Archive for August, 2015

New fire station for Pingree Grove FPD

Excerpts from theChicagoTribune.com:

On Saturday, residents joined firefighters from the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District at an open house to celebrate its new, state-of-the-art facility at 1600 Reinking Road. The 12,700-square-foot fire station cost $3.7 million. It has a lobby that is open 24 hours a day; a community room that can be reserved by residents and non-profit organizations; a decontamination space; a house tower; a fitness facility; a kitchen; a rec room; and sleeping quarters.

“We wanted to let the community know that we are here,” said Lieutenant Scott Fehrman, a 33-year veteran of the district.

The Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District services unincorporated Kane County, an area less than 50 square miles that includes: Plato Township and parts of Rutland, Campton and Elgin Townships, Fehrman said. The new station will replace Fire House #2 at Route 20 and Reinking Road, an outdated, more than half a century’s old facility that only held vehicles. Originally run by volunteer firefighters, it didn’t have a kitchen or place to sleep.

It became even more evident a new station was needed when call volume began to increase with the 2005 opening of the Cambridge Lakes Subdivision and, two years later, Carillon, a gated retirement community, Fehrman said.

About 10 years ago, the fire district began setting aside money each year for the new facility, Trustee Todd Harris said, noting that it’s fully paid for now.

Fire Station #3 will offer residents CPR classes, free blood pressure screenings, and, for citizens with medical conditions or the inability to reach the front door quickly, the Knox Box Rapid Entry System, Fehrman said. Attached to homes, the secure black boxes contain house keys and medical information, and allow firefighters to gain entrance into residences quickly, without damaging property. The boxes can only be accessed by firefighters with a master key.

Looking back on the district’s history, Harris said that in 1936, the area was served by a volunteer fire department. Firefighters received calls at home and stopped by the station for equipment, taking from 8 to 15 minutes to arrive at the scene. He said the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District wasn’t founded until 1957, with ambulance service added in 1975. Today, the district operates two fire stations — the new one and an existing location at Plank Road and Route 20 — each staffed with three firefighter EMTs, Fehrman said. Unlike the old days, he said firefighters can arrive at the scene within minutes.

thanks Dan

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2 dead and 5 injured at haz mat incident near Des Plaines 8-27-15 (more)

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

The two people who died in a hazardous materials emergency near Des Plaines have been identified as two men, one 83 and the other 53, authorities said Friday morning.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office listed their names as Hong Kyqkim, 53, and John Tae Kim, 83. They both lived in the townhouse in the 9400 block of Harrison Street where the emergency was called around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

A woman in the home was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and four sheriff’s deputies who responded to the call experienced respiratory “difficulties” and were treated at a hospital and released, authorities said.

A relative of the victims called 911 to report three people in distress Thursday afternoon. The two men were dead on the scene, according to Richard Dobrowski, chief of the North Maine Fire Protection District.

The woman in the home was listed in critical condition Thursday night, according to a sheriff’s office spokeswoman.

Authorities evacuated the townhouse complex but later allowed most residents to return and reopened the area to traffic. The complex is near Potter Road in unincorporated Maine Township, near Apollo School.

Authorities have not elaborated on the nature of the hazardous materials emergency. Authorities said oxygen levels in the air appeared to be normal, and nothing unusual was detected in the water supply.

Thursday evening, after ruling out certain contaminants, crews were allowed back into the townhome without full protective gear, though residents of three units in the same building were still kept out of their homes.

injured police officers being transported to the hospital

Tim Olk photo

firefighters in haz mat suits

Tim Olk photo

firefighters in haz mat suits in decon

Tim Olk photo

firefighters in haz mat suits

Tim Olk photo

injured police officer on fire department gurney

Tim Olk photo

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A request for some help …

This from Austin Lawler:

I have a friend who has a group photo of station 3 in Chicago circa 1920’s or 30’s. She would like more information on it. Her grandfather is in the photo.

She states: CFD Station 3? Late 1930’s my paternal grandpa is seated second from right. I know he worked at the house in the stockyards {not sure if it is still there} I know with the people on this site, hopefully some information can be shed on it. Keep up the great work on the site!

Historic photo of Chicago firemen circa 1930

photographer unknown

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2 dead and 5 injured at haz mat incident near Des Plaines 8-27-15

Images from the scene by Tim Olk

fire trucks at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

decon area at haz mat scene

Tim Olk photo

hazardous materials crew in decon at haz mat scene

Tim Olk photo

hazardous materials crew in decon at haz mat scene

Tim Olk photo

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Fox River & Countryside FPD to appoint operations chief

Excerpts from the KaneCountyChronicle.com:

The Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District Board is expected to appoint a chief of operations at a special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Board President Jim Gaffney said the individual does not replace Chief Greg Benson, who has assumed that role since 2011. Rather, he said, this person will concentrate on the district’s two stations and the operations at those stations. The district is trying to “isolate the two positions to get certain things accomplished,” Gaffney said.

Gaffney declined to name the individual Monday but said he will be introduced at Tuesday’s meeting, which is set for 6:30 p.m. at Station 3, 34W500 Carl Lee Road, St. Charles Township. The agenda includes the chief of operations’ appointment, introduction and contract approval.

