Archive for April, 2013

4th Alarm house fire in Wadsworth 4-30-13

***9:20PM short video added – click SP-video link

 

This from Scott Peterson:

1st & 2nd Floor hvy involvement & thru roof on arrival.  No hydrants all porta-tanks. Once enough help got there large water supply   maintained. Homeowner was reportedly cooking on the back porch when something happened with the propane.

More to follow later in week.

Scott 

SP-video
house gutted by fire in Wadsworth IL

Scott Peterson photo

house gutted by fire in Wadsworth IL

Scott Peterson photo

house gutted by fire in Wadsworth IL

Scott Peterson photo

house gutted by fire in Wadsworth IL

Scott Peterson photo

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Bloomingdale switches to Ducomm North

This from Chris Ranck:

Subject: (CARMA) Ducom fire north

Bloomingdale fd switched over to ducom this morning hearing new rig numbers medic 23 in route do not know what station thats coming out of after 11:00 am.

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New engines for Joliet (more)

updated cab photos of the new engine for Joliet Station 8

Cab for Joliet Engine 8 after being painted. Fire Service, Inc. photo

other progress photos are HERE

thanks Martin

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New ambulance for Manteno

Martin Nowak found this on the Fire Service Inc. Facebook page:

Manteno Fire Protection District

New Road Rescue ambulance for Manteno FPD. Fire Service Inc. photo

Manteno Fire Protection District

Type I ambulance on a Ford F-450 chassis. Fire Service Inc. photo

Manteno Fire Protection District

Interior of new ambulance. Fire Service Inc. photo

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Chicago house fire 4-29-13

This from Dan Shevlin:

Location : 64th & Bishop
Still Time : Approx 1015
1 1/2 story frame with fire in the attic .  I believe the report was that this was a vacant house . Fire was out when i arrived .
house fire in Chicago

Dan Shevlin photo

house fire in Chicago

Dan Shevlin photo

house fire in Chicago

Dan Shevlin photo

house fire in Chicago

Dan Shevlin photo

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Chicago apartment building fire 4-29-13

This from Dan Shevlin:

2500blk of Marquette
Still Time : Approx 1030
Thanks to the engineer of 116 (on Laflin) who caught my attention to let me know that there was smoke on Marquette . So I took a ride .  2 story courtard building, occupied, rubbish on the back porch.
Thanks Dan Shevlin

 

firefighter on fire truck

Dan Shevlin photo

Chicago Tower Ladder 39

Dan Shevlin photo

Chicago FD spare engine

Dan Shevlin photo

fireman with lots of hose

Dan Shevlin photo

Chicago FD battalion chief

Dan Shevlin photo

Chicago FD Engine 88

Dan Shevlin photo

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Chicago 3-11 Alarm fire 4-29-13

This from the Chicago Tribune:

Chicago firefighters battled a smoky extra-alarm fire in a large abandoned one-story factory building in the Park Manor neighborhood this afternoon.

The 3-11 alarm fire was declared under control at 1:15 p.m., said Chicago Fire Department Chief Kevin MacGregor.

Crews were called to the building at 6800 South Cottage Grove Avenue about 12:14 p.m. A 3-11 alarm was called at the abandoned 200-foot-by-200-foot one-story building about 12:40 p.m.

This from CFD media:

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

3-11 Alarm Fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

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Chicago FD Turret Wagon History 6-7-3 (pt20)

The final installment from Jack Connors of the Chicago FD turret wagon history. Images in this article feature 6-7-3, Big John at various locations in the city; a display, a parade, and at two fire scenes.

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 Big John

On display in October of 1974 in the Civic Centre Plaza for fire prevention week. Jack Connors photo

Chicago Fire Department fire trucks

Big John at Engine 42’s house in April of 1974 with Engine 42 and Truck 3. Jack Connors photo

In this photo at Engine 42’s house on Illinois, Big John sits with engine 42 and Truck 3, both built by American LaFrance. This and only one other house in Chicago matched an American LaFrance engine and truck together. The other pair was Engine 112 with Truck 21.

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 Big John

Standing by at a fire scene. Jack Connors photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 Big John

In the fire prevention parade, October of 1970. Jack Connors photo

On July 7, 1970, a 5-11 Alarm fire at 1750 N. Ashland Avenue resulted in the death of CFD Firefighter John Walsh when a wall fell onto a Snorkel. These next two images show Big John (6-7-3) deployed at that fire.

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 Big John

The fire was at 1750 N. Ashland Avenue, a 5-11 which caused the LODD of CFD FF John Walsh. Larry Walsh photo

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 Big John

Big John deployed in July of 1970 at a 5-11 Alarm fire where CFD FF John Walsh was killed. Larry Walsh photo

From the Chicago Park District website:

Walsh Park occupies the former site of a vacant building destroyed in a spectacular and deadly fire on July 7, 1970. Firefighter John P. Walsh, Jr. (1923-1970), for whom this West Town park is named, died five weeks after being critically injured while fighting the stubborn blaze. Walsh had served as a United States Marine before joining the Chicago Fire Department in 1951. He had been assigned to Hook & Ladder Company 44. Several months after Walsh’s death, the Dana Civic Organization requested that the Chicago Park District develop the fire-scarred site as a neighborhood park. The park district had acquired the 2-acre property by the end of 1972, with the help of grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Improvements began the following year. The 2-acre park includes playground equipment, an athletic field, basketball hoops, and a sand box.

