Archive for March, 2018

Champaign Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from wandtv.com:

The Champaign City Council approved changes to a city ordinance that will give the Champaign Fire Department command of actives scenes. Fire Chief Gary Ludwig says these changes are sensible.

Nine times out of ten, the fire department beats the ambulance. That’s notable since more often than not they are responding to medical calls, not fires. That’s why the fire department wants command of scenes that multiple units respond to.

“Everyday we go on car accidents and sometimes multiple fire companies are on the scene, we also have an ambulance on the scene, sometimes multiple ambulances on the scene,” Chief Ludwig says. “As a result of that, there has to be somebody in charge that has coordination of the scene ,not only for safety purposes but also for logistical and operational purposes.”

This is the first update to the ordinance in 30 years.

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Vintage 5-11 Alarm in Chicago, 1-10-82

This from Steve Redick:

I was due to work in the FAO this day and my boss Jack Turner called me at 0430 hours to tell me to try and get my car started due to the 26 below temps. In those days you showed up to work no matter what. On the way in we stopped by the fire at 1244 N. Wells and it was so cold I could barely stand it. No photos, took a quick look and on to work. Some of the voices you will hear on this recording: FAO Ken Little, George Mazurek, Joe Pavlik, Jeff Rodrigues, and Phil McMahon. On Truck 10 the late Ray Hoff, driving the 3rd Battalion Bob Welch, and Tom Wagner as Battalion 27A. 744 Dennis Goralski and 477 Ed Karas. Interesting to note there was a 2-11 prior to the start of the recording at 2930 Broadway. This was the start to an unbelievable fire day.

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As seen around … Highland Park, MI (more)

The former Westmont tower ladder in Highland Park, MI.

Highland Park Michigan FD tower ladder

Steve Redick photo

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New engine for Braidwood (more)

Updated production photos from the Alexis Fire Apparatus website, of the engine being built for Braidwood

fire engine being built

Alexis Fire photo

fire engine being built

Alexis Fire photo

fire engine being built

Alexis Fire photo

fire engine being built

Alexis Fire photo

fire engine being built

Alexis Fire photo

fire engine being built

Alexis Fire photo

fire engine being built

Alexis Fire photo

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Springfield Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from the State-Journal register.com:

Capt. Allen Reyne, a nearly 19-year veteran of the Springfield Fire Department, will be the city’s next fire chief. Reyne, 47, a captain since 2009, will replace Barry Helmerichs, who is retiring April 6.  Starting April 7, Reyne will be acting fire chief until the Springfield City Council can vote on his appointment April 17. His salary has not yet been decided.

Eight candidates within the fire department were interviewed for the position. Reyne, a Springfield resident, was the firefighters’ union president for two years starting in 2012 and has served as its secretary.

Reyne is certified to be a fire investigator at the state and international level, as well as a paramedic. He also holds certifications in hazardous waste operations, fire service management and fire service instruction. Before joining the Springfield Fire Department in 1999, he was a volunteer firefighter for the Godfrey Fire Protection District and a paramedic in St. Louis County and Springfield.

At Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, the mayor honored Helmerichs with a proclamation and named that day Fire Chief Barry Helmerichs Day. He listed some of Helmerichs’ accomplishments, including raising the department’s Insurance Services Office rating from Class 3 to Class 1. Helmerichs also emphasized advanced medical training for firefighters and improved response times.

thanks Dan

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New area apparatus orders

  • Country Club Hills – 2 Pierce Saber pumpers 1500/750
  • Tri-State FPD – Pierce Enforcer pumper 1500/550
  • Pleasantview FPD – Pierce 107′ aerial ladder

thanks Josh

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New engines for Chicago (more)

Engine 94 changed into their new engine this week. Photos from Tom Cook on Facebook

