Archive for February, 2018

Barrington and Lake Zurich Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Later this spring, both the Barrington and Lake Zurich fire departments will start using the Phoenix G2 Fire Station Alerting System, which can save firefighters up to 60 seconds when they are responding to emergencies. The system assists dispatchers, who will be able to type pertinent information during 911 calls straight into a computer-aided system.  The system then automatically alerts the appropriate fire stations, saving time since dispatchers will no longer have to stop their conversations with 911 callers to dispatch firefighters.

The system has lights and speakers in every station which alert firefighters while scrolling message boards provide them with addresses and how much time has elapsed since an alert was made.

Barrington officials approved $54,300 for the system, while Lake Zurich officials approved $56,500 for the new equipment.

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Bloomington Fire Department news

Excerpts from the Pantagraph.com:

The owner and owner-to-be of several apartment buildings in Bloomington face almost 800 pretty significant code violations, including 226 at a building destroyed by fire Feb. 10, city records show.

The city already had sought a demolition order for 1101 Gettysburg Drive because the roof kept caving in. The city also has 572 citations pending against owner Wayne Pelhank and contract-for-deed purchaser Ed Duran for five rental properties in the 900 blocks of West Front and West Grove streets.  The various cases are filed in circuit court and the city’s administrative court.  

In the demolition request filed Dec. 15 in circuit court, the city said the building was structurally unsound and had significant roof leaks and water-logged ceilings, walls and carpeting.

A firefighter was injured in the Gettysburg fire and 29 people were left homeless. A cause of the fire has not been determined. The 12-unit, two-story building was built in the 1970s.

According to city records, code inspectors completed an initial inspection of 1101 Gettysburg Drive on Sept. 6 and found 262 violations. Pelhank was given until Nov. 28 to correct them, but the compliance date was extended after neither he nor a representative showed up Nov. 28.

About eight violations had been fixed when a city inspector re-inspected the property on Dec. 18 and Pelhank was given a final extension to complete repairs. At the Jan. 30 re-inspection, the inspector noted 226 violations that included smoke alarm problems, missing doors, windows that wouldn’t open, improperly installed doorknobs, damage from water leaks, and cockroaches. Various violations were found in all 12 apartments.

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Still & Box Alarm fire in Chicago, 2-22-18

This from Chi-Town Fire Photos:

Chicago Engine 49 and Truck 33 arrived to find heavy fire from the roof of a 2 sty frame @ 4431 S Wood.  Tower 39, the second truck,  arrived and requested a Box due to the amount of smoke and fire showing. Companies lead out 4 lines and Engine 49 utilized their deck gun to knock the fire. Chi-Town Fire Photos

flames from roof of house on fire

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Chicago FD Engine 49

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Firefighter sues deck gun from engine

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Firefighters carry hose in the street

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Chicago FD Truck 33

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Chicago FD Engine 123

Chi-Town Fire Photos

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Palos Heights FPD History

This from Mike Summa:

Palos Heights once ran this IHC/unknown Squad 6405 out of their station 1.  Enjoy and comment.

Mike Summa
Palos Heights FPD Squad 6405

Mike Summa photo

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Highland Park Fire Department news

Excerpts from jwcdaily.com:

The City of Highland Park is pleased to announce Larry Amidei will serve as Highland Park’s fire chief beginning on March 2, following the retirement of Chief Dan Pease on March 1.

Amidei began working in Highland Park as a Firefighter/Paramedic in 1988. He has served as the department’s CPR/First Aid Director, Medical Director, Safety Officer, Accreditation Manager, National Fire Department Peer Reviewer, and chief of the MABAS Division Three Joint Fire Investigation Team. He is one of an elite group to receive the international designation of Chief Fire Officer from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Amidei was promoted to lieutenant in 1999, battalion chief in 2008, and has been serving as deputy chief since 2015. He also worked for 13 years for the Park District of Highland Park as a Risk Manager and Safety Coordinator starting in 1997. Before starting at the Highland Park Fire Department, Amidei spent seven years with the Highwood Fire Department. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, a Master’s in Business and Public Administration, and attended the National Fire Academy in Maryland for Staff and Command school. Amidei is a graduate of Highland Park High School.

Retiring Chief Dan Pease will be recognized at the February 26 city council meeting for more than 30 years of service with the Highland Park Fire Department.

thanks Dan

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2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 2-20-18 (more)

A brief video from Larry Shapiro of Tower Ladder 14 working at the 2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

 

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Palatine LODD Anniversary

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Chicago Firefighter injured at fire scene, 2-21-18 (more)

Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:

A captain with the Chicago Fire Department was taken to a hospital Wednesday afternoon when he was injured at a fire in the South Side Bronzeville neighborhood.

Firefighters responded about 1:15 p.m. to a blaze at a 3 1/2-story apartment building at 4327 S. King Drive. About 15 minutes after arriving, a mayday alert was called when the captain suffered injuries from smoke inhalation inside the building. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition.

The captain has been with the fire department for more than 20 years.

thanks Dan

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Gary Fire Department history

This from Wayne Stuart for #throwbackthursday:

The Gary Fire Department operated this 1977 Ward LaFrance pumper. It carried WLF serial # 80-1400. It had a 1500-GPM pump and a 500-gallon tank. It was originally assigned to Engine Company #1. However as with most Gary apparatus it served in many different companies during it’s career. It was also one of only two lime green apparatus operated by the GFD.

Wayne Stuart photo

1977 Ward LaFrance pumper

Gary Fire Department – 1977 Ward LaFrance pumper. It carried WLF serial # 80-1400. It had a 1500-GPM pump and a 500-gallon tank. Wayne Stuart photo

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New fire station in Aurora (more)

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Aurora firefighters will hold a two-day celebration starting Friday to mark the opening of the city’s new $4 million station. The city broke ground last year on the facility just west of the existing 1950s-era station in a neighborhood across from Abraham Lincoln Park. Firefighters made the move and began handling calls from Station No. 7 on Monday.

Space constraints were a major shortcoming of the 60-year-old station that wasn’t designed for modern fire apparatus. The building had room to house just one fire engine. Privacy also was an issue with one community-use bathroom and a 10-bed dormitory without any dividing walls.

By contrast, the new station has four individual bathrooms, living quarters arranged in cubicles, a workshop and a fitness area. A company officer, two paramedics, and two firefighters staff the roughly 10,500-square-foot station in 24-hour shifts.

Last summer, the city approved adding an ambulance to the station. But until the three-bay station opened, Medic 7 was running out of the central station downtown to cover the neighborhood on the city’s West Side. The city’s seventh advanced life-support ambulance has responded to more than 1,200 calls since it was put into service last July.

Firefighters will continue moving equipment into the new station over the next several days. Officials will gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Friday at 824 Kenilworth Place. They also will give tours of the building until 1 p.m. Guests are encouraged to RSVP by calling (630) 256-4008 or emailing fire@aurora-il.org.

Then on Saturday, the department will host a public open house from 1 to 4 p.m.

The building was designed with natural tones and materials that tie into the station’s surroundings in the neighborhood east of Aurora University.

The city plans to open bids for the demolition of the old station at the end of the month. The site of the existing building will become the parking lot for the new station. Officials hope to tear down the shuttered station before asphalt plants open at the start of April.

thanks Ron

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