighters carry a patient to the triage area as they walk among an area littered with additional victims. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Firefighters bring critically injured patients to the triage section for 'red' coded victims. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff looks in on EMS personnel at one of the triage tents with several victims. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Tags: airport disaster drill, CFD O'Hare Airport firefighting, Chicago 6-5-3, Chicago 6-5-3 ARFF, Chicago ARFF 653, Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department at O'Hare Airport, Chicago O'Hare Airport ARFF, Chicago O'Hare Airport Fire Department, Gordon J. Nord Jr., medical tents, O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Airport Fire Department, O'Hare Airport firefighters, triage area

Long Grove Fire Department controlled burn

Sep 18

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

The Long Grove Fire Department conducted a controlled burn-down of a vacant house at 1889 Checker Road Saturday morning. The house had been used by the fire department over the past two weeks for live-fire training evolutions to train Long Grove and eight other area departments. The house was the scene of what is being called a fire of suspicious origin this past Thursday, but the fire was stopped before it got hold of the main structure, and it was burned today for the public. A developer owns the property and will begin preparing the property for three new homes.

Tim Olk and Larry Shapiro were in attendance and submitted several images.

A crowd of residents gathers to watch the Long Grove FPD burn down a vacant house. Larry Shapiro photo

Moments after igniting the fires on the second floor, smoke and flames show from the roof, eaves and windows. Larry Shapiro photo

Fires were then ignited on the first floor and heavy fire is visible throughout. Larry Shapiro photo

A view from the north end shows the volume of fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Fire now is showing from from all but the farthest southern section of the house. Larry Shapiro photo

The south end of the house is now well involved as firefighters keep the trees from catching fire. Larry Shapiro photo

The thick black smoke signifies the roof burning now at the southern end of the house. Larry Shapiro photo

The chimney remains standing after the majority of the house has been consumed. Larry Shapiro photo

There is a large gallery with more images from Larry Shapiro HERE.

Tags: burning a house to the ground, controlled burn, fully involved house fire, heavy smoke and flames, house fire, Larry Shapiro, Long Grove Fire Department, Long Grove Fire Protection District, Tim Olk

O’Hare Airport Disaster Drill

Sep 18

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department News, Fire Service News, Reader submission | 7 Comments

The Chicago Fire Department conducted their annual disaster drill on Saturday at O’Hare Airport. The Chicago Tribune has an article HERE.

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. was on the field and submitted several images of specialized CFD apparatus.

photo by Gordon J. Nord, Jr.

photo by Gordon J. Nord, Jr.

Chicago Fire Department 8-8-11 Oxygen Therapy Bus

photo by Gordon J. Nord, Jr.

Chicago Fire Department 8-8-1 Mass Casualty Bus

photo by Gordon J. Nord, Jr.

photo by Gordon J. Nord, Jr.

Chicago Fire Department Mobile Ventilation Unit 9-2-4

photo by Gordon J. Nord, Jr.

A large gallery with CFD apparatus photos can be found HERE.

Tags: Chicago 5-3-1, Chicago 8-8-1, Chicago 8-8-11, Chicago 9-2-4, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department at O'Hare Airport, Chicago MVU 9-2-4, Chicago O'Hare Airport Fire Department, Gordon J. Nord Jr., new mobile ventilation unit at O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Airport Fire Department, Tempest Mobile Ventilation Unit

Chicago 2-11 Alarm 9-16-11

Sep 17

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News, Fire Service News, Reader submission | 1 Comment

Chicago firefighters responded yesterday to a fire at 525 W. Armitage, less than a block from the quarters of Engine 22. Upon arrival, they found heavy fire on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a three-flat that was undergoing renovation. The alarm was escalated to a 2-11 for additional companies. During the course of the fire, the building suffered a catastrophic collapse. The Chicago Tribune has a brief story HERE.

Tim Olk arrived at the fire after the collapse and submitted several images.

Chicago building fire 525 W. Armitage Avenue 9-16-11

Firefighters work from the bucket of Squad 1 with a hand line and the master stream. Tim Olk photo

Firefighters use a hand line from an adjacent roof top. Tim Olk photo

Engine 22 sits in Sector 4 on Mohawk as fire continues to burn in the pile of debris. Tim Olk photo

Firefighters standby in the street with a hand line. Tim Olk photo

The front shell of the building facing Armitage remains standing after the rest of the building collapsed. Tim Olk photo

The building sat on the corner of Armitage and Mohawk, The collapse occurred on the Mohawk side of the structure. Tim Olk photo

A gallery with more images can be viewed HERE.

