Archive for May, 2013

MABAS Division 11 fire trucks

May 29

Posted by Admin in Fire Truck photos | Comments off

This from Dan McInerney:

Last week MABAS Division 11 conducted a division wide Blue Card drill at the Cicero FD training tower. Departments from Division 11 performed basic fireground activities with an emphasis on radio protocol. The rain and clouds didn’t make for great pictures but I managed to grab a few.

NRIV T806

North Riverside Truck 806. Dan McInerney photo

FOPK E401

Forest Park Engine 401. Dan McInerney photo

BERW E903

Berwyn Engine 903. Dan McInerney photo

BERW Q901

Berwyn Quint 901 from the rear. Dan McInerney photo

Berwyn Quint 901. Dan McInerney photo

Berwyn T904

Berwyn Truck 904. Dan McInerney photo

CICR Hook and Ladder 2

Cicero Fire Department Ladder 2. Dan McInerney photo

Surburban Cook County EOC center rig. Don’t have a whole lot of info on this one.

Cook County Mobile Command Unit. Dan McInerney photo

Members of CICR E3 operate on the forcible entry simulator

Cicero firefighters working the door prop. Dan McInerney photo

Other images from the drill

Firefighters prepare an entry into the tower. Dan McInerney photo

Two firemen climb the ladder of Berwyn T904. Dan McInerney photo

Several members congregate between evolutions. Dan McInerney photo

Tags: Berwyn Fire Department, Cicero Fire Department, Cicero Fire Department Truck 2, Dan McInerney, E-ONE TDA, fire engine photos, fire engine pictures, fire truck photos, fire truck pictures, Forest Park Fire Department, MABAS Division 11, North Riverside Fire Department, North Riverside Fire Department tower ladder, Pierce Velocity PUC quint, Seagrave fire truck, tillered ladder truck

Stone Park 4-11 Alarm fire 5-28-13

May 28

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service Photos, Fire Truck photos, Firefighters working | 19 Comments

This from Drew Gresik:

Hello everyone,

I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of submissions about this fire, so I’ll keep it short. Here are just a couple of more than 500 photos I took at this job in Stone Park. Fire was in a grocery store with occupied attached apartments, multiple master streams and handlines used. There were a lot of issues with bad hydrants as well, forcing command to request addition engines from many area departments. Thanks again guys.

From,

Drew Gresik

5 alarm massive grocery store fire in Stone Park

Drew Gresik photo

Images from Tim Olk

Tim Olk photo

Tim has a gallery with many more images.

Images from John Tulipano

John Tulipano photo

Chris Ranck sent this link to WGN helicopter footage

The Chicago Tribune has an article on the fire:

No injuries were reported following an extra-alarm fire that broke out in the potato chip aisle of a grocery store in west suburban Stone Park late this morning, authorities said.

The five-alarm blaze started about noon in the 1600 block of North Mannheim Road, according to a spokeswoman for Stone Park police.

As of about 1 p.m., the blaze was mostly out, but smoke and some flames were still visible from the 2-story brick building, which houses the Durango Supermercado on the first level and about four apartments on the upper level.

No injuries have been reported and the blaze burned through its roof, causing a partial collapse of the building.

Thick, black smoke roiled from the building at one point and about 15-20 fire departments remained on the scene.

Firefighters were pouring water on its roof and through one apartment window using two tower ladders. Several onlookers were standing outside gawking and it appeared that all occupants of the building had escaped.

Manager Jose Rivera was in his office doing paperwork when he heard the smoke alarm go off but he said it’s “very sensitive” so he thought it could just have been cooking smoke that activated it.
When he went to check it out, he found the potato chip aisle was on fire, and the chips were burning.

Rivera sprang into action, grabbed the fire extinguisher and tried to put it out.

“I ran for the extinguisher and managed to control it,’’ Rivera said.

He then raced through the rest of the store, telling the eight customers to “drop their possessions and leave,’’ Rivera said.

