Archive for March 6th, 2016

Stockton fire station damaged by fire (more)

Excerpts from the JournalStandard.com:

Stockton Fire Chief Randy Baysinger said he is confident that his department is ready and able to respond to a fire or an emergency, despite the fire that ravaged the firehouse Thursday.

The late-morning fire severely damaged the building, trucks, and gear that were stored inside — six trucks, a trailer and an ATV. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and Baysinger said final determination will be made to see if the equipment can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

“Within two hours of our fire, we had equipment from other communities, which we needed to respond to an emergency,” Baysinger said. “We want the community of Stockton to know we are still here. We are damaged, but we have what we need, thanks to others, to be able to keep them safe and be there in their time of need.”

Area fire departments have loaned the department of 30 volunteers eight spare trucks and equipment, which is being housed in a nearby building. The fire departments of German Valley, Shannon, and Scales Mound loaned them trucks and equipment. Gear was also donated from Davis, Lena, Mount Morris, Pearl City, and Polo.

He said he has heard from at least 50 other fire departments in the Midwest to see what they need.

“In emergency services you don’t hear a lot of thank-yous and sometimes you think the public takes you for granted, but it is obvious that it couldn’t be further from the truth,” Baysinger said. “People are calling from at least 100 miles away to help. It means a lot to me and the guys in the department.”

The help hasn’t stopped pouring in, either. On the day of the fire, Rick Barkau, dealer principal of Barkau Automotive, handed Baysinger a check after the fire. During the month of March, his dealership plans to donate $100 to the Stockton Fire Department for every car sold at his dealership. Chrysler plans to match the $100 for every Chrysler vehicle sold.

“Truly what really tugs at me about the fire is these guys have been there for us and the community, and they are all volunteers,” Barkau said. “I’m hoping to take them a check for $7,500 by next month. I look at our monthly average. It’s what we can do for a department that puts their lives on the line for this community. I came back after seeing that fire, and I was sick to my stomach.”

The Warren Fire Department plans to donate money they raised from their monthly steak fry to the Stockton Fire Department. The fry was held Saturday, and Warren Fire Chief Jeff Ege said they ran out of steaks and had to buy more. Some 325 steaks were served, and Ege is still tallying the money raised from the night.

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House fire in Antioch Township, 3/4/16

Excerpts from theDailyHerald.com:

No one was injured in an early morning fire on Friday that destroyed a home near Antioch.

Detective Chris Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said police and fire were dispatched to the 40100 block of North Deep Lake Road for a residence on fire at 1:40 a.m. The home was unoccupied and under renovation. He said a preliminary investigation shows numerous space heaters were plugged into one extension cord inside the home and that the fire is not suspicious. The Lake County Sheriff’s Arson Unit is investigating the blaze with the assistance of the Antioch Fire Protection District.

Antioch Fire Chief John Nixon said a person driving by called 911, and that fire units were on the scene within seven minutes. The house was completely engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from Lake Villa, Fox Lake, Spring Grove, Grayslake, Round Lake, and Bristol, WI assisted at the scene.

thanks Scott

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Live-fire training in Linn Township, WI, 3-5-16

This from Tim Olk:

Linn Township FD (WI) had live-fire training Saturday, 3/5/16. They conducted several burns in the house and the garage.

Lake Geneva
Delevan
Fontana
City of Delevan
Hebron Alden Greenwood

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

live-fire training for firefighters

Tim Olk photo

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New engine for Westmont

From the Pierce Flickr site: Pierce so#29299

New fire engine for the Westmont FD

New Westmont engine. Pierce composite

thanks Al

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