Archive for September, 2015

Fire departments compete at festival

Excerpts from the MorrisHeraldnews.com:

… each year at the Grundy County Corn Festival, staff from local districts and departments take their fight to the streets, where they battle using fire hoses to get a barrel past their opponent to take home bragging rights in the annual water fight contest.

… there is a method to the madness that many who come out to watch probably don’t understand … the idea is to get the weight off the pulley that attaches the barrel to the line … once the weight is off the pulley, a steady stream can knock the barrel back over the opposing team’s head, leading to victory.

The sidewalks were packed three and four people deep with spectators and younger water visitors stood in the empty parking stalls hoping to get wet from the fireman’s advancing hoses.

The kids stood, arms stretched wide, as they waited for the water to rain down on their heads as they ran and giggled under the drops. Among the spectators are often the spouses, children and parents of the firefighters.

Just like any family, firefighters often step up for one another. Some firefighters battle for more than one district to make sure there are enough people for everyone to compete. As long as they aren’t the nozzle operator for the neighboring team, they can still compete with their own team.

There were 11 teams battling recently for the championship: three from Morris Fire Protection District, two from Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District, and one each from South Wilmington Fire Protection District, Mazon Fire Protection District, Chatsworth Fire Protection District, Braidwood Fire Protection District, Lisbon-Seward Fire Protection District and Newark Fire Protection District.

 

thanks Dan

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MVA in Lyons, 9-25-15

This from Tim Olk:

Lyons MVA with 2 semis leaking diesel at 1st Ave And Ogden

firemen monitor diesel spill at truck crash

Tim Olk photo

firemen monitor diesel spill at truck crash

Tim Olk photo

crash with two semi trucks

Tim Olk photo

fire chief cools off with water

Tim Olk photo

firemen monitor diesel spill at truck crash

Tim Olk photo

crash with two semi trucks

Tim Olk photo

fire engine at scene of truck crash

Tim Olk photo

cleanup after truck crash

Tim Olk photo

cleanup after truck crash

Tim Olk photo

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2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 9-25-15

This from Josh Boyajian:

Last night (9/25/15), the EFAO put out a Still & Box Alarm at 51st and Carpenter. Engine 50 arrived to find a 2.5-sty, wood-frame with heavy smoke showing. They lead out two lines and Truck 18 went to the roof. Due to the amount of fire in the attic and with the stair wells burned out, companies were pulled out and went defensive until the bulk of the fire was knocked down. Unfortunately, companies found a victim in the attic after the fire was out. Here are a few shots, my whole gallery is HERE

scene of a fatal fire in Chicago

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firemen battle a fire at night

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firemen battle a fire at night

Josh Boyajian photo

heavy fire and flames through the roof of a house at night

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firemen battle a fire at night

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago FD Engine 123

Josh Boyajian photo

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Knollwood FD trains with Flight For Life

Photos by Tim Olk of a the Knollwood Fire Department training with the crew from Flight For Life.

fireman at night

Tim Olk photo

Flight For Life helicopter at night

Tim Olk photo

Flight For Life helicopter at night

Tim Olk photo

posing with a helicopter

Tim Olk photo

posing with a helicopter

Tim Olk photo

posing with a helicopter

Tim Olk photo

Flight For Life helicopter at night

Tim Olk photo

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As seen around … O’Hare

From Tim Olk … it’s baaaack!

Chicago FD Squad 7

CFD Squad 7 back at O’Hare after a total refurb. Tim Olk photo

Previous posts are HERE and HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Townhouse fire in Wheeling, 9-22-15 (more)

This from Niko Stefani:

Here is my video of the  townhouse fire in Wheeling on 9/22/15.

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Group to research consolidation of 911 dispatching Lake County

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

As Wauconda officials wrestle with a plan to shutter a local 911 dispatch center and join a regional service group, a new Lake County task force has formed to examine the issue on a broader scale.

Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor is among the task force members. He supports consolidating 911 centers. “It has been done successfully elsewhere, and I’m confident we can do it here.”

The group created by the county board in August includes Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Steingart, former Mundelein Fire Chief Tim Sashko, Vernon Hills Police Chief Mark Fleischhauer, Round Lake Beach Mayor Rich Hill and Lake Zurich dispatcher Leah Kelly.

In Lake County, no 911 center has been in the news as much as Wauconda’s. Officials and residents have squabbled over its future for more than a year. Under the current plan, a regional organization called CenCom would handle 911 calls for Wauconda police and the Wauconda Fire District. Trustees could vote on a consolidation deal Oct. 6.

The other agencies served by Wauconda’s dispatchers, the Tower Lakes and Lakemoor police departments, would need to find new service providers if the center closes.

Since Wauconda’s 911 battle began, state lawmakers have approved legislation that calls for dispatch centers to consolidate significantly in the future.

Lake County’s Lawlor said 911 consolidation has been a top issue since a 2014 local leadership summit. “This presents tremendous opportunities to improve quality (and) efficiency and provide cost savings.”

thanks Dan

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Rubbish fire in Wheeling, 9-25-15

This from Larry Shapiro:

There was a sizable header in Wheeling from a rubbish fire this afternoon at 1786W. Hintz Road, the site of ongoing demolition of a shopping center. Wheeling Engine 23 hit it with their deck gun, and Engine 42 also emptied their tank through the deck gun from a second vantage point.

fire truck amid thick black smoke from a rubbish fire

Larry Shapiro photo

fire truck amid thick black smoke from a rubbish fire

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighter operates a deck gun from a fire engine

Larry Shapiro photo

fireman opens a fire hydrant at a fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

thick black smoke and flames from a rubbish fire

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighter operates a deck gun from a fire engine

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighter operates a deck gun from a fire engine

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen operate deck guns from two fire engines

Larry Shapiro photo

More photos at shapirophotography.net

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One dead after wall collapse in Chicago, 9-24-15

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

A man was killed when a wall collapsed as workers removed roofing material without proper permits at a Bronzeville neighborhood building Thursday morning, officials said.

Firefighters responded shortly before noon at a one-story brick building at 505 E. Pershing Road, according to fire officials.

Daniel Miller, 46, of the 9900 block of South Nottingham Avenue in Chicago Ridge, was pulled from the rubble according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 12:56 p.m.

The Department of Buildings learned that workers from the community were removing roofing material from the building without proper permits. The last permit issued for this property was an electrical permit on (Sept. 3) to install, conduit, new outlets, lights and switches.”

Fire officials said that when firefighters arrived, they learned a man was trapped under the rubble of a concrete roof and part of a brick wall. It took crews about an hour to shore up what was left of the building to remove the man’s body from the rubble.

Eric Clarke photo, Chicago Tribune

Eric Clarke photo, Chicago Tribune

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Townhouse fire in Wheeling, 9-22-15

Photos from Tim Olk at the scene of a Box Alarm fire at 1606 Newburn Court in Wheeling on Tuesday night (9/22/15).

fireman with hose at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

night fire scene

Tim Olk photo

night fire scene

Tim Olk photo

fireman at night

Tim Olk photo

fireman at night

Tim Olk photo

night fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Buffalo Grove FD Tower 25 at a fire scene

Tim Olk photo

firemen with hose at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Buffalo Grove FD Tower 25 at a fire scene

Tim Olk photo

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