Archive for March, 2019

Fox River and Countryside Fire Protection District news

Mar 29

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 15 Comments

Officials at the Fox River and Countryside Fire Protection District are hoping voters will approve their latest referendum request for a nearly 17-cent tax increase April 2.

The referendum asks to increase the rate to 43.52 cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation from the fire district’s current tax rate of 26.7 cents, an increase of 16.82 cents. A single family house with a fair market value of $100,000 would have an additional $56 in taxes to pay, if it passes. The increase would bring in about $1.5 million in additional revenue, which the district needs.

The district’s last request for a 16-cent increase failed in November by 32 votes.

The department has an ambulance that has more than 100,000 miles on it and a fire engine built in 1988, both of which need to be replaced.

Part-time pay for firefighters is $13.50 per hour.

The district covers areas of St. Charles and Campton townships and the villages of Campton Hills and Wayne.

Tags: fire district asks for more money again, fire district to seek tax levy increase, Fox River and Countryside Fire Protection District

Countryside Fire Protection District news

Mar 29

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from theDailyHerald.com:

A change is coming for Countryside Fire Protection District Fire Chief Jeff Steingart, who recognized his life’s dream as a boy and stayed with it until retiring last week. Steingart, 55, started with Countryside as a paid-on-call firefighter in 1982 and was hired as a full-time firemedic in January 1986. He steadily advanced, serving as a lieutenant and fire prevention bureau director, captain and shift commander, and assistant and deputy chief before being named to the top spot in 2006.

Last week was Steingart’s last in the office. A Change in Command ceremony with a traditional fire department walk-out is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at district headquarters, 600 N. Deerpath Drive, Vernon Hills. Deputy Chief Chuck Smith will be sworn in as the new chief.

Steingart grew up in Hawthorn Woods and became a Mundelein Fire Department Explorer at 13. After graduating from Stevenson High School in 1981, he took an EMT class, worked for a private ambulance company, and then the Highwood Fire Department before joining Countryside full-time.

Countryside covers 24 square miles, including portions of Vernon Hills, Hawthorn Woods, Long Grove, Kildeer, Indian Creek and unincorporated Lake County. Activity has increased significantly since 1982 when Countryside personnel responded to 1,391 calls. Last year, the total was 4,918.

Steingart’s resume includes dozens of awards, recognitions, certifications, and affiliations. He has been a member of the MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Division 4 all-hazards incident management team since 2014 and president since 2016.

He is proud of Countryside’s ISO rating improving from Class 5 to just shy of Class 1, and the department’s recent reaccreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International for a fifth consecutive year.

A 30-year resident of Vernon Hills, Steingart plans to stay put and will remain involved in the fire service. He’s been hired as director of strategic planning and administration for the Wauconda Fire Protection District, a part-time civilian position.

Tags: Countryside Fire Chief Jeff Steingart, Countryside Fire Protection District, Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Steingart, Deputy Chief Chuck Smith, fire chief to retire

Hazel Crest Fire Department history

Mar 29

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | 4 Comments

This from Wayne Stuart for #TBT:

I dug into my archives and found another photo of the 1958 Seagrave that Mike Summa submitted.The photo was taken in 1978 when it was in service as Hazel Crest Engine 23, and painted lime green. It had a 750 pump and a 300 Gal. tank. Thanks for sharing Mike.

wayne stuart photo

Hazel Crest Engine 23 – 1958 Seagrave X-Monee Fire Department. Wayne Stuart photo

Tags: #TBT, 1958 Seagrave pumper, chicagoareafire.com, Hazel Crest Fire Department history, historic fire engine photo, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday, Wayne Stuart

Illinois State Trooper Killed on US20 3-28-19

Mar 28

Posted by Admin in Police LODD | 2 Comments

From the Illinois State Police Twitter page:

llinois State Police mourn the loss of Trooper Brooke Jones-Story #5966. She was struck by a truck tractor semi trailer while outside of her squad car on a traffic stop on US Route 20 near Freeport, IL. Rest peacefully. We will never forget you. End of Watch 3-28-19

lllinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story #5966

From the Illinois State Police Facebook page:

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE MOURN THE LOSS OF
TROOPER BROOKE JONES-STORY

PECATONICA, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) Acting Director Brendan F. Kelly regretfully announces the line-of-duty death of ISP District 16 (Pecatonica) Trooper Brooke Jones-Story.
This afternoon, March 28, 2019, at approximately 11:24 a.m., Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, #5966, was inspecting a commercial motor vehicle on United States Route 20 westbound, just west of Illinois Route 75 in Stephenson County. At approximately 12:20 p.m., Trooper Jones-Story was outside her squad car when she was struck and fatally wounded when a truck tractor semi-trailer combination struck her squad car and the semi Trooper Jones-Story was inspecting.
“Today is a dark day for the Illinois State Police family. This is the six-year anniversary of the death of another Trooper, and now another brave soul, Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, has made the ultimate sacrifice for people of this state. At this very moment, the men and women of the ISP are responding and focused on the job and mission, because that’s what Trooper Jones-Story would do,” stated Acting Director Kelly.

Trooper Jones-Story was a 12-year veteran of the Illinois State Police District 16 in Pecatonica.
Additional information will be released once it becomes available.

Trooper Brooke Jones-Story

Tags: Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story #5966, Illinois State Trooper, ISP Trooper struck and killed by tractor-trailer

New ambulance for Bridgeview FD

Mar 28

Posted by Admin in Ambulance photos, Fire Department News, New Delivery | 8 Comments

This from Keith Grzadziel:

The Bridgeview Fire Department is expecting delivery of a brand new Wheeled Coach conversion. It is mounted on a 2019 Ford F-450 chassis with the liquid suspension. This will be the 3rd Wheeled Coach in our fleet. Hopefully we should have it by early next week at the very latest.

The current Ambulance 406 will be renumbered to 412 and designated as a ready reserve. Our spare, Ambulance 426, is decommissioned and will be given to our EMA. The current reserve, Ambulance 409, which was purchased used from the Homer FPD, will become our spare.

Keith Grzadziel

new Wheeled Coach Type I ambulance for the Bridgeview FD

Fire Service, Inc. photo

Fire Service, Inc. photo

Tags: ambulance photos, Bridgeview FD Ambulance 406, Bridgeview Fire Department, new ambulance for Bridgeview, new Wheeled Coach Type I ambulance for the Bridgeview FD

Fire Service News

Mar 28

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | 1 Comment

proposed Amendment of the Downstate FireFighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code

thanks Scott

Tags: amendment to the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code, Firefighters secondary employment, pension contributions for firefighters working for a second fire department in Illinois, proposed Amendment of the Downstate FireFighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code

Monee Fire Protection District history

Mar 28

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | 6 Comments

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

For tbt-I took this picture at a parade in Beecher in the early 1990’s. I know this is a 1950’s open cab Seagrave, and that is it. Feel free to ad any information you know.

Mike Summa