Archive for February, 2017

STIHL Recalls Chainsaws Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

MS 461 Product Safety Recall | STIHL USA Mobile

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE TO STIHL CUSTOMERS

February 23, 2017

STIHL Recalls Chainsaws Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

View full press release here.

Recall Summary

Name of Product: STIHL gas-powered chainsaws

Hazard: The fuel line can leak, posing fire and burn hazards.

Remedy: Repair

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chainsaws and return them to an authorized STIHL Dealer for a free inspection and free repair.

Consumer Contact: STIHL Inc. at 800-233-4729 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email stihlrecall@stihl.us or online at www.stihlusa.com and click on Information and then Product Recalls for more information.

Recall Details

Units: About 100,000

Description: This recall involves STIHL MS 461 gas-powered chainsaws, and the MS 461 R chainsaw with a wrap handle. The model number is on the model plate, located on the starter cover. The chainsaws are gray and orange with “STIHL” on the engine cover. Recalled chainsaws have a serial number between 173092800 and 181993952, under the front hand guard on the engine housing’s sprocket side.

Incidents/Injuries: STIHL Inc. has received 117 reports of pinched or leaking fuel lines. No fires, property damage or injuries have been reported.

Sold at: Authorized STIHL Dealers nationwide from July 2012 through December 2016 for about $1,000.

Importer: STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.

Manufacturer: ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG

Manufactured in: Germany

thanks Scott

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Lincolnwood Fire Department news

Excerpts from lincolnwoodil.org:

E9-1-1 DISPATCH CONSOLIDATION

For over 50 years the village has operated its own E9-1-1 dispatch center for emergency calls within the village’s corporate limits. Since 2002, fire and ambulance calls are handled by the Regional Emergency Dispatch (RED) Center, which services 15 municipalities. In 2015, the Illinois Legislature approved a law requiring that any Illinois municipality with a population less than 25,000 (Lincolnwood’s population is 12,500) which currently operates its own emergency dispatch center, must consolidate its these services or lose its Emergency 9-1-1 revenue. Last year Lincolnwood received almost $200,000 in 9-1-1 surcharge revenue.

The village completed a comprehensive review of options for consolidating dispatch services. This review included joining other existing dispatch consortiums or contracting with another municipality. After a thorough review, the village decided to contract with the Village of Skokie based on cost, quality of services provided, and the level of cooperation that already exists between the two communities.

Effective March 1, 2017, Skokie will begin providing E9-1-1 services to Lincolnwood residents and businesses. After March 1 when you call 9-1-1, the call will be answered at the Skokie Police Station. They will then dispatch the appropriate Lincolnwood police and/or fire personnel. There will be absolutely no delay in response time or any degradation of service from that which previously existed. Since Lincolnwood will no longer operate a dispatch center, there will no longer be personnel on-duty to receive the public at the police station after normal business hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

thanks Ron

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Kankakee Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from the Daily-Journal.com:

At a cost outlined not to exceed $19,500, the Kankakee City Council hired the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association to search for a new fire chief at Tuesday’s council meeting … [and] the money would come out of the fire department’s budget.

The fire department has been under the direction of acting Chief Phil Perkins since the retirement of Chief Ron Young at the end of November.

If all goes as planned, Mayor Nina Epstein said the new chief could be hired as early as June 1. Anyone with the necessary education and experience can submit a resume.

Young was the city’s third-longest serving fire chief before his retirement. He served 12 years as chief. He had been with the department since February 1984.

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Buffalo Grove Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Buffalo Grove Firefighter/Paramedic Mark Anderson was recently promoted to lieutenant. Anderson has been with the department for 25 years full time.

Fire Chief William “Mike” Baker said the lieutenant’s position opened up with the retirement of Lt. Wendill Bills, a 33-year veteran.

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Chicago Fire Department news

Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com:

Members of the Chicago Fire Department paid a special surprise visit to a 4-year-old boy who loves firefighters and has terminal cancer. Firefighters and paramedics from the 11th Battalion gathered at a home in Gladstone Park for an urgent request to visit Mason Orchard.

“We couldn’t bring him to the truck, so we literally brought the truck to him. So that’s why you saw the basket right up to his window, they were literally inches away from him,” said Asst. Deputy Commissioner Timothy Sampey.

The boy was a bit overwhelmed with the show of support from Chicago firefighters. He has been battling cancer for years, and last week doctors discovered the child was in the final stage of his life. Mason is a hockey and soccer player. He was even attending preschool until three weeks ago. And he always wanted to be a firefighter. Friday, he was made an honorary firefighter.

And in case Mason didn’t hear the battalion on the way in, they put on a show as they left with lights and sirens.

