Archive for February 9th, 2017

Joliet Fire Department news

Excerpts from the Heraldnews.com:

Thirty-two years after joining the Joliet Fire Department, Ray Randich retired Friday after eight years as deputy chief. Chief Joe Formhals said a recent search of the department’s roster history showed Randich served as second-in-command longer than anyone else.

Randich holds a fire science degree from Joliet Junior College and was one of the first Joliet firefighters to become a paramedic, which is now a requirement. He served as chief of operations and was the secretary and treasurer for the firefighters union. He and his wife, Donna Randich, have three children.

“Zak’s a Plainfield firefighter, Lauren is a teacher and Daniel is at Western looking toward law enforcement,” Ray Randich said. “I think I’m proudest that my kids chose careers where they help and serve people. That’s what I’ve gotten [the most] out of firefighting.”

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Homer Fire Department news

Excerpts from the News-Gazette.com:

A 46-year-old Homer man died Wednesday morning, apparently from a medical problem that happened as he drove his pickup truck on Illinois 49, hitting three parked cars.

Champaign County Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Mennenga said John Mike Cummins was taken to the hospital following the accident, which happened about 12:45 a.m. in the heart of Homer. He died at 1:52 a.m. in the emergency department.

Cummins and his passsenger, a fellow firefighter, had been out on a call south of Homer about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Homer Fire Chief Don Happ said Cummins and Cody Shik, 18, left the station ahead of the 10 other firefighters.

“He said he wasn’t feeling well,” said Happ, who knew his friend was recovering from having a blood clot removed from his leg and had been off work from his job for about a month.

Happ and several other firefighters were still at the station when the call came in. “I was the first one there in my chief’s vehicle. As soon as I pulled up, I knew exactly who it was,” Happ said.

Cummins had been on the Homer Fire Department as a firefighter and first responder for about 2 1/2 years but had worked as a volunteer firefighter at other departments since he was about 18.

“He never missed a call, never missed a training. He tried to make it to everything we did. Whatever kind of thing we had going on, whether it was cooking for a fundraiser, he was there,” Happ said.

“He would go out of his way, drop everything to go help somebody. That’s how he was raised, a good family man,” Happ said. “He loved bringing his grandkids to the fire station and spent a lot of time up there with them.”

A funeral with full firefighter honors is being planned.

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Chicago Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

Rank-and-file firefighters and paramedics were informed this week that Tom Ryan, their leader for the last nine years, is calling it quits as president of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2. He’s not running for re-election. He retired in November after 34 years as a Chicago firefighter.

Instead, former Union President Dan Fabrizio, who’s now serving as legislative director for Local 2, will face off against business agent Jim Tracy.

The changing of the guard at Local 2 comes as the union gears up to negotiate another contract.

Five years ago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel took aim at treasured union perks that included the clothing allowance; holiday and duty-availability pay; pay grades; premium pay; non-duty lay-up coverage; a physical fitness incentive and a 7-percent premium paid to cross-trained firefighter-paramedics.

The mayor subsequently backed away from all of those concession demands in a pre-election contract that won him the surprise endorsement of Local 2, a union that had endorsed mayoral challenger Gery Chico over Emanuel in 2011.

The contract that expires June 30 called for Chicago firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians to get an 11 percent pay raise over five years, but ends free health care for those who retire between the ages of 55 and 65.

Ryan returned the favor by signing on to a deal that gave Chicago 15 more years to ramp up to a 90 percent funding level for police and fire pensions.

Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed that bill. But three Republican crossover votes helped Emanuel overturn the governor’s veto. Now, Emanuel is under pressure to get tough with the union again.

Last year, Inspector General Joe Ferguson concluded that Chicago taxpayers were shelling out $5 million-a-year to provide a uniform allowance to firefighters and paramedics that’s more like an “automatic cash bonus” because it’s “completely unmoored from any determination of actual need or use.”

The uniform allowance — $1,250 or $1,500, depending on the assignment — is supposed to be used for the maintenance and cleaning of uniforms.

In his audit, Ferguson compared uniform issuances, exchanges and allowances at the Chicago Fire Department to similar spending in New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto, Dallas, San Diego and Indianapolis. The CFD issued fewer dress and work uniform items to new hires than most other cities and spent less per employee than any other city surveyed.

But, that comparative advantage is more than offset by an annual uniform allowance that is among the most generous in the nation, Ferguson concluded.

In yet another audit, Ferguson concluded that the fire department could save at least $1.2 million a year and potentially millions more in overtime by hiring civilians to perform 34 administrative jobs that have nothing to do with firefighting or emergency medical service.

One of the slots listed as a potential civilian position was the job of commissary liaison, charged with resolving uniform exchange disputes between members and the outside vendor. The job is currently filled by a fire department captain.

thanks Dan

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Former Maywood firehouse for sale

photo from Zillow

photo from Zillow

Found on Zillow.com:

511 Saint Charles Rd, Maywood, IL 60153 – 2 beds 4 baths 2,400 sqft

 FOR SALE
$249,900 
Zestimate®:  $234,467 
1904 Historic Firehouse on National Register of Historic Places. 2400 Sq Ft. Loft Living space on 2nd + 3rd Floor with 2.5 Baths. Oak Floors + Wood work, Wood Burning Fireplace. Granite counter tops, Stainless Appliances, Roof top Patio. 2000 Sq. ft. Garage/Shop with 14′ ft. Ceilings, separate heat, and Half Bath. Two fire poles. Walk to Commuter Line. Master Suite. Sold as is.

FACTS

  • Baths: 2 full, 2 half
  • Lot: 1,742 sqft
  • Single Family
  • Built in 1904
  • 13 days on Zillow
  • Views since listing: 1,110
  • All time views: 1,240
  • 14 shoppers saved this home
  • Heating: Forced air
  • Last sold: Jun 2003 for $142,000
  • Price/sqft: $104
  • MLS #: 09485979
  • Good solar potential
    Sun Number™: 68

FEATURES

  • Cable Ready
  • Ceiling Fan
  • Deck
  • Fireplace
  • Flooring: Hardwood
  • Skylight
Former Maywood firehouse for sale

photo from Zillow

Former Maywood firehouse for sale

photo from Zillow

Former Maywood firehouse for sale

photo from Zillow

thanks Dan

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