Archive for June 25th, 2016

Cherry Valley Fire Department news

Jun 25

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Cherry Valley Fire Chief Craig Wilt is calling it a career after 44 years with the department.

The 62-year-old has lived in Cherry Valley his whole life, serving not only half a century as a firefighter with the village but also a quarter century as a village police officer.

Thursday, Chief Wilt got to celebrate with the community at a retirement open house at the Cherry Valley Fire Station.

“I don’t know if it’s really sunk in yet. Still trying to learn how to relax. I’m still wound a little tight. Still get up around 5 o’clock every morning and I expect in due time that will start keying down a bit,” says Wilt.

Wilt followed in the footsteps of his father who served as a volunteer firefighter for 48 years. He tells us the biggest event of his career was the 2009 Canadian National Train Derailment and chemical fire.

Tags: Cherry Valley Fire Chief Craig Wilt, Cherry Valley fire chief retires, Cherry Valley Fire Department

Phoenix Fire Department history

Jun 25

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos, Historic fire apparatus | 5 Comments

This from Mike Summa:

Hello,

This is Phoenix Fire Department Engine 1703. A very plain 1968 Mack CF600. It’s a 1000/500 pumper. Hope that you enjoy,

Mike S.

Mike Summa photo

Tags: Mack CF fire engine, Mike Summa, Phoenix Fire Department history, vintage fire truck

Chicago Heights FD honors 10-year-old boy

Jun 25

Posted by Admin in Reader submission | Comments off

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

The Chicago Heights Fire Department has a new honorary lieutenant among its ranks.

Ten year-old Rocco Debergh, a cancer survivor who spearheaded a community-wide collection of coloring books for hospitalized children, celebrated his honorary position June 1 with more than two dozen friends and family at the city’s fire station at 51 E. 19th Place.

Chicago Heights Fire Chief Jeffrey Springer said Rocco’s helpful spirit is exactly what he looks for in a great fireman.

“I just thought this was so special, a boy, 10 years old going through what he’s going through and thinking about others,” Springer said. “That’s what we do in the fire service, we think about others. It’s such an honor to be here for him. . . From what he’s been through, it’s just such a blessing that he is still here and is in good spirits.”

The Chicago Heights boy said he used coloring books to take his mind off of the cancer while he was receiving chemotherapy, and wanted to share that joy with others. Rocco, who marks two years being cancer-free this summer, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2009.

After writing a letter to his principal at Greenbriar Elementary School in Chicago Heights inviting schoolmates to donate coloring books and crayons, the message spread like wildfire. On March 18, he and his family delivered 2,000 coloring books to the University of Chicago Medicine’s Comer Children’s Hospital.

When then-interim Chicago Heights Fire Chief Tim Kennedy heard Rocco’s story, he felt moved to celebrate the youngster’s actions.

“He is just such a great inspiration for all of us,” Kennedy said. “And with his uncle (Ron Lucarini) being one of the chiefs here, it just makes tonight really special.”

Rocco wasn’t the only one appointed honorary lieutenant; his younger brother, Bronx, 7, also was pinned with a ceremonial honor for being a great supporter of his brother.

thanks Dan

Tags: Chicago Heights FD honors 10-year-old boy, Chicago Heights Fire Chief Jeffrey Springer, Chicago Heights Fire Department, Rocco Debergh, University of Chicago Medicine's Comer Children's Hospital