Archive for April 19th, 2016

CFD to fill 32 jobs with civilians

Excerpts from DNAinfo.com:

 Following in the footsteps of Chicago Police, the fire department has agreed to move civilians into positions currently filled by firefighters at an estimated saving of more than $1 million a year.

Inspector General Joe Ferguson stated in his quarterly report released Monday that the fire department was squandering $4.5 million a year in overtime by having firefighters fill 35 positions that did not require firefighter or paramedic training and experience. Ferguson estimated the city could save $1.2 million a year by civilianizing 34 of those positions, returning firefighters to active duty, and eliminating the other.

According to Ferguson, the fire department has agreed on 32 of those posts, but defended two others and the one to be eliminated.

Ferguson previously discovered 300 positions in the police department three years ago that could be filled by civilians, an idea immediately embraced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as he moved to put more officers on the street.

thanks Dan

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Smeal/Ladder Tower Co building first 55′ Snorkel (more)

Smeal/LTC has several short video segments where local chief officers talk about the new Snorkel for Frankfort (Chief James Grady and Chief Bob Wilson) plus retired CFD Commissioner Bob Hoff talking about the Snorkels used in Chicago.

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Working fire in Riverwoods, IL 4-18-16

This from Larry Shapiro:

Lincolnshire-Riverwoods firefighters were dispatched Monday morning (4/18/16) for fire in an attached garage at 2639 Forest Glenn Trail in Riverwoods. Arriving units had smoke escaping around the doors of a four-car garage with bedrooms above. The alarm was upgraded to the Code 4 working fire as they were pulling lines. The fire was extinguished quickly through a side window, and the damage was contained to a small area of contents inside. The fire was out well before I arrived at the scene.

garage fire in Riverwoods IL

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighter pulling hose

Larry Shapiro photo

firefighters wearing PPE

Larry Shapiro photo

Lincolnshire Riverwoods FD Engine 51

Larry Shapiro photo

Lincolnshire Riverwoods FD Engine 52

Larry Shapiro photo

more photos are at chicagoareafire.com

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