Tags: 2-11 alarm fire, 2-11 alarm residential fire, building collapsed due to fire, building destroyed by fire in Chicago, Chicago Engine 22, Chicago Fire Department, Lincoln Park building gutted by fire, Tim Olk

Waukegan Box Alarm 5-4-11 update

Sep 17

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Fire Service News, Reader submission | Comments off

Arson fire at 133 s Genesse in Waukegan May 4, 2011

The vacant Salvation Army Store fire on Genesse Street in Waukegan on the 4th of May was determined to be arson. A suspect is currently in custody for setting the fire. Jeff Rudolph photo

On May 4, 2011 the Waukegan Fire Department fought a fire in the vacant Salvation Army store at 133 S. Genesee Street. (photos from that fire can be seen HERE and HERE). Jeff Rudolph found an article in The Chicago Tribune pertaining to an arrest relating to that fire which was determined to be arson.

A longtime Waukegan business owner who ran for mayor and the Lake County Board has been arrested on charges that he intentionally set a fire that destroyed a local building in May.

Gregory D. Flesher, 48, of the 2500 block of Chestnut Street, appeared in bond court this afternoon on charges of arson and criminal damage to property.

Authorities allege that in the early-morning hours of May 4, Flesher used bolt cutters to enter the long-vacant former Salvation Army building at 133 S. Genesee St., and started a fire using fireworks and gasoline. No one was injured in the blaze, which took dozens of firefighters from multiple departments hours to douse, but the building was a total loss and had to be demolished.

Flesher is also being eyed as a suspect in a fatal fire in Canada that occurred on May 19. Officials in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, said Flesher has not been charged in the apartment building blaze, which killed a 48-year-old woman. But Lake County prosecutors said during Flesher’s bond hearing today that he admitted to setting that fire while he was being questioned about the Waukegan blaze.

The complete article can be found HERE.

Information on the fire in Cana a is HERE, HERE.

Tags: arson, arson suspect arrested, Jeff Rudolph, Salvation Army building fire in Waukegan, Waukegan Fire Department

Burbank Full Still Alarm 9-15-11

Sep 16

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

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. was in Bedford Park yesterday when the neighboring Burbank Fire Department received a call reporting a house fire. Companies arrived on the scene and found heavy fire on the second floor of the single-family house. Firefighters made an interior attack and had to back out for a short time while the roof was ventilated. Then they were able to hit the fire again.

Bedford Park, Bridgeview, and Oak Lawn companies assisted Burbank.

Bedford Park Truck 709 is on the scene of the house fire in Burbank. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

A Bedford Park firefighter cuts a fence to gain access to the yard. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Firefighters get to the roof to ventilate as an engineer places a ground ladder to a window so the interior companies have a point of egress for an emergency exit. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Heavy smoke vents from the windows and eaves as a firefighter gets to the roof to ventilate. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

As fire escapes from a second floor window as firefighters begin to vent the roof. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Burbank Truck 206 is on a hydrant. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Another shot showing firefighters working on the roof with heavy fire on the second floor. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

As the first vent hole is made, heavy smoke pushes out of the roof. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Another shot shows smoke escaping from vent holes. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Oak Lawn Quint 3 responded and the company acted as the RIT. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

A firefighter works on a third vent hole in the roof. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Firefighters leave the roof after completing the ventilation as heavy fire consumes the second floor. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Firefighters have left the roof and the interior companies had to retreat until the fire was knocked down so they could re-enter the house. Gordon J. Nord., JR photo

Tags: Bedford Park Fire Department, Burbank Fire Department, Burbank Truck 206, Crimson aerial ladder, firefighters ventilating a roof, Gordon J. Nord Jr., heavy fire in a two-story house, house fire, house fire in Burbank IL

Long Grove structure fire 9-15-11

Sep 15

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News | 3 Comments

The Long Grove Fire Department received a call this morning about a house on fire at 1889 Checker Road. The fire department had been using the vacant house for training over the past two weeks as eight other departments participated in multiple interior evolutions per day. The training was completed yesterday and the fire department is scheduled to burn the house to the ground for the developer this Saturday morning with area residents in attendance.

Long Grove house fire 1889 Checker Road 9-15-11

Long Grove Squad 55 was in the driveway and supplied five lines. Larry Shapiro photo

Long Grove Tanker 55 supplied the squad with 3,000 gallons of water. Larry Shapiro photo

The call was delayed roughly 20 minutes this morning because the neighbor thought the fire department might still be training. Upon the realization that the fire was unattended, she phoned in the alarm and Long Grove responded with their full assignment including Tanker 55 since there are no hydrants in the area. The header could be seen shortly after leaving the station, and the first unit reported a working fire at the north end of the house where a large stack of wooden pallets had been stored.

