Archive for November, 2015

Fox River & Countryside FPD wants tax increase (more)

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Another failed tax increase request would be the worst outcome from efforts to maintain the financial solvency of the Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District. So to avoid that, district trustees may not ask voters for a tax increase at all. Trustees met with the district’s fire and ambulance service provider, Maryland-based Public Safety Systems Inc., to find a way to cut costs.

“Everybody would love to do the referendum, but it was 3-to-1 against it last time,” said district President Bob Handley. “We know the chance of success is slim. Like any organization, our biggest line item is personnel. So we’re going to look at staffing, but we’ve got to keep the safety of the guys in mind.”

A month ago, trustees introduced the idea of cutting ambulance service. But fire calls represent less than 20 percent of the district’s workload. That makes a change to staffing far more likely, said Ken Shepro, the fire district’s attorney. One option that may make sense is staffing engines and ambulances entirely with a part-time staff. Shepro said several other local departments, including Pingree Grove, use that model and more may be headed that way.

The viability of that model for the district, and its ability to at least defer a tax increase request will be key aspects trustees will weigh in the decision for if and when to hold a referendum. Aside from personnel, the district has some major capital replacement costs looming, including the replacement of a 30-year-old fire engine.

District trustees have until Dec. 28 to put a tax increase question on the March ballot. They will meet Dec. 14 to make a decision.

If trustees don’t put a question on the ballot in March, Shepro said, it’s unlikely voters would see a tax increase question until 2017 at the earliest. Conventional wisdom says most taxing districts should avoid tax increase questions when presidential races are on the ballot. Those elections tend to have higher voter turnouts with more people voting no on tax increases regardless of how much they know about the ballot question.

thanks Dennis

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Working Fire in Chicago, 11-29-15

This from Josh Boyajian:

Here are some shots from a fire Sunday on the southeast side at 2728 E 76th Street 11/29/15. Not much to see by the time I got there.

Chicago fire engine after a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firefighters after fighting a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firefighter after fighting a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firefighter after fighting a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

Chicago firefighter after fighting a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

firefighter pulling hose after a fire

Josh Boyajian photo

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New book: Chicago Fire Rigs at Work VIII

This from Steve Redick:

I am currently well underway in my latest book offering:

Chicago Fire Rigs at Work Volume 3. I’m about 25 percent done and am quite pleased with the product so far. This edition will feature more photos, and more fire scenes with a lesser emphasis on just rig shots. Enclosed is a mockup of what I think the cover will be … all of course subject to change … This will be available in electronic format as well as soft and hardcover. stay tuned …

Capture

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New truck for Merrionette Park (more)

This from Dieterich Herndobler:

Not the greatest picture, a grab shot from the car, but here is the new Truck 2664 from Merrionette Park. They were out on the street collecting donations. Wish I could have gotten a better shot.

Pierce Dash CF PUC aerial ladder

Dieterich Herndobler photo

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CFD MVA at 48th & Indiana, 11/28/15

This from Tim Olk:

48th and Indiana pin-in with 5 injured

firefighters remove patient after car crash

Tim Olk photo

firefighters remove patient after car crash

Tim Olk photo

firefighters remove patient after car crash

Tim Olk photo

firefighters remove patient after car crash

Tim Olk photo

firefighters free driver trapped in car

Tim Olk photo

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BP Whiting, IN orders industrial aerial

From the Ferrara website:

H-5824 BP Whiting, IN

Type: Inundator aerial
Chassis: Inferno custom chassis
Body: Extruded aluminum
Aerial: Schwing 85-foot articulating boom
Pump: US fire pump 5,500-GPM, Foam Pro AccuMax 3300
Tank: 750-gallon foam

fire truck being built

Cab and chassis of a new aerial for the BP facility in Whiting, IN. Ferrara photo

fire truck being built

Ferrara photo

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Chicago FD reorganization of units

Reassignment of Command Vans and Mass Casualty Units

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Of interest from … San Antonio, TX

Excerpts from MySanAntonio.com:

Local police officers and firefighters donned some new uniforms Friday to play superheroes for pediatric patients.

Dressed as popular superheroes such as Spiderman, Batman, and Captain America, members of SAPD’s SWAT team and SAFD’s Rescue Team rappelled down the side of North Central Baptist Hospital while numerous children watched through their windows.

Kids were able to interact with the rappelling heroes as they dangled outside of their rooms, and later got to hang out with them inside the hospital.

San Antonio Police Department spokesman Officer Douglas Greene said this year’s event, dubbed the Julian “Superhero Drop,” was dedicated to Julian Andrade, the 5-year-old son of SAPD Officer Jose Andrade. Julian, who attended the event last year, died from cancer in March.

“He loved superheroes, he loved first responders, so what better way to keep his memory alive,” Greene said.

Officers and firefighters were excited at the opportunity to repeat the event, which was held for the first time in October of 2014.

“The faces of the kids and their reactions were priceless,” Greene said.

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Lakewood signs new agreement with Crystal lake

From Topix.com:

The decision will, as one trustee put it, “change the face of Lakewood” by closing the village’s only fire station on Haligus Road and operating out of a Crystal Lake station on the other side of town. The Lakewood Village Board voted, 3-1, with one trustee abstaining Tuesday night, to go with a slightly cheaper contract offered by the Crystal Lake Fire Department that tied increases to the village’s tax base over renewing its contract with the Woodstock Fire Rescue Protection District.

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New ambulance for Buffalo Grove

This from Andy Russell:

I got a chance to grab a few pictures of the new BGFD ambulance that was delivered last week. It’s a 2015 Horton on a Freightliner chassis sold by Foster Coach Sales.  It’s currently being stocked and having some final touches taken care of plus training. It is slated to go in service as A25 by the end of the year.

Buffalo Grove FD ambulance

New ambulance for the Buffalo Grove Fire Department. Andy Russell photo

Freightliner ambulance

Andy Russell photo

Buffalo Grove FD ambulance

Andy Russell photo

chevron striping on ambulance doors

Andy Russell photo

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