Rivera went back inside but the fire had worsened and there was nothing left in the extinguisher. Rivera said he knew he had to leave at that point.Fire officials on the scene said they were letting the fire burn, in a “free burn’’ and would not be able to go inside until it was safe.Rivera’s mother, Imelda Rivera, who is the owner of the store, was outside and appeared very shaken up.

Occupants of the second-story apartments on the building’s south side escaped without being hurt.

Rivera does not know what started the blaze.

Fire department officials said they were performing a “free burn’’ and will not go inside until it’s safe.

Tags: 4th alarm fire in Stone Park, Battalion Chief Don Tessler, Bensenville Fire Department, big flames burning through the roof, Drew Gresik, elevated master streams work at extra alarm fire, firefighters deploy elevated master streams, firefighters with hose line, firefighters working at huge fire, grocery store fire spreads to apartments, heavy black smoke at fire scene, Hillside Fire Department, John Tulipano, large commercial fire in Stone Park, massive fire, Maywood Fire Department, Pierce tower ladder working at massive building fire, Pierce Velocity quint, Stone Park Fire Department, Tim Olk

Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD Centennial

May 28

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News | 2 Comments

The Chicago Tribune has an article about the Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD celebrating their centennial:

One hundred years ago, volunteer firefighters in Deerfield had two ways of hauling their “fire cart” to a blaze. They could attach the two-wheeled cart to a horse-drawn buggy — or to a car, if available.

The cart carried a single coil of hose, which unrolled and attached to an onboard water tank, to be replenished at the scene by bucket brigades.

Ambulances from converted hearses would come later. And much later came mobile intensive-care units, literally rolling emergency rooms, linked to hospital ER staffs and central dispatchers, performing EKGs, defibrillation and other life-saving procedures to stricken patients while en route.

May is the centennial month of the formation of the Deerfield volunteer department, which in 1942 became the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District, now with 42 sworn firefighter/paramedics in stations at 500 Waukegan Road in Deerfield and on Illinois Route 22 in Bannockburn.

The two-wheeled cart from the last century has been replaced by a fleet of modern rolling stock, including three pumpers, one aerial ladder truck, two squad trucks, three paramedic ambulances, one command vehicle and five administrative/support vehicles.

The largest vehicle, a 2005 truck, is nearly 13 feet high, 8 feet wide and about 41 feet long. The truck, which can run with as few as two firefighters, cost more than $500,000, with $425,000 coming from a FEMA grant. The replacement cost today would be $1 million.

“Just like all fire departments up here, we are an all-hazards response department,” Fire Chief Ian Kazian said. “So we are cross-staffed with ambulances, paramedics and firefighters. We respond to all calls, so from an operational standpoint, EMS, fire, special rescue, high-angle trench rescue and hazardous materials are daily challenges everybody faces.”

In 2012, medical rescue calls were 56 percent of the total, with fires 3 percent. False alarms accounted for 25 percent of calls.

The entire article is HERE.

Tags: Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District, fire department to celebrate centennial

Area updates from CARMA Chicago

May 28

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | Comments off

From Chris Ranck:

Received credible information that Downers Grove Fire Department is going to Starcomm TG FDSCENT1 as of 5-15-13 at 7am for portables only.
Rig radios still are VHF. Also Westmont Fire will be using it too soon. on the same talkgroup.

(Dave Weaver) posted many behind the scenes photos and videos from the Chicago Fire set including closeups of the Motorola gear on the “Watch Tower” which is the name for the firehouse desk with the computer terminal and portables. NBC actually had a complete replica of CFD Engine 18’s house recreated in a large film studio complex near Mt. Sinai Hospital on the old Ryerson Steel property. There is an antique radio on the bookshelf in Fire Chief Boden’s office which is actually a Simpson marine radio.