The garage was down when firefighters arrived and the pallet storage was well involved. Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters work a 2-1/2? line around the heaviest fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters take a line into the house. Larry Shapiro photo

Smoke pushes out of the two-story section of the house as firefighters made an interior attack to stop the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Tankers were requested from Prospect Heights and Fox Lake since the department wanted to prevent the structure from going to the ground. Engines from Buffalo Grove and Palatine came in as did an ambulance from Arlington Heights for rehab. Much of the house was saved and will be burned on Saturday …

Prospect Heights Tanker 9 brought an additional 3,000 gallons to the scene and was able to nurse the squad just as the Long Grove tanker was out of water. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk were at the scene to photograph the fire.

Long Grove firefighters stand by with a hand line on the exterior of the house. Larry Shapiro photo

The house sat 1/2 mile into the property with a gravel driveway. Rigs had to back down into position. The Fox Lake tanker was the last unit in line and made two trips to refill their 3,000-gallon tank. Larry Shapiro photo

As the fire has been contained, firefighters apply foam to the smoldering areas in an effort to conserve water. Larry Shapiro photo

The pallet pile smolders as firefighters hit hot spots. Larry Shapiro photo

The bulk of the house lives to burn another day. Larry Shapiro photo

A full gallery of images from the fire can be viewed HERE.

A few images from Larry Shapiro from the training which took place over the past two weeks. Galleries can be viewed HERE and HERE.

Long Grove Fire Department live fire training

Buffalo Grove's reserve engine was used during the multiple days of training. Larry Shapiro photo

Multiple evolutions per day were conducted with interior fires and searches for victims. Larry Shapiro photo

Long Grove Engine 55 pumped alongside Buffalo Grove's engine. They drafted out of a series of three portable tanks. Larry Shapiro photo

Wheeling, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights, Lake Zurich, Buffalo Grove, and Barrington all participated in the training. Larry Shapiro photo

As the last day of training came, the fires grew in intensity. Larry Shapiro photo

The final evolution of the multi-day training was in this room on the first floor. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: Buffalo Grove Fire Department, fire flashover, Fox Lake Fire Department, house fire, Larry Shapiro, live fire training, Long Grove Fire Protection District, Prospect Heights Fire Department, tanker nursing engine, tanker opertations, vacant building fire

Mundelein Swap Meet

Sep 15

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | Comments off

The Mundelein Firefighters Association will be hosting the annual Mundelein Fire Swap Meet on SUNDAY October 30th at the Mundelein High School. The school is at 1350 W Hawley Street. Vendor tables are $35.00 each. Doors open at 0800 hrs. For info or questions please call 847-949-3260. This Fire Swap Meet has always been held on a Saturday but scheduling issues with the gym made the Sunday date the only available in late October.

Tags: fire service flea market, fire service memorabilia, Mundelein FIre Department, Mundelein Swap Meet

New engine for Lemont

Sep 15

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Delivery | Comments off

Martin Nowak also spotted on the Ferrara website several images of the completed engine for Lemont. The new unit is an MVP design on an Igniter chassis with a 1,500-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water.

Lemont Fire District Ferrara Igniter MVP engine

Ferrara photo

Tags: Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Ferrara Igniter chassis, Ferrara MVP pumper, Lemont Fire Protection District, Martin Nowak, new Ferrara engine

Smoke smell permeates northern Illinois – update

Sep 14

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | Comments off

Although the smoke smell and haze which was prevalent throughout northern Illinois yesterday seems to have subsided, Wildfire Today has an interesting follow-up to the fire which has grown to over 100,000 acres and is now resulting in evacuations. An interesting note in the article mentions that the “… fire that started in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and was not suppressed for about two weeks …”

the largest fire in Minnesota since 1918. The Pagami Creek fire has burned 100,000 acres, according to the incident management team, and forced evacuations on the south and east sides of the fire. Scroll down to see maps of the fire.

It started from a lightning strike on August 18 and by August 30 had burned approximately 13 acres.

The staff at the BWCAW and the Superior National Forest decided to monitor it and allow natural processes to run their course. They conducted some firing operations, burning an additional 2,000 acres, to herd the fire away from populated areas on the north and west sides, but by last weekend it was obvious that they needed to suppress it.

Read the entire article HERE.

Tags: Minnesota wildfires, wildfire smoke permeates northern Illinois and Wisconsin, wildfiretoday.com, wildland fire