Archive for May 6th, 2013

CFD and women settle lawsuit

This is from an article in the Chicago Tribune about a lawsuit settlement between the Chicago Fire Department and more than 100 women:

About 138 women who were denied jobs with the Chicago Fire Department following a test seven years ago will have a chance to reapply to be a firefighter on Monday after reaching an agreement with the city in a federal class-action lawsuit.

The women were part of a group of 187 who had passed the written test in 2006 but were later denied jobs because they failed the department’s physical abilities test. Close to 50 of the original applicants no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

In 2011, Samantha Vasich, one of the rejected female candidates, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Chicago, alleging the test was unfair to women because it placed too much emphasis on strength rather than firefighting skills.

Last month, the city agreed to use the Candidate Physical Ability Test, a more accurate test developed by the International Association of Firefighters, to assess the rejected women candidates for the next two firefighter classes, said Marni Willenson, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs.

“It’s a vast improvement over what was there,” Willenson said.

Under the new agreement, women who were denied jobs and who pass the new test will be given first priority.

Those who are not granted jobs, no longer want to apply or are ineligible will share about $2 million in damages, said Willenson.

The entire article is HERE.

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What’s new … CFD

This from Erik Haak:

This is an update to Dennis McGuire’s post from April 20th.  The vehicle that Dennis had photographed is no longer parked outside the building and now this was parked behind the fabrication shops when I drove past Sunday afternoon.  I don’t know which turret wagon this is, but its location behind the shops would seem to further the idea that the new rig will be some sort of deluge unit.

 

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon 6-7-6

CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 parked at the City of Chicago Fabrication Shops. Erik Haak photo

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Some fire truck history … Jeeps

Martin Nowak found this website The FC Connection, all about the life of the Jeep FC series (forward control). Among their historical postings are several units from the Chicago area. Click on each heading to see the original pages on the FC Connection site.

Tri-State FPD FC-170 DRW 

Tri-State FPD FC Jeep fire engine

from the FC Connection.

Tri-State FPD FC Jeep fire engine

from the FC Connection.

FC Jeeps in the Chicago Fire Department

 

Chicago Jeep Pressure Unit

Chicago FD FC Jeep Pressure unit

from the FC Connection.

More Chicago Fire Department FC Jeeps featured in Popular Science Magazine

historic Chicago FD truck photos

from the FC Connection.

Waukegan Fire Department Forward Control Jeep engine

Waukegan FD FC Jeep

from the FC Connection.

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