These images and videos are available on the Radioman911.com Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/Radioman911

Tags: CARMA Chicago, Chicago Fire Department Engine 18's firehouse, Chicago Fire TV show, Chris Ranck, Dave Weaver, Downers Grove Fire Department, Motorola radios, radioman 911, Ryerson Steel, Simpson marine radio

Libertyville 2nd Alarm Fire 3-27-13 (pt 3)

May 28

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service Photos, Fire Truck photos, Firefighters working, Firefighting Video | Comments off

Third posting about the 2nd Alarm Fire on Memorial Day at the Jamaican Gardens (north) in Libertyville. Here are images from larry Shapiro and a video.

large fire in Libertyville at the Jamaican Gardens nursery

Larry Shapiro photo

A gallery with more of Larry’s images is HERE.

The second article with images from Tim Olk is HERE.

Tags: 2nd Alarm fire in Libertyville, Countryside Fire Protection District, E-ONE engine pumping at fire, elevated master streams work at extra alarm fire, fire engine pumping at fire scene, firefighting video, heavy smoke from commercial building fire, Jamaican Gardens Nursery fire, Lake Bluff Fire Department, Lake Forest Fire Department, Larry Shapiro, Libertyville Fire Department, many departments assist Libertyville for Memorial Day fire, MESS Canteen, multi-versal used at fire scene, Pierce engine pumping, rehab for firefighters, Rosenbauer engine pumping at fire scene, Spartan fire engine at fire scene, tower ladder working at fire, video of firefighting operations, video of large fire

Libertyville 2nd Alarm Fire 3-27-13 (pt 2)

May 27

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service Photos, Firefighters working | Comments off

The second posting on the 2nd alarm fire in Libertyville on Memorial Day includes images from Tim Olk.

Tim Olk photo

A large gallery with more images is HERE.

Tags: 2nd Alarm fire in Libertyville, Countryside Fire Protection District, elevated master streams work at extra alarm fire, fire engine pumping at fire scene, heavy smoke from commercial building fire, Jamaican Gardens Nursery fire, Lake Forest Fire Department, Libertyville Fire Department, many departments assist Libertyville for Memorial Day fire, multi-versal used at fire scene, Pierce engine pumping, Rosenbauer engine pumping at fire scene, Spartan fire engine at fire scene, Tim Olk, tower ladder working at fire

Libertyville 2nd Alarm Fire 3-27-13 (pt 1)

May 27

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Truck photos, Firefighters working, Firefighting Video | 5 Comments

The Libertyville Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the Jamaican Gardens North located at 14595 W. Rockland Road (Route 176). First companies found heavy smoke obscuring visibility on Route 176 and had a significant fire burning on the east end of the property near what was the retail store entrance. An attack was initiated and the fire was upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm.

The business had closed to the public several years ago and was reportedly vacant. Libertyville Tower 461 and Engine 463 were deployed on the eastern side of the property. The fast moving fire quickly spread to additional buildings on the west side, where access was limited. Lake Forest Tower Ladder 421 was positioned on the northern driveway and Countryside Engine 412 was at the northwest corner. As the fire grew in intensity, the alarm was upgraded to a 2nd Alarm bringing additional units to the scene.

A special request was made for the Division 1 MVU out of Wheeling, but the unit was not deployed and subsequently released before the box was struck out.

The two tower ladders deployed master streams in addition to multiple hand lines and two multi-versals. Along with Libertyville Engine 463 and the Countryside engine, Lake Bluff Engine 517 and Knollwood Engine 44 were also pumping. The fire was struck out after roughly three hours.

Other fire departments with companies at the scene were Mundelein, North Chicago, and Lake Zurich with ambulances, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods and Gurnee with rescue squads, Highland Park with a truck, plus Waukegan, Deerfield, and Newport Township with engines. Chief officers came from Countryside, Grayslake, Gurnee, Lake Bluff, and Lake Forest.

Tim Olk, Jeff Rudolph, and Larry Shapiro were at the scene.

This is the first in a three part series covering this fire.

