Archive for October 1st, 2012

Trailer fire in Oak Lawn

Oct 1

Posted by bgshap in Fire, Fire Department News, Reader submission | 1 Comment

This from Thomas Grzadziel:

“Shortly after 1AM in Oak Lawn, took a few pics of a semi trailer fire next to the building at the Salvation Army Thrift Store located at 8732 S. Cicero Ave. Oak Lawn Central dispatched a structure response as a precaution for possible extension into the large strip mall. The trailer was located in the rear loading dock and luckily did not communicate into the structure. Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, and Hometown companies handled.”

Thomas Grzadziel photo

Tags: Oak Lawn FIre Department, Thomas Grzadziel, truck trailer fire in Oak Lawn

Chicago 5-11 Alarm 9-30-12 (update 1)

Oct 1

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos, Firefighting Video | 9 Comments

Steve Redick submitted a video with radio traffic from Sunday morning’s 5-11 and Level I at 2620 W. Nelson. Steve was at the scene for 5 hours.

19 engines were pumping at the scene (106, 91, 76, 78, 112, 124, 43, 110, 56, 55, 57, 59, 14, 30, 22, 26, 44, 94, 69) along with master streams from three tower ladders (10, 21, 23), two Snorkels (S2A, 6-1-1) and seven multi-versals.

Larry Shapiro submitted several images from the fire having spent 8 hours at the scene.

5-11 Alarm fire in a commercial warehouse in Chicago 9-30-12 on Nelson

Firefighters from Squad 2 cut into an overhead door for access to the exposure building. Larry Shapiro photo

Fire blows out of a window on the west side of the building as Tower Ladder 10 maneuvers into position to hit the flames. Larry Shapiro photo

After a vertical collapse of three floors, heavy fire silhouettes the remaining wall as master streams are directed at the flames from the alley and a neighboring building. Larry Shapiro photo

Thick smoke pushes out of the upper floors of the building on the south side as Tower Ladder 10 works it’s way across the face. Larry Shapiro photo

Tower Ladder 23 and Squad 2A prepare to put elevated master streams into operation. Larry Shapiro photo

Squad 2A and Tower Ladder 23 work along the east side of the four-story building. Larry Shapiro photo

Several of Chicago’s specialty units were deployed at this fire scene including 6-6-1 (the 1982 85′ reserve Snorkel), turret wagon 6-7-6 out of Engine 104’s house, 9-2-4 (the MVU), hose wagon 6-1-2, 5-1-2 from O’Hare, 5-7-2 from Engine 68’s house, and 2-7-2. (9-1-3 was at the scene but not utilized)

5-11 Alarm fire in a commercial warehouse in Chicago 9-30-12 on Nelson Snorkel

Reserve Snorkel 1 out of Engine 35’s house was brought to the scene. Larry Shapiro photo

A Level I haz mat was requested so that this soap-like solution bubbling out of the sewer could be analyzed. Larry Shapiro photo

5-1-2 responded in the spare haz mat unit as painted and lettered for the tv show being filmed in Chicago. Larry Shapiro photo

The large number of master streams being deployed required in-line pumping operations down Elston Avenue to the southeast, and another originating on Belmont and traveling down Rockwell to Engine 78. Larry Shapiro photo

Hose Wagon 6-1-2 came with Engine 26 who anchored an in-line operation with four other engines. Larry Shapiro photo

Two tower ladders and three multi-versals continued to work along Nelson after a large section of the wall collapsed. Larry Shapiro photo

Barry Avenue in the rear of the fire scene looked like a small lake as the water runoff overwhelmed the sewer system seven hours into the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Eight hours into the operation, the fire burned through a section of the roof that was still intact after master streams were shut down to allow the fire to vent itself. Larry Shapiro photo

Four large-diameter lines fed Turret Wagon 6-7-6 so that both guns could be deployed to try knocking down some of the exterior walls for better access to the remaining fire.

Turret Wagon 6-7-6 came all the way from Engine 104’s quarters since 6-7-3 (the north side turret wagon) was out of service. Somewhat of a rare image here as the unit sees very little service. Larry Shapiro photo

A large gallery of images can be found HERE.

We look forward to images from Tim Olk who was at the fire scene for 12 hours including the initial building demolition by a wrecking company.

Tags: 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, Chicago firefighters battle massive fire, firefighting video, Larry Shapiro, major warehouse fire on Nelson in Chicago, Steve Redick, Tim Olk, video of firefighting operations

Barrington Village and Fire District Agree to Split

Oct 1

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | 1 Comment

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the Barrington & Countryside FPD and the Village of Barrington end their relationship:

The village of Barrington and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District have agreed to terminate their relationship.

The village cited lingering disagreements with the fire district regarding the purchase of equipment and the hiring of additional personnel.

“It appears to us that the village has a significantly different vision from the district’s as to how the village should provide the best and most reliable fire protection and EMS services to the residents in the most cost-effective manner,” a Sept. 24 village letter states.

Tom Rowan, president of the Barrington Countryside district’s board, said the disagreement concerned equipment, including a 3,000-gallon tanker that would serve as a backup to the 2,000-gallon tanker the fire district is currently using. Rowan said the additional tanker is necessary because it can provide for a larger amount of water needed to extinguish house and building fires.

The village’s letter, which was delivered Sept. 25, was a response to the fire district’s Sept. 10 letter to the village stating that its board had voted unanimously to terminate the agreement with the village. The district cited the disagreement on purchasing the new tanker, as well as the village’s refusal to grant the district ability to hire additional personnel.

The fire protection district covers more than 40 square miles surrounding Barrington, including Lake Barrington, North Barrington, parts of the Lake Zurich border and parts of Inverness in Cook County.

The contract between the village and the district was set to expire at the end of next year. During the next 15 months, officials said, both sides will plan on how they will operate separately in the future.

“We’ve been talking to other districts about possibly partnering in the future,” said Rowan. “We’re keeping our options open.”

The entire article can be found HERE.

thanks Scott

Tags: Barrington & Countryside Fire Protection District, Barrington Fire Department, Barrington FPD terminates their contract with the Village of Barrington, fire district and village split in Barrington

Lemont FPD is added to the site

Oct 1

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos, New Listing, Site News | 1 Comment

Lemont Fire Protection District Headquarters fire station

Lemont Fire Protection District Headquarters Station 1. Larry Shapiro photo

The Lemont Fire Protection District in MABAS Division 10 has been added to the site. Karl Klotz and Larry Shapiro recently photographed the entire fleet and the four fire stations. Lemont runs two Crimson engines, one Ferrara rescue engine, and a Pierce quint. Each of the four stations has a Type I style ambulance featuring two Fords, a Navistar, and a Freightliner chassis with boxes by Medtec and McCoy Miller.

Lemont Fire Protection District Truck 949