This from Dennis McGuire Jr.
Jim Klinker retires Nov. 30th as the Blue Island FD Fire Chief. Dan Reda takes over the starting Dec. 1st.
From Facebook:
Archive for November, 2017
This from Eric Haak:
The first image is showing Engine 48’s house on the far right side with a massive 5-11 fire burning just on the opposite side of the elevated tracks. The second image is a close-up showing what I believe is the first snorkle basket that Bill Post wrote about a couple weeks ago. The fire was a 3-11 on November 2, 1959 at 1109 W. 63rd Street. Kind of a rare image of the Snorkel basket working at an early fire
Vintage Chicago fire photo showing Engine 48’s house on the far right side with a massive 5-11 fire burning just on the opposite side of the elevated tracks. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
Chicago firefighters in the basket of the first Snorkel operating during a 3-11 Alarm fire on November 2, 1959 at 1109 W. 63rd Street. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
This from Mike Summa:
TBT- This was Richton Park Truck 35, a late 70’s or early 80’s Pirsch 100′ RM. It has I think a TCM Cincinnati cab. If you know more about this truck please feel free to comment.Mike Summa
Richten Park FD Truck 35. Mike Summa photo
Excerpts from foxnews.com:
A Georgia mom said she was heartbroken when no one showed up at her autistic son’s 7th birthday.
“He kept saying his friends were just getting ready, going to get presents, that’s why they were late,” Amanda Bridges said, adding that her son invited everyone in his class.
When Holden realized none of his classmates showed up to his party, he started crying. So his father did the first thing he could think of – he flagged down a passing fire truck and asked Ware County firefighters if they could stop by the party.
The firefighters ended up showing up in a fire truck, along with several EMTs, two ambulances, and several police officers. They brought Holden presents, a fireman’s hat, and a badge.
“He was super excited,” Ware County Fire Lt. Drew Mccarthy said. “His daddy said he always wanted to be a firefighter, so that made it special.”
Now, Holden also wants to be a police officer and EMT.
Amanda said what could have been a lonely birthday for Holden became one of his most memorable.
“We were all crying, it was very emotional for all of us,” Amanda said. “My son has always been my hero, but they are our new heroes.”
In a Facebook post, Amanda thanked all the emergency personnel who showed up at her son’s birthday party. The post has been liked and shared thousands of times.
“They didn’t do it for any rewards or recognition,” she said, “they did it out of the kindness of their hearts.”
From Amanda Bridges’ Facebook page:
The Ware County Firefighters, Police Officers, and EMTs will always have a special place in this momma’s heart. When no one showed up at my Autistic son’s party, my husband had to leave due to being upset himself, but also because he couldn’t find his phone which he thought was at our nearby house. While he was out, he saw a fire truck and flagged it down. He explained to the firemen the situation with Holden’s party and asked if they could stop by. The firemen stated that they would love to, but they had to get permission first. Well, when they showed up, it was beyond our wildest imagination. They had called in some more reinforcements and brought a police officer and emts. The firemen even brought him a birthday gift. Holden said the firefighters are his heroes and they brought him the best birthday gift ever!! He now wants to be a firefighter, police officer, and emt when he grows up. Thank you Ware County fire, police, and emt departments!! You guys made a little boy’s bad day into a memorable one with all the adults in tears!!
Excerpts from the chronicleillinois.com:
The four fire protection districts in the North Quad are working toward a functional consolidation of their departments that would provide benefits in coverage and mutual equipment purchases and discussed initial forays, during a Nov. 18 meeting of the district’s chiefs and members from their respective boards of trustees.
Each district would maintain its distinct identity, and an exploratory committee is the next step.
“The operative word is functional and not meant as a total consolidation,” said Spring Grove Fire Protection District Chief Rich Tobiasz. “Our taxes, boards, companies, and equipment would still reflect four separate units … we can do more things together that would benefit us all together such as training, sharing staff, and purchasing equipment.
The North Quad is composed of McHenry County fire protection districts in Spring Grove, Richmond, Hebron-Alden-Greenwood, and Wonder Lake. The grouping has been together for more than a dozen years, and the new name would come under the heading of “North Fire Alliance.”
“Its basic purpose is that we’re all in the same boat, and the quad approach is such a benefit,” said Richmond Fire Protection District Chief Rick Gallas. “When Richmond gets a call, the other three departments get the same call, they hear what we hear, and have a pre-planned operation mode for action, as needed. It’s four departments coming together as one, and the immediacy makes it effective.”
The concept had been discussed informally, for a number of months, and took shape Nov. 18 at Spring Grove’s headquarters. Meetings between the four districts are held every other month with Tobiasz, Gallas, Hebron-Alden-Greenwood District Chief Thomas Linneman, and Skip Sorensen of the Wonder Lake District in attendance. Topics are varied and related to the service calls, ranging from dispatching to auto-aid.
Tobiasz noted, “Let’s say Wonder Lake needs 20 air-packs, Spring Grove needs 16, Richmond needs 18 … the price break on that amount by purchasing together would save funds. Other things like having an opening in one district, staff could cover from the other district, as needed.”
The current plan is for the chiefs and trustees to return to their respective boards, which will meet during November and December and getting a better reference point.
The next meeting for the North Quad units is slated for January 2018.
This from Steve Redick:
We were right around the corner from this job in Harvey at 156th & Myrtle. Not much to see but I never get to any fires in this part of the world.
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
From the Stryker Facebook page:
Stryker photo
Stryker photo
Stryker Facebook page
thanks Scott & Josh
This from Dave Weaver:
11/25/17 SANDWICH – Fire Vehicle Procession and Memorial Service for Don Rimgale – Procession Video by Tom Burns/Memorial Service Video by Dave WeaverDonald S. Rimgale, Sr. retired from the Chicago FD in November 1996 after 31 years of service. He then became Fire Chief in his boyhood town of Sandwich from which he retired in July 2016. It was during his years of service as a Chicago FD Office of Fire Investigations (OFI) arson investigator that Don became the inspiration for Robert De Niro’s character, Inspector Don Rimgale, in the 1991 film ‘Backdraft’. Don passed away at his home in Elmhurst November 13, 2017 at the age of 77.
This from Jim Skrabel:
I took in the Troy Box at Skooters Roadhouse today (11/27/17). Troy fire crews made a quick knock of the fire. It appeared the fire was in the kitchen area and extended into the mansard roof. Troy’s tower ladder crew opened the mansard which was difficult because it was covered by sheet metal. Plainfield’s tower ladder was set up on the west side of the building.
Jim Skrabel (retired)
Jim Skrabel photo
Jim Skrabel photo
Jim Skrabel photo
Jim Skrabel photo
Jim Skrabel photo
Jim Skrabel photo
