Archive for February 21st, 2012

Algonquin 2nd Alarm fire 2-20-12

Feb 21

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Reader submission | 4 Comments

updated photos 10PM (scroll down)

The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire District responded to a fire Monday night on Springhill Drive. The Daily Herald reports that:

No one was injured in a large fire that spread from an attached garage in Algonquin to the rest of the house, causing extensive damage Monday night.

Firefighters responded to the two-story house on the 1100 block of Spring Hill Drive at about 8:50 p.m. and remained on the scene as of 10 p.m. battling stubborn flames shooting through the roof.

The full article is HERE.

Tyler Tobolt submitted some shots from the scene.

Algonquin house fire 2-20-12 on Springhill Drive

According to the Algonquin Patch:

When crews arrived at 9:01 p.m., they found the entire two-story home was on fire, according to a news release from the Algonquin-LITH Fire Department.

The Incident Commander immediately upgraded the alarm to the 2nd level and crews initiated an aggressive exterior attack. The fire was declared out at 9:57 p.m. Crews remained on the scene until after midnight investigating the fire and securing the home.

Algonquin house fire 2-20-12 on Springhill Drive

Aftermath showing the extent of the fire damage. Scott Peterson photo

A view from the front does not do justice to the devastation. Scott Peterson photo

Tags: Algonquin Fire Department, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire District, house fire in Algonquin on Springhill, Tyler Tobolt

Mount Prospect Box Alarm 2-20-12

Feb 21

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

apartment fire in Mount Prospect 715 Central Road 2-20-12

Mout Prospect Tower 13 is at the 'A-B' corner. A ground ladder is visible to the 3rd floor balcony where a resident was stranded due to the smoke. Arlington Heights Tower 1 is at the 'A-C' corner in the background. Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters were called to a three-story condominium building at 715 W. Central in Mount Prospect before 5:30PM on Monday for a reported fire in a unit on the top floor. The First arriving company reported heavy smoke in the area and the alarm was upgraded to a working fire Code 4. Fire was in a rear corner unit and as fire communicated to the mansard roof and flames were evident from the outside, a Box Alarm was requested bringing mutual aid from several additional area fire departments. The fire was contained to the unit of origin within 20 minutes after the fire department arrived.

The Daily Herald reports that:

A resident was rescued from a third-story balcony of a Mount Prospect apartment building during a fire that left 12 apartment units uninhabitable Monday.

One Mount Prospect firefighter suffered a minor injury during the blaze and was treated at Alexian Brothers Hospital, said Mount Prospect Batallion Chief Henry Dawson.

ABC news has a neighbor’s photo HERE showing the fire from the rear.

image from ABC news

A displaced resident watches as firefighters verify that there is no fire in other units. Larry Shapiro photo

Mount Prospect Engine 13 was the still-alarm engine and had two lines off. Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters rest after exiting the building. Larry Shapiro photo

Engine 13 was at the front of the building. Larry Shapiro photo

Departments that assisted at the scene included Elk Grove Village, Elk Grove Township, Palatine, North Maine, Arlington Heights, Palatine Rural, and Prospect Heights.

Additional images from the scene can be seen HERE.

Tags: apartment fire in Mount Prospect, apartment fire on Central in Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights Tower Ladder 1, firefighter injured at Mount Prospect apartment fire, Larry Shapiro, Mount Prospect FIre Department, Mt. Prospect Fire Department

Box Alarm in Evanston 2-20-12

Feb 21

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

An Evanston Fire Department Division Chief spotted fire at the base of a chimney at 1318 Elmwood yesterday and called in the alarm. Residents were home at the time and unaware of the fire. The alarm was elevated to a Box Alarm which brought mutual aid companies from Skokie, and Morton Grove.

A firefighter in the attic is visible out the roof as he directs others to a hot spot that needs overhaul. Tim Olk photo

The Daily Northwestern wrote that:

The fire started on the attic of the third floor and caused “pretty extensive damage,” (City of Evanston Spokesman) Palmer said. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is still under investigation.

The old, Victorian-style home sustained enough damage to cause structural problems to the building, Palmer said. The residents were forced to move out for the time being and the house was boarded up.

Overhaul is performed on all levels of the house at 1318 Elmwood after the fire was extinguished. Tim Olk photo

Evanston Now reported that:

Fire Division Chief Geoff Block called in the first report of the fire, which soon brought all of Evanston’s fire units to the scene at 1318 Elmwood Ave. as well as a tower truck from Skokie and a squad from Morton Grove.

Fire Chief Greg Klaiber says the four residents of the two-and-a-half-story Victorian home managed to escape without injury. They’d been in the basement or on the first floor of the home and weren’t aware of the blaze.

The fire had already broken through the roof by the time firefighters arrived and dragged a hose line up to the third floor converted attic space. Klaiber says crews managed to confine the fire to the third floor, but that there was some water damage to other parts of the home.

Tim Olk submitted several images from the scene.

Evanston Truck 22 had their main to the roof. Tim Olk photo

Evanston Lt Bill Muno applies water to cool hot spots on the roof. Lt Muno has been promoted to the position of Battalion Chief and will assume his new role next week. Tim Olk photo

Evanston house fire 2-20-12 on Elmwood Evanston Engine 21

Evanston Engine 21 is just down the block. Tim Olk photo

Evanston house fire 2-20-12 on Elmwood Evanston Battalion Chief Kunita

Evanston Battalion Chief Don Kunita talks with firefighters outside the house after the fire was knocked down. This was the chief's last day on the job as he was retiring after 35 years with the department. Tim Olk photo

The Evanston Fire Department website notes that:

On February 20, 2012 Battalion Fire Chief Donald Kunita will retire from the Evanston Fire Department with 35 years of service to the City of Evanston. Chief Kunita started with the Department in 1976 as a Firefighter. In 1979 he became a Paramedic and was promoted to Captain in 1985. He worked as a fire inspector and investigator and was a state certified evidence technician. Kunita rose to the rank of Battalion Chief, commander of the 32 member Shift in 2003.

Fire Chief Greg Klaiber said Chief Kunita has been involved in numerous projects over the course of his career and was hired during a time when the department’s new paramedic program was getting underway. Kunita came on with 9 other recruits, including the department’s first female firefighter. Klaiber said he wants to thank Chief Kunita for his 35 years of dedicated service to the community of Evanston. Kunita recalls many changes in the fire service over the years that included the addition of breathing apparatus, better radio communications and enclosed cabs on vehicles that no longer required firefighters to ride on the outside of apparatus. Many changes to the methods used today and life safety codes have protected the citizens of Evanston and the firefighters that protect those within the community. A generation of firefighters has benefited from Don’s clear and steady leadership throughout his distinguished career Klaiber said.

More photos from the scene will be available HERE.

Tags: Evanston chief spots house fire, Evanston Engine 21, Evanston Fire Department, Evanston Fire Department Battalion Chief Donald Kunita retires, Evanston Lt Bill Muno, Evanston Truck 22, house fire on Elmwood in Evanston, Tim Olk

CFD historical apparatus images

Feb 21

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus | 5 Comments

Bill Freidrich will be offering a new posting segment from time to time

I will be starting to send various vehicles to feature in a “Down Memory Lane” segment. First up is Truck 14. Other truck Companies that had identical rigs were as follows:

Truck 32 EF-212 after Truck 14 got a new rig.

Truck 41 EF-211

Truck 42 EF-213

Truck 53 EF-214

Truck 54 EF-215

Not sure which one was used in the movie Backdraft.