Archive for September, 2020

Forest Park Fire Department news

Excerpts from the ForestParkReview.com:

Phil Chiappetta is Forest Park’s new fire chief appointed by the mayor and unanimously approved by commissioners Sept. 28. He is replacing Chief Bob McDermott who retires effective Sept. 30, at which point he will join the North Riverside Fire Department as chief. Also retiring are Lieutenant Tom “TJ” Janopoulos and of Lieutenant Russ Nelson.

Chiappetta has served as deputy chief in Forest Park Fire since 2016. He started as a contract paramedic in 1997 and in 2001 was hired as the first firefighter/paramedic in Forest Park. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2010.

This appointment leaves an opening for deputy chief, a position that will take about 3-6 months to fill. The promotion must be made off a list of lieutenants who have taken the captain’s test, but currently there isn’t a list since none of the lieutenants took the  last test that was offered. The village is working on scheduling the test now.

At the Sept. 28 meeting, the council voted to direct the Fire and Police Commission to appoint two candidates from its current fire lieutenant eligibility list and two candidates from its current probationary firefighter eligibility list to fill vacancies.

Tags: , , , ,

Palatine Fire Department Memorial Ceremony

Palatine Fire Department press release

click to download

Tags: , , , ,

South Chicago Heights Fire Department news

South Chicago Heights Fire Department receives FEMA grant for new fire engine

 

politicians and Firefighters with ceremonial check

American LaFrance fire engine

Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

 

thanks Dennis

Tags: , , , ,

Working fire in Chicago, 9-28-20

This from Chi-Town Fire Photos:

Some images from Chicago’s working fire at 5239 W Congress Pkwy at approximately 4:40 pm on Monday 9/28. A citizen knocked on Engine 113’s quarters reporting a house fire just as the Main FAO received 911 calls reporting the same. E113 had fire blowing out of the rear 2nd story windows on arrival. Two lines, quick work.

 
Chi-Town Fire Photos
burned out window and siding

Chi-Town Fire Photos

new E-ONE ladder truck in Chicago

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Chicago fire trucks at fire scene

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Firefighter in PPE with tools

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Chicago fire scene

Chi-Town Fire Photos

Tags: , , , ,

New squad for the Lockport Township FPD

From the Lockport Township FPD Facebook page:

On September 23rd, 2020, the Lockport Fire District placed Special Operations SQUAD #6 in service. This vehicle carries all of the Technical Rescue Team equipment for high angle, confined space, trench, and structure collapse rescues. It will be housed at Station #6 and respond along with Truck #6 for any special operations in the fire district and when called by any mutual aid departments. This vehicle replaces a 1990 Fargo trailer.

IHC/Hackney fire truck squad

Lockport Township FPD photo

thanks Dennis

Tags: , , ,

Evanston Fire Department news

Excerpts from Evanstonnow.com:

Evanston aldermen are scheduled to approve modifications to the city’s contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters Tuesday that will postpone raises in return for a no-layoff guarantee. The agreement was reached as part of efforts to deal with the multi-million dollar revenue shortfall the city is facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It calls for the firefighters to forgo scheduled 2.25% raises on Jan. 1, 2021, and on Jan. 1, 2022, but instead receive a 5% wage increase on Dec. 31, 2022, the last day of the current contract. In return, the city agrees to maintain the current minimum staffing level of 26 firefighters per shift, rescind the layoffs of three firefighters that had been imposed late last month, and to not impose any additional layoffs for the duration of the contract.

Under the deal firefighter/paramedics will receive annual salaries starting Dec. 31, 2022, that range from $62,477.63 to $110,425.74 depending on their level of experience.

Earlier this year AFSCME-represented employees of the city agreed to take 10 unpaid furlough days as a cost-cutting measure. 

The city reportedly is still negotiating with the union representing police officers about possible cost reductions.

Tags: ,

Box alarm fire in North Chicago, 9-28-20

This from Jeff Rudolph:

9/28/20 – North Chicago 0504 hrs
Box 15-1 to the Box level for a well-involved house at 2330 Lewis Av. The house appeared to be vacant, and for sale.
Jeff Rudolph
Firefighters with hose line at night

Jeff Rudolph photo

smoke from vacant house on fire

Jeff Rudolph photo

heavy smoke from vacant house on fire

Jeff Rudolph photo

Pierce fire engine on scene

Jeff Rudolph photo

Firefighter silhouette with hose line on a ladder

Jeff Rudolph photo

Tags: , , , , , ,

Peoria Fire Department news (more)

Excerpts from pjstar.com:

One of the two shuttered fire houses in the city could come back online until March 2021 under a proposed agreement by the local firefighters union, but whether city hall, which took two engines offline as a way to save money during the pandemic, accepts the deal is unknown.

Peoria Firefighters Union Local 50, said the they would drop an unfair labor practice lawsuit and use the anticipated $500,000 judgment they had won to help replace one fire engine. The deal would also call for the addition of seven firefighter positions which could be staffed through overtime or the hiring of new employees. 

The two sides have been in a series of negotiations since April over how many fire trucks would remain in service. The negotiations kicked into high gear after the council voted in late August to cut the two engines and shutter Stations 4 and 20.

The estimated cost to staff a fire engine is about $1.1 million. The union’s decision to forego the $600,000 is about half that, or six months, which would push a final decision out to March. The deal, however, still has to get council approval, which could come at a special meeting since the budgetary cuts are supposed to take effect on Oct. 1.

It wasn’t clear which engine would come back as part of this deal. Station 4 was to close on Oct. 1, while Station 20 was to close at some time yet to be determined. The union had been bargaining with the city for weeks to save jobs and keep fire houses open. The elimination of a fire truck often results in the closure of a house.

Tags: , , , , , ,

2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 9-26-20

From CFD media on Twitter:

S&B @ 0047, 211 @ 0119 4712 -14 W Chicago 1 story auto body shop 100 X 150 partial Bow truss roof. 211 struck out @ 0158. No injuries no transports at present. Fire is out companies doing salvage and overhaul

Update 4712 -14 W Chicago. Companies picking up at present no injuries no transports. Companies returning in service.

2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

2-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

CFD Media photo

Tags: ,

New Engine for Prospect Heights (more)

Updated production photos of the new engine for Prospect Heights

stainless steel fire engine being built

Alexis Fire photo

Tags: , , , , , , ,