Jeff Rudolph photo

Tags: 2nd Alarm fire in Libertyville, Countryside Fire Protection District, E-ONE engine pumping at fire, elevated master streams work at extra alarm fire, fire engine pumping at fire scene, heavy smoke from commercial building fire, Jamaican Gardens Nursery fire, Jeff Rudolph, Lake Bluff Fire Department, Lake Forest Fire Department, Libertyville Fire Department, many departments assist Libertyville for Memorial Day fire, MESS Canteen, multi-versal used at fire scene, Pierce engine pumping, rehab for firefighters, Rosenbauer engine pumping at fire scene, Spartan fire engine at fire scene, Tim Olk, tower ladder working at fire

Fire departments train in vacant house

May 27

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service Photos, Training | 1 Comment

This from Dennis McGuire, Jr.

The Alsip Fire Department along with the Garden Homes Fire Protection District and the Homewood Acres Fire Protection District had a burn down in Alsip, Illinois at 120th St. and Hamlin Ave.

All of the departments performed numerous small training evolutions in the house before having the final burn down. I arrived towards the end and was able to capture the final wrap up of a month long process.

suburban Chicago fire departments train with vacant house

A Garden Homes FPD captain oversees the garage burn. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

A Homewood Acres engine being used as the primary unit. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Another shot of the Alsip truck covering the house. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Alsip Truck 2014 was used for aerial water coverage.Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

House fully involved. Rocky Golomb photo

Homewood Acres firefighters along with an Alsip firefighter work to pull down the remaining walls. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Homewood Acres firefighters are making an attack on the garage. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Nothing is left of the house. The Homewood Acres engine can be seen in the background. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Overall view of the site. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

The aftermath. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

The Homewood Acres FPD chief looks over the remains of the house and garage. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

The house collapsed into the basement. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Tags: Alsip Fire Department, Dennis McGuire Jr., fire department burn down, fire department training, fire engine at fire scene, firemen burn house for training, firemen train in vacant house, Garden Homes Fire Protection District, Garden Homes Volunteer Fire Department, Homewood Acres Fire Department, Rocky Golumb, Seagrave ladder truck

NFFF video – Charleston Fire Department

May 27

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | 2 Comments

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has produced a video on the changes and transitions in the Charleston, SC Fire Department following the deadly Sofa Store fire which claimed nine Charleston firefighters.

From the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, “Charleston 9: The Ultimate Sacrifice”, looks at the dramatic changes made in the operations of South Carolina’s Charleston Fire Department following the deaths of nine firefighters on June 18, 2007. The video, produced by STATter911 Communications and Greg Guise Media, focuses on how the leadership of the late Chief Tom Carr helped the department recover after such a devastating loss.

Tags: "Charleston 9: The Ultimate Sacrifice", 9 Charleston firefighters killed in fire, Charleston Fire Department, Chief Tom Carr, fire department learns from their losses, LODD, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, NFFF video on the Charleston Fire Department, Sofa Super Store fire

A visitor to Chicago … Houston Fire Boat

May 27

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News, Fire Service Photos | 2 Comments

Tim Olk submitted this image of a brand new fire boat for the Houston Fire Department. making it’s way to Houston, it stopped for the night in Chicago.

A new MetalCraft Marine Firestorm 70 fireboat for Houston stops in Chicago. Tim Olk photo

From the Port of Houston Authority:

World’s Most Advanced Fireboat headed to Houston

HOUSTON — A two-week voyage through four Great Lakes and the Mississippi River will bring to the Port of Houston Authority the first of three high-performance fireboats to replace the current fleet. The new fireboats will equip the Port Authority’s firefighting team with the most sophisticated fleet in the world.

“As the nation’s busiest port in terms of foreign tonnage and home to one of the world’s largest petrochemical complexes, our firefighting team is second to none in protecting this national asset and the many who work here,” said Port Authority Executive Director Len Waterworth. “These new fireboats will strengthen these firefighters’ ability to save lives and property along the 25-mile long Port of Houston.”