The chief of operations will start Wednesday, Gaffney said.

In addition to the station in St. Charles Township, Fox River and Countryside has a station along Route 64 in Campton Hills. The district serves about 25,000 residents across 38 square miles that include Wayne, Campton Hills and St. Charles Township.

thanks Dan

Greg Benson – who has served as the Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District’s chief since its 2011 launch – will retire by the end of October, the district announced Wednesday in a news release. The district previously was considered a paper district that  contracted services from the city of St. Charles.

The district has appointed Carl DeLeo as chief of operations.  He will oversee anything having to do with safety, including the stations and the firefighters Board President Jim Gaffney said and that the district chose the title in the event it someday wants to hire someone strictly for the administrative aspects.

DeLeo is a 30-year veteran of the Lisle/Woodridge Fire Protection District, where he retired with the rank of captain.

 

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New tower ladder for Elk Grove Village

This from Scott Peterson:

This is the new tower ladder for Elk Grove Village. It is scheduled to go in-service the 2nd week of September. Tower 7 in Steve’s pictures from the Elk Grove Township extra alarm is actually the reserve truck. We had been running a 75’ straight stick quint ( a Pierce Quantum, Truck 7), 2000-gpm/500 gallons & 30 of foam. That is sold and being stripped this week to prepare for the changeover to the new Quint 7.

The new tower specs are:

100′ Pierce Velocity, 2000gpm/300 gallons (This was a stock Pierce tower)

Tower 7, the 100′ Dash 2000 will go back to reserve once this is placed in service.

Scott Peterson

Pierce Velocity tower ladder

Scott Peterson photo

Pierce Velocity tower ladder

Scott Peterson photo

Pierce Velocity tower ladder

Scott Peterson photo

fire truck platform

Scott Peterson photo

chevron striping on fire truck

Scott Peterson photo

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Chicago 3-11 Alarm fire, 8/26/15

Chicago 3-11 Alarm fire at 1610 N. Wells 8/26/15

This from Josh Boyajian:

Here are some shots from the 3-11 Wednesday
firefighters use tower ladder to battle a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago fire Engine 42 at fire scene

Josh Boyajian photo

firefighters use tower ladder and a Snorkel to battle a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

firefighters use tower ladder and a Snorkel to battle a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

firefighters use tower ladder to battle a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago FD Truck 3

Josh Boyajian photo

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Fox River & Countryside FPD wants tax increase (more)

Excerpts from MySuburbanLife.com:

The Geneva-based law firm Griffin William LLP is preparing revamped language for the Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District’s tax levy increase request. It possibly could be used on the March 15 primary ballot, said Jim Gaffney, the district’s board president.

Board members at their next meeting Monday plan to review and discuss the language legal counsel have prepared if it is ready by that time.  The public meeting will begin no earlier than 7 p.m. Monday in the district’s Station 3, 34W500 Carl Lee Road, St. Charles, or immediately after the conclusion of a 6:30 p.m. special meeting if it runs long.

The district wants to propose that its current tax rate increase over time from about 28 cents – 28 cents per $100 of assessed valuation – to 51 cents, Gaffney said.  The increase still would leave the fire district with one of the lower rates in the area.

Voters defeated the district’s previous rate hike request by a 3-1 margin in April, according to election records. The district has not replaced three full-time firefighter/paramedics who left to work elsewhere, leaving a total of 21 firefighters. Gaffney said the district also has had to move up a reserve fire engine to active status because it is deferring equipment replacement.

An approved referendum would allow the district to buy more equipment and pay its firefighters higher wages since they are paid less relative to other area districts, Gaffney said.

“If we don’t get the referendum passed in March, there’s going to be more cutbacks to the fire department,” Gaffney said.

The district serves 25,000 residents across 38 square miles that include Wayne, Campton Hills and St. Charles Township.

The full series of posts on this topic can be found HERE

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Elk Grove Township FPD Box Alarm, 8-24-15 (more)

More images from the Box Alarm at 2847 Old Higgins Road 8/24/15

Here’s the audio:

firefighters at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

tower ladder working at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

tower ladder working at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

tower ladder working at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

fire chief at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

firefighters at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

tower ladder working at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

fire trucks at night fire scene

Steve Redick photo

tower ladder at night fire scene

Steve Redick photo

night fire scene with fire trucks

Steve Redick photo

night fire scene with fire trucks

Steve Redick photo

night fire scene with fire trucks

Steve Redick photo

night fire scene with fire trucks

Steve Redick photo

night fire scene with fire trucks

Steve Redick photo

night fire scene with fire trucks

Steve Redick photo

Elk Grove FD Engine 7

Steve Redick photo

Wood Dale FD fire engine

Steve Redick photo

Mt Prospect FD hose wagon

Steve Redick photo

firefighters at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

 

 

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House fire in Westmont, 8-21-15

This image was found on Facebook as an arrival photo at the house fire at 301 S. Lincoln Street in Westmont that went to a Box Alarm on Friday night (8/21/15)

Fully involved house on fire

photographer unknown

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