From the Illinois Fire Service Institute:

NAME: John Walsh
AGENCY: Chicago Fire Department
RANK: Firefighter TYPE OF FIREFIGHTER:Career
AGE RANGE: 46 to 50 GENDER: Male
DATE OF DEATH: 8/16/1970 DATE OF BIRTH:Unknown
CAUSE OF DEATH: Struck by object   
NATURE OF DEATH: Trauma   
ATTRIBUTE OF DEATH: [not applicable]
TYPE OF DUTY: Aerial apparatus operations  Firefighting operations   Hose operations  
INCIDENT CITY:Chicago INCIDENT STATE: IL
DATE OF INCIDENT: 7/6/1970
TIME OF INCIDENT: Unknown
INCIDENT LOCATION TYPE:Vacant property   
INCIDENT ATTRIBUTE:Structural collapses     Fires    
INCIDENT SUMMARY:On July 6, 1970, Chicago Fire Department Firefighter John “Jack” Walsh, Jr., was fatally injured when a seven-story wall collapsed during a fire at a vacant building on N. Ashland Avenue. Walsh and Firefighter Edward Werderitch were operating hose lines several stories above the street in a snorkel basket when the wall collapsed on them. Walsh was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital intensive care unit where he was treated for multiple skull and internal injuries. He died five weeks later on August 16, 1970, as a result of the injuries he sustained at the scene.Citations:“Wall Falls; Two Firemen Hurt,” Chicago Tribune, July 8, 1970.

Philip Caputo, “Smoke Hides Fear of a Tough Fireman,” Chicago Tribune, July 9, 1970.

Robert Unger, “Wall Cave-In Injury Kills City Fireman,” Chicago Tribune, August 17, 1970.

“Mass Planned Tomorrow for City Fireman,” Chicago Tribune, August 18, 1970.

Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3 Big John

On display at the Chicago Fire Academy. photographer and date unknown

The beginning of this series can be found HERE.

Previous articles on Big John are HERE and HERE.

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FDIC 2013 wrap up

More image submissions of the Chicago area units that were on display at the 2013 FDIC in Indianapolis.

From Dylan Konchan:

Here are pictures from the FDIC of Alsip’s new light bar and Berwyn’s new ambulance

 

Wheeled Coach ambulance

Dylan Konchan photo

Wheeled Coach ambulance

Dylan Konchan photo

2013 FDIC display

Dylan Konchan photo

2013 FDIC display

Dylan Konchan photo

From Tyler Tobolt:

Berwyn’s new Wheeled Coach ambulance, Ambulance 906. Also Marseilles’ new Alexis Engine 531 , here are the specs for the engine http://www.alexisfire.com/FireEquipment/NewDeliveries/Marseilles2162/index.html

and a few pictures of the engine

 

2013 FDIC exhibits

Tyler Tobolt photo

2013 FDIC exhibits

Tyler Tobolt photo

2013 FDIC exhibits

Tyler Tobolt photo

2013 FDIC exhibits

Tyler Tobolt photo

2013 FDIC exhibits

Tyler Tobolt photo

2013 FDIC exhibits

Tyler Tobolt photo

 

From Larry Shapiro:

view of the exhibits in the stadium

 

FDIC 2013 Lukas Oil stadium

2013 FDIC Stadium exhibits. Larry Shapiro photo

 

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McCook Box Alarm 4-27-13

This from Erik Haak:

At 1950hrs on Saturday, April 27th, the McCook Fire Department was paged out to the report of an explosion occurring at a metal grinding company at 4828 S. Lawndale.  First arriving companies confirmed smoke showing from the A and D sides at 1954hrs and elevated the response to a full still.   The fire was contained in the 125 x 325 1-story rear section of the complex which included several additions that were not involved.  At 2012hrs, command pulled MABAS Division 10 Box #14-01 after companies reported heavy smoke conditions in the interior.  Several aerials were used to combat the slow burning fire that had melted through fiberglass portions of the roof.  Riverside Truck 1629 operated from the northeast corner of the building and within the complex’s fenced-in lot.  It’s aerial can be seen raised in several of the photos.  Brookfield Truck 419 operated an aerial from the southeast corner and was set up on Lawndale.  Bedford Park Truck 705 operated a stream from inside the complex on the south side of the building.  Pleasantview Truck 1519 operated a master stream from the northwest corner of the complex and was set up on Clyde Terrace.  Tri-State Truck 529 was set up off of the Joliet Road side of the building but never raised their aerial.  Lyons Squad 1316 lit up the east side of the building where most of the fireground activity occurred.  McCook Engine 1416 can also be seen supplying water to Riverside’s Truck as well as several handlines.  Images pictured were taken approximately one hour into the incident.
Bedford Park FD Snorkel

Bedford Park FD Snorkel. Erik Haak photo

Brookfield FD Truck 419

Brookfield FD Truck 419. Erik Haak photo

Lyons FD Squad 1316

Lyons Squad 1316. Erik Haak photo

McCook FD Engine 1416

McCook Engine 1416. Erik Haak photo

Pleasantview FD Truck 1519

Pleasantview Truc 1519. Erik Haak photo

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