The visit comes at a tender time for the family.

“As soon as they left I said ‘Oh that was so nice,’ and he said ‘Yeah!’ And I said ‘Are you tired?’ and he said ‘Yeah, I’m tired,’ I said, ‘But did you like it?’ and he said ‘Yeah I liked it.’ ” said Magdalena Zasadinska, Mason’s mother.

“He’s been a fighter, and they’re fighters, and it’s just real special for them to come here,” said Micah Orchard, Mason’s father.

The new commission took a lot of Mason’s energy, as afterward Chicago’s newest firefighter took a rest. With love and support he will fight another day.

Truck 55 was the only crew missing from the battalion, out on an emergency call instead. One of Mason’s mother’s cousins requested one firefighter visit him, but once the department learned about him they wanted to do more.

thanks Dan

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Fatal MVA in West Chicago, 2-24-17

This from John Tulipano:

EMS Box Alarm for the two-vehicle MVA with a fatality at IL 38 and Fabyan Parkway in West Chicago Friday evening (2/24/17)

firefighters work to free occupants trapped in a car

John Tulipano photo

firefighters work to free occupants trapped in a car

John Tulipano photo

firefighters work to free occupants trapped in a car

John Tulipano photo

firefighters work to free occupants trapped in a car

John Tulipano photo

aftermath of fatal car crash in West Chicago IL

John Tulipano photo

aftermath of fatal car crash in West Chicago IL

John Tulipano photo

aftermath of fatal car crash in West Chicago IL

John Tulipano photo

firefighter picks up tools after crash

John Tulipano photo

aftermath of fatal car crash in West Chicago IL

John Tulipano photo

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Elk Grove Village Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson unveiled the outline of the largest capital works plan in the village’s history.

The plan is estimated to cost $105 million and could start within weeks. It focuses on many fronts, from a new fire station and new public works building to median enhancements and road improvement projects. Johnson said that the village is ready to apply for tens of millions of dollars in grants to cover some of the costs, and he anticipates issuing $30 million in bonds to help with the funding, with the cost to the average taxpayer an additional $96.20 per year. The resident with a $300,000 home would pay an additional $36 in village property taxes, $53 more in a natural gas tax and $7.20 more a year in a telecommunication tax.

The largest aspect of the eight-year plan is the construction of a new fire station and a new public works building. A new 10,000-square-foot fire station would replace and combine two current stations located on Greenleaf Avenue and Oakton Street. It would be located somewhere near the Busse Road corridor. The new public works building would replace the James Petri Public Works Facility at 600 Landmeier Road.

thanks Scott

And this from Scott Peterson:

Sta 10 on Meacham Rd will be torn down and a new Station built on the same site. They will relocate to the west side public works garage when the project starts. No timeline yet but the Sta 10 project is supposed to be started by fall of 2017 latest and maybe sooner.

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3-Alarm brush fire in Pembroke Township, 2-20-17 (more)

Excerpts from the Daily-journal.com:

A drone hovered in the air Monday as about 100 firefighters from Kankakee, Iroquois, and Will counties battled a brush fire in Pembroke Township.

William Neumann, the director of communications for the Orland Park Fire Protection District, lived streamed video footage from his drone to other departments through his personal Facebook page. It helped them track the fire, protect structures and, above all else, assure nobody got injured.

It was the first time the Pembroke Fire Protection District, a small department of nine volunteers, had an aerial view to assist them. Chief Mark Baines already has talked to village trustees about purchasing one, considering the department battles more than 100 brush fires per year and had a truck damaged in a brush fire last year.

“We were able to see exactly where the fire was going,” Baines said. “Our four guys who were out there felt safer and more confident knowing a drone was watching out for them. I’m all for getting one. They are beneficial.”

Orland Park’s department has three drones, and Neumann, who has his certificate of authorization, is training the department’s battalion chiefs. He said a drone typically costs between $1,000 and $6,000.

thanks Dan

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New ambulances for Wheeling (more)

This from Larry Shapiro:

I grabbed a few quick shots of one of the new ambulances that was recently placed into service in Wheeling.

Freightliner M2 ambulance by Horton

Wheeling Ambulance 24. Larry Shapiro photo

chevron striping on ambulance

Larry Shapiro

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As seen around … Merrionette Park

This from Mike Summa:

Found this on Merrionette Park’s facebook.  It is a few years old.  The caption read, “A big thank you to Evergreen Park.”  Their engine was down for repairs and Evergreen let them use one of theirs.  It is good to see the brotherhood that firefighters have for their fellow firefighters.

fire trucks in fire station

Merrionette Park FD photo

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