Archive for February 28th, 2013

Area fire department receive grant money

Feb 28

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | Comments off

From the Associated Press

Six fire departments across Illinois will split nearly $300,000 in federal grants aimed at improving response to fires and other emergencies.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced the grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Since 2001, the grants have provided about $5.25 billion to first-responder organizations. The money has been used for training, vehicles and to help departments purchase personal protective equipment.

Among the Illinois departments receiving funds this year are Westchester Fire Department in suburban Chicago, LaSalle Fire Department in central Illinois and the Elkville Fire Department, in the southern part of the state.

Tags: Federal Grant, federal grant money for Westchester Fire Deprtment, grant money for Westchester Fire, US Senator Dick Durbin

Aurora FD apparatus photos

Feb 28

Posted by Admin in Fire Truck photos | 5 Comments

Aurora FD apparatus photos from Christopher T. Holmes

Christopher T. Holmes photo

Tags: Aurora Fire Department, Christopher T. Holmes, fire engine pictures, fire truck photos, photos, pictures of fire trucks

Bolingbrook to eliminate fire chief position

Feb 28

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 3 Comments

This from a reader:

Thought this might be of interest to the Chicago Area Fire readers. Bolingbrook will remove the fire chief position from their budget beginning May 1st, 2013 and current police chief Kevin McCarthy will become the public safety director. Bolingbrook laid off 3 firefighters a few years ago, I’m not sure if it’s related or if there are still budget issues.

Thank you for the website, I really enjoy visiting and learning more about the fire service in the process.

This from WJOL.com:

Bolingbrook Combining Fire and Police Departments

In Bolingbrook, some readjustments are being made that involve a couple of “two departments into one” situations. The police and fire departments are going to be combined into a PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT, with current Police Chief Kevin McCarthy serving as Director of Public Safety. Current Fire Chief Dave Litton has been dropped from the new city budget. Mayor Roger Claar says he did initiate this effort, and simply felt THE TIME HAD COME.

A deputy fire chief AND a deputy police chief will report to McCarthy. Claar says ANOTHER CHANGE to be made is rolling the public works and community development departments together.

The changes will take place when the new budget takes over on May 1st.

thanks SP

Tags: Bolingbrook combining police and fire administration, Bolingbrook eliminating fire chief position, Bolingbrook Fire Chief Dave Litton, Bolingbrook Fire Department