The five-member crew includes three from the Port of Houston Authority’s Fire Department. The crew will bring the new craft across Lake Ontario and Lake Erie to Detroit, Mich. (May 22) and then across Lake Huron and Lake Michigan to Chicago, Ill (May 25). From Chicago, the journey continues on the Cumberland River with a stop at Lockport, Ill (May 26). Following the Illinois River, the fireboat sails on to St. Louis, Mo (May 27) and the Mississippi River with four stops on the way to New Orleans, La (May 31): Cape Girardeau, Mo (May 28), Memphis, Tenn. (May 29), Greenville, Miss (May 30), and Baton Rouge, La (May 31). A final stop will be made at Galveston, Texas (June 1) before arriving at the Port of Houston on about June 1, 2013.

To travel along with the new fireboat as it makes its way to Houston, follow posts by the Port Authority on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PortofHouston or on Twitter @Port of_Houston.

The voyage is being made by Port Authority Senior Captain Glenn Hood, a 14-year veteran of the fire department, and Engine Operators Robert Lacour and Vic Vasquez, each with 10 years at the Port Authority. These professionals are members of highly trained firefighters and Hazardous Materials Response Teams. The firefighters are certified by the state of Texas as structural, marine, HazMat, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). All pilots and captains are licensed U.S. Coast Guard mariners.

The Port of Houston Fire Department currently operates four fire stations strategically stationed along the Houston Ship Channel. The personnel and equipment fight marine and land fires and respond to other emergencies in the upper ship channel.

The ship will be piloted by Captain Ron Peddle, an owner of MetalCraft Marine with 32 years of experience piloting ships and 34 years of building boats.

The Firestorm 70
The new Firestorm 70 is a state-of-the-art command center and high speed response vessel. Built by MetalCraft Marine, each fireboat has powerful quad diesel inboard engines to propel the vessel at a swift 45 knots top speed. The current fleet clocks in at 14 and 16 knots. Such an improvement in speed is important when providing fire protection for the 25-mile long Port of Houston. The new fireboats are very maneuverable, can make quick stops and change direction within three boat lengths.

Part firehouse, part fireboat, the vessel enables the crew to stay on station for extended periods. The cabin includes a primary care berth with four secondary berths in the cuddy. Portable berths can be positioned in the aft equipment cabin to handle the injured at an incident.

Four firefighting pumps can produce flow meter results of 13,600 gallons per minute (GPM) at 150 pounds per square inch (PSI) and 17,000 GPM at 130 PSI and stream up to 450 feet with a roof mounted Stang monitor. This is three times the discharge rate of any of the current Port Authority fireboats. As a shore hydrant, the FireStorm 70 can pump an impressive 7,000 GPM at 70 PSI through 1000 feet of hose from a 5” Storz outlet before staging pumps are required.

Each fireboat is 70’10” long with a breadth of 22’10” and a draft of 34 inches. Funds for these vessels come mostly from federal grants to replace the three aging fireboats commissioned in 1973 and 1983.

“The entire MetalCraft team is honored to have been given this contract by the Port of Houston Authority,” said Michael Allen, General Manager of MetalCraft Marine. “Under the guidance of Project Manager Jay Milner and Design Manager Ryan Hunter, our team of craftsmen put in over 20,000 hours to build this industry leading fast response Firestorm 70.

“During the build process, we worked closely with many people from the Port of Houston Authority and got to know them well. It is obvious that they take great pride in their very important roles and we are proud to be building our most well equipped Firestorm for them. Our goal is to provide the perfect boat for each of our customers, and we hope the Port of Houston Authority feels we have succeeded.”

MetalCraft Marine is a fully integrated designer and manufacturer of custom high performance fire, rescue, patrol, research, and other specialized work boats. The business was established in 1987 and MetalCraft Marine is now a leader in the design and manufacturing of aluminum water-jet propelled craft with over 550 hulls built to date. The firm’s customers include the US Coast Guard, US Navy, and Panama Canal Authority.

Images of the new fireboat can be downloaded here.

More from MarineLog.com:

New fireboat starts delivery voyage to Houston

MAY 22, 2013 — The first of three high performance fireboats has started a two-week voyage from Kingston, Ontario, shipbuilder Metalcraft Marine through four Great Lakes and the Mississippi River to the Port of Houston. The new boats will equip the Port Authority’s firefighting team with what it says will be the most sophisticated fireboat fleet in the world.