Chicago FD Engine 94

Tom Cook photo

Chicago FD Engine 94

Tom Cook photo

Chicago FD Engine 94

Tom Cook photo

Chicago FD Engine 94

Tom Cook photo

Chicago FD Engine 94

Tom Cook photo

Chicago FD Engine 94

Tom Cook photo

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New engine for Bolingbrook (more)

updated photos of the new engine being built for Bolingbrook by E-ONE so#141498

E-ONE fire engine being built

E-ONE photo

E-ONE fire engine being built

E-ONE photo

E-ONE fire engine being built

E-ONE photo

E-ONE fire engine being built

E-ONE photo

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New Lenox Fire Protection District news

Excerpts from the New Lenox FPD website:

On March 19th, the New Lenox Fire Protection District Board of Trustees voted to secure a $750,000 Tax Anticipation Warrant to cover the district’s budget deficit. This extra funding will fill the gap between when the district runs out of funds in April and when the next tax revenues are received in June.

Due to the lack of revenue with no sources for new funding, the NLFPD had to make some difficult decisions to keep the district running at a lower cost. To do this, residents will be seeing cuts over the next week to facilities, personnel, and services.

On Friday, March 30th, Station 2, at 1205 N. Cedar Road will be closing its doors until further notice due to a reduction in firefighter/paramedic positions. The district will be cutting 4 positions per shift, which includes both part-time and full-time personnel. Earlier this year, cuts also took place in administration after one employee left, leaving an open position which will not be filled. Other programs that involve using shift personnel and apparatus for long periods of time will also be reduced or eliminated.

The NLFPD has tried to pass referendums to increase the tax rate five times over the past 12 years (2006, 2009, 2011, 2014, and March 2018), knowing this day would eventually come. During this time, the district has cut back on spending and was able to tighten their belts to keep the current situation at bay, but the district can no longer afford to operate at less than half of the budgets of neighboring towns, while giving the same services.

“The residents voted, and without having an end in sight, we had to make the best decisions for our bottom line, and unfortunately, this was our only option,” stated Deputy Chief Dan Turner. “If the NLFPD does not pass a referendum soon to increase our funding, further cuts will happen. Without any additional funding coming our way we will need to keep borrowing money from future taxes and eventually we would owe more than we bring in.”

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Following the defeat of a fifth referendum for a tax rate increase, New Lenox Fire Protection District officials said their only option is to close one of its four fire stations and cut staff.

Station No. 2, which opened in 1970 at 1205 N. Cedar Road, will close Friday until further notice, and result in the reduction of four firefighter/paramedic positions. The district expects to save between $640,000 and $660,000 per year by closing the station.

The fire district board of trustees also voted at its March 19 meeting to issue $750,000 in Tax Anticipation Warrants to cover the district’s budget deficit. This extra funding will fill the gap between April, when the district runs out of funds and June, when property tax revenues are received. 

Nearly all of the district’s revenues comes from property taxes. The current levy is $4.7 million. Other funds come from grants, insurance payments for ambulance service, donations, false alarm fines, and construction plan reviews. Grants and donations provide money for special equipment.

In the March primary, a referendum to increase the fire district’s tax rate from 38 cents to 59 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation was defeated by 212 votes. They will try again for a rate hike in November.

The New Lenox Fire Protection District has not had a tax rate increase since 1989, but has tried to pass referendums five times over the past 12 years, in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014 and March 2018. Since 1989, the population has more than doubled from 16,574 to 42,172 and the number of commercial and industrial buildings also has grown significantly, resulting in an increase in calls, from 890 in 1990, to 4,252 in 2017.

New Lenox Fire Protection District’s 38 cents is the lowest tax rate in the area. It is second to the Frankfort Fire Protection District, with a rate of 80 cents, which generates a levy of $10.6 million. Frankfort had 4,377 calls in 2017.

thanks Dan and Keith

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Crete Fire Department history

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

Engine 705 in Crete Illinois is this early 1970’s Ward LaFrance.  Not many Wards are found in the south suburbs.  
Mike Summa
vintage Ward LaFrance fire engine

Crete FD Engine 705. Mike Summa photo

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