Archive for April, 2020

Oak Park Fire Department news

Apr 9

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 3 Comments

From the Oak Park Fire Department Facebook page:

Best wishes to Deputy Chief Pete Pilafas, who is headed to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where he will be the new fire chief. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 emergency, we had to forgo our typical sending-off celebrations, so we wanted to note it virtually. After 20 years with OPFD, we will miss Pete’s expertise and experience, but we wish him and his family all the best as they start their next (sunny and hot) adventure. Thank you for your service.

Oak Park FD photo

thanks Scott

Tags: Deputy Chief Pete Pilafas, Oak Park Deputy Fire Chief retires, Oak Park Fire Department

East Hazel Crest Fire Department history

Apr 9

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | 1 Comment

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

For TBT- This was East Hazel Crest’s Engine 166, a 1965 FWD 750/500.

Mike Summa

Mike Summa photo

Tags: #TBT, 1965 FWD fire engine, East Hazel Crest Fire Department history, Mike Summa, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday, vintage fire engine photo

Fire service news – Coronavirus COVID-19

Apr 8

Posted by Admin in Coronavirus, CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19), Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from nbcchicago.com:

Several dozen members of the Chicago Fire Department have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the department to 46. Of those, nine employees have returned to duty as of Tuesday. Another 18 are currently quarantined after a confirmed exposure to the coronavirus.

When the department announced its first coronavirus case three weeks ago, the CFD was taking measures to protect its members from the disease, including dedicating specific ambulances for patients with suspected COVID-19. The department still has four ambulance dedicated for that purpose.

For now, all paramedics responding to respiratory calls or suspected COVID-19 patients are dressing in personal protective equipment including an N-95 mask, face shield and gloves. Paramedics who use a CPAP breathing machine on a patient, regardless of the call involving COVID-19, are sleeping in separate quarters to minimize possible exposure. Firehouses and ambulances are also undergoing thorough cleanings after contact with a coronavirus patient.

The Chicago police announced Tuesday that 112 of its members have tested positive for COVID-19. Last week a veteran undercover CPD officer died from the coronavirus.

Tags: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Chicago Fire Department, Chicago police officer dies after COVID-19 exposure, Firefighters testing positive for COVID-19

Chicago Fire Department news

Apr 8

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

Chicago firefighters responded to a fire in a single-story home about 10:20 a.m. in the 5300 block of South Wallace Street on Tuesday. A woman, about 60 years old, suffered third degree burns over the majority of her body and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.

Chicago Fire Department photo

Tags: Chicago Fire Department, woman critically injured in Chicago house fire

Stone Park Fire Department news (more)

Apr 8

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News | 6 Comments

The Stone Park Fire Department is closing

The Stone park Fire Department is being dissolved

found on Facebook

thanks Dennis

Tags: chicagoareafire.com, Stone Park Fire Department, Stone Park Fire Department to officially close, Stone Park to outsource fire and EMS to Melrose Park

Fire service news – Coronavirus COVID-19

Apr 8

Posted by Admin in CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19), Fire Department News | 2 Comments

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Firefighter Mario Araujo, 49, became the first Chicago firefighter that has died from the coronavirus. He worked in the Rogers Park neighborhood for more than 16 years.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford wrote on Twitter that Araujo joined the department in October 2003 and spent most of his career at Truck 25. The fire department did not say how Araujo contracted the virus. Langford said department officials will meet with the firefighters union “and look into details of (Araujo’s) death to see how it will be classified.”

Currently, 46 Chicago Fire Department employees have COVID-19.

Last week, Marco DiFranco, a 50-year-old Chicago police officer, died of the virus.

Though officials have not said how DiFranco contracted the disease, his death was classified as a line of duty death.

Chicago Firefighter Mario Araujo

Tags: 1st Chicago firefighter to die of coronavirus, 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Firefighter Mario Araujo dies from COVID-19, Fire service news – Coronavirus COVID-19

Fire service news – Coronavirus COVID-19

Apr 7

Posted by Admin in Coronavirus, CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) | Comments off

Excerpts from thehill.com:

At least 5,000 firefighters across the U.S. are under quarantine because of the coronavirus according to the International Association of Fire Fighters. Only 500 of the 3,400 fire departments in the union are reporting coronavirus numbers to the union. Among those 500 departments, 5,000 firefighters are in quarantine, 3,000 are in isolation, and 700 have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Public health officials in states hardest hit by the coronavirus have been warning for weeks of shortages of personal protective equipment for ~~first responders~~ police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, and health care personnel on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. now has more than 347,000 confirmed cases and over 10,000 coronavirus deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Tags: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Firefighters in quarantine across the US

Fire service news – Coronavirus COVID-19

Apr 7

Posted by Admin in CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) | Comments off

Excerpts from Fox32chicago.com:

Captain John Kucharski of the Midlothian Fire Department says firefighter-paramedics were in desperate need of N-95 masks to protect themselves when going into homes of potential COVID-19 patients

“We do have masks now,” he said. “What are we going to do if we run out?”

Then he saw a story about firefighters in Billings, Montana making their own surgical masks using a 3-D printer. They’re called Montana Masks. However, where do you get a 3-D printer as soon as possible?

Both Bremen High School and Oak Forest High School sent the 3-D printers used to teach engineering students to the Midlothian Fire Department, where they’ve been making a new mask every three hours.

While the masks are not FDA approved, tests show they’re remarkably effective and a whole lot better than a cheap paper mask or a bandanna.

Tags: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Firefighters use 3-D printer to make protective masks, Midlothian Fire Department

Former Peotone 1980 55′ Seagrave/RPI Snorkel for sale

Apr 7

Posted by Admin in fire engine for sale | Comments off

Found on eBay: – former Peotone FPD (X-Normal FD)

1980 Seagrave 55′ Snorkel. 1000-GPM pump. Unit was refurbished in 1995 with enclosed jump seats, new paint, new interior, new 400-gal booster tank, & new paint on aerial device. Aerial was in front line service up to 2018 at which time I purchased it from the 2nd owner. Aerial was tested and passed through 2018. Pump was tested and good through 2018. Unit operates as it should. V-8 Detroit diesel and automatic trans. 2018 Aerial test included Visual Inspection, Magnetic Particle Test, Ultrasonic, Load & Functional Tests. Unit has 49,393 original miles and 2427 original hours. This is a great truck ready for service in a fire department or for the collector looking for a Seagrave Snorkel.

Shipping is available call me for a quote.

Any questions call nine18-440-9937