Jul 28
From Ron Wolkoff:
West Chicago Fire Protection District: top-mount Ferrara pumper with an Igniter cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon tank; 30-gallon foam cell.
Cicero Fire Department: Pierce 100-foot aerial quint with a Dash CF cab and chassis; Detroit DD13 500-hp engine; UPF Poly 300-gallon tank; PUC 1,500-gpm pump.
This from Dieterich Herndobler:
I found this picture of Calumet Park’s new E-One engine on the web.
photographer unknown
Excerpts from the NorthwestHerald.com:
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District will get a new fire chief in August from within its own ranks.
The district’s board voted Wednesday to promote Assistant Fire Chief Peter Van Dorpe to fire chief. Van Dorpe said he agreed to replace retiring Fire Chief Patrick Mullen knowing that he has a strong team to lead and some financial hurdles to overcome.
Van Dorpe will be in charge of the approximately 66 part- and full-time firefighters and staff. He sees his biggest challenge as managing the fluctuating costs of health insurance because of changes in the Affordable Care Act. He said rates could change by 20 percent to 30 percent, which would affect the agency’s $9 million budget.
Trustees had Van Dorpe pegged as the next chief when he became assistant fire chief in October 2013 after 33 years with the Chicago Fire Department.
Van Dorpe’s salary for his first nine months on the job will be $93,517. His salary will increase to $127,300 on May 1 and will continue at that rate until April 30, 2018. At that point, Van Dorpe and district trustees can negotiate a new salary, according to his two-and-a-half-year contract.
Van Dorpe will receive five weeks of vacation time from August to May, and six weeks in 2016. Starting May 1, Van Dorpe will receive 10 sick days. He also is allowed three personal days a year. The district also will contribute 6 percent to a retirement health care account and pay for his health and life insurance, the contract states. The deal also provides Van Dorpe with a vehicle to use for official purposes.
Mullen announced he was retiring for personal reasons and has been chief for two years. Van Dorpe has started searching for his replacement within the department, and plans to promote from within the ranks.
Jul 27
From a reader in Austria:
Hello. I must apologize for my English, it’s not really good 🙂My wife is a very enthusiastic firefighter. You make this work in our country without payment.She likes everything related to the fire department. Especially she likes the fire department in America. I would therefore like to give her a flight to America, looking for fire station where we can visit.Of course, she is a big fan of Chicago Fire so I try it with you. You would make her a very, very great pleasure if we could come visit you.Because I want to give it to her as a gift, it would be incredibly nice if you perhaps a video invitation or make like can.It would be great if you could fulfill that dream.Thank you so much already in advance.Sven FindeisParamedicVorarlberg – Austriasven.findeis@gmail.com
To whom it may concern,I’ve enjoyed seeing the historical photos posted on the Chicago Area Fire site. While researching my family history, I’ve come across some interesting photos. I recently received advice about sending them here to get some expert opinions. I am trying to figure out the date and other details for these photos (3 attached). Based on what I know about my great-grandfather’s years of service, I believe these 3 photos may depict firemen between 1918 and 1924. This assumption is based on the the fact that his fireman’s badge has 1918 inscribed on it, and that he was in the Curran Hall Fire of 1924. Possibly the men shown in the photos are from Engine Company 5.I am not very knowledgeable about the uniforms and engines and other details from this period, so I’m wondering whether anyone who may have expertise and may be able to offer some additional insights.Thank you,Anne
Fire truck 1920s
Fireman 1920s possibly Capt John Brennen
Historical group photo
Additional images from Tim Olk of Chicago’s 2-11 Alarm fire on 7-24-15
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
This from Eric Haak:
Here are some images of a working fire in Gary, Indiana on Saturday (7/25) afternoon. The still came in around 1:45 pm and was out in ten minutes. The image of Truck 1 was taken exactly 10 minutes after Engine 4 (marked 5) landed.
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
Unionized employees of the West Dundee Fire Department are considering a three-year contract with the village that promises a 2.5 percent raise the first year and 2 percent raises the second and third years, Fire Chief Randy Freise said.
The village board unanimously approved the deal earlier this week. Officials are waiting for ratification from the seven full-time employees in the West Dundee Professional Firefighters union, Local 4882 of the International Association of Firefighters, Freise said.
The union members will vote on the deal early next week, said Union President James Amos, adding that he is happy with the outcome of the contract, which extends from May 1, 2015, to April 30, 2018,
Conversations for the new agreement began in January, Freise said, and the two parties were able to work out the contract in a timely fashion without involving outside attorneys.
This is the second employee contract for the fire department. The first contract, which was ratified in 2013, took nearly two years to develop, Freise said, because both the village and the union wanted to lay the groundwork for future deals. The difference between the two contracts is subtle, Amos said. Parts of the contract, for example, were tweaked slightly to account for minor procedural changes made within the department, Freise said.
thanks Dan
More images from the 2-11 Alarm fire at 128 N. Campbell 7/24/15.
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
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For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