“As the nation’s busiest port in terms of foreign tonnage and home to one of the world’s largest petrochemical complexes, our firefighting team is second to none in protecting this national asset and the many who work here,” said Port Authority Executive Director Len Waterworth. “These new fireboats will strengthen these firefighters’ ability to save lives and property along the 25-mile long Port of Houston.”

The five-member delivery crew includes three from the Port of Houston Authority’s Fire Department. The crew will bring the new craft across Lake Ontario and Lake Erie to Detroit, Mich. (May 22) and then across Lake Huron and Lake Michigan to Chicago, Ill (May 25). From Chicago, the journey continues on the Cumberland River with a stop at Lockport, Ill (May 26). Following the Illinois River, the fireboat sails on to St. Louis, Mo (May 27) and the Mississippi River with four stops on the way to New Orleans, La (May 31): Cape Girardeau, Mo (May 28), Memphis, Tenn. (May 29), Greenville, Miss (May 30), and Baton Rouge, La (May 31). A final stop will be made at Galveston, Texas (June 1) before arriving at the Port of Houston on about June 1, 2013.

The voyage is being made by Port Authority Senior Captain Glenn Hood, a 14-year veteran of the fire department, and Engine Operators Robert Lacour and Vic Vasquez, each with 10 years at the Port Authority. The three are members of highly trained firefighters and Hazardous Materials Response Teams. The firefighters are certified by the state of Texas as structural, marine, HazMat, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). All pilots and captains are licensed U.S. Coast Guard mariners.

The Port of Houston Fire Department currently operates four fire stations strategically stationed along the Houston Ship Channel. The personnel and equipment fight marine and land fires and respond to other emergencies in the upper ship channel.

The ship will be piloted by Captain Ron Peddle, an owner of MetalCraft Marine with 32 years of experience piloting ships and 34 years of building boats.

The boat has been built to Metalcraft Marine’s new Firestorm 70 design and is is a state-of-the-art command center and high speed response vessel.

The new fireboats have powerful quad diesel inboard engines to give them a 45 knots top speed. The current fleet clocks in at 14 and 16 knots. Such an improvement in speed is important when providing fire protection for the 25-mile long Port of Houston.

The new fireboats are very maneuverable, can make quick stops and change direction within three boat lengths.

Part firehouse, part fireboat, the vessel enables the crew to stay on station for extended periods. The cabin includes a primary care berth with four secondary berths in the cuddy. Portable berths can be positioned in the aft equipment cabin to handle the injured at an incident.

Four firefighting pumps can produce flow meter results of 13,600 gallons per minute (GPM) at 150 pounds per square inch (PSI) and 17,000 GPM at 130 PSI and stream up to 450 feet with a roof mounted Stang monitor. This is three times the discharge rate of any of the current Port Authority fireboats. As a shore hydrant, the Firestorm 70 can pump an impressive 7,000 GPM at 70 PSI through 1000 feet of hose from a 5″ Storz outlet before staging pumps are required.

Each fireboat is 70 ft 10 in long with a breadth of 22 ft 10 in and a draft of 34 in. Funds for these vessels come mostly from federal grants to replace the three aging fireboats commissioned in 1973 and 1983.

“The entire MetalCraft team is honored to have been given this contract by the Port of Houston Authority,” said Michael Allen, General Manager of MetalCraft Marine. “Under the guidance of Project Manager Jay Milner and Design Manager Ryan Hunter, our team of craftsmen put in over 20,000 hours to build this industry leading fast response Firestorm 70.

“During the build process, we worked closely with many people from the Port of Houston Authority and got to know them well. It is obvious that they take great pride in their very important roles and we are proud to be building our most well equipped Firestorm for them. Our goal is to provide the perfect boat for each of our customers, and we hope the Port of Houston Authority feels we have succeeded.”

MetalCraft Marine is a leader in the design and manufacturing of aluminum water-jet propelled craft with over 550 hulls built to date. The firm’s customers include the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and Panama Canal Authority.