From the Prospect Heights Fire District:
At 0549 Prospect Heights Squad 9 was dispatched to a car fire at the Motel 6, 540 Milwaukee Avenue. Before they left quarters it was upgraded to an accident with entrapment adding Battalion 9, Ambulance 9, Chief 900, plus Wheeling Ambulance 23, Ambulance 24, Engine 23, Tower 24, and Mount Prospect Truck 14. Multiple calls indicated the car had hit the levee wall and went into the Des Plaines River. Then it was reported there were victims in the river, possibly children. A swift water compliment was added: Wheeling Battalion 24 and Dive Squad 24, Dive 63 and Squad 63 from Des Plaines, and a Lincolnshire-Riverwoods boat.
The crash was located just south of the Motel 6 at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and River Road. On arrival, companies found an SUV that had crashed through the guard rail and went over the concrete levee wall into the Des Plaines River. One occupant was ejected with other possible occupants in the car. First arriving companies laddered the levee wall and went down the embankment to the car, where they extinguished the fire before starting a shore-based search. The ejected victim was DOA. The search of the river did not reveal any additional victims.
The Des Plaines River levee is a concrete wall that runs along the east side of Milwaukee Avenue south from Palatine Road to just north of Euclid/Lake Avenue. It is about 12 inches thick and extends several feet below grade so as to resist erosion. It extends above grade anywhere from a few feet tall to a height of over ten feet. At the location impacted by this car, it was 5-6 feet high. It appeared the impact may have moved the top of the levee wall as much as two inches closer to the river.
Prospect Heights FPD photo
Prospect Heights FPD photo
Prospect Heights FPD photo
Prospect Heights FPD photo
#1 by Drew Smith on August 28, 2022 - 12:13 PM
We (PHFD) are experiencing some staffing issues. On the full time side we are currently short a BC, a LT, and two FFs. Plus we have two FFs off injured. We had a third injured but he returned to full duty last week. Of the remaining 14 full timers, many have been working 48/24s to maintain staffing. On the part time side we are down to just 8. We have two graduating from the academy next week. We have at least three immediate openings for FF/EMTs. With all that said, we have had several days in the past few months where Station 39 has been closed due to a lack of staffing. We simply cannot afford the human cost of excessive work nor the financial cost. We have spent our entire overtime budget and then some and we are only two-thirds of the way through the year. Add onto that that Cook County is not likely to collect the fall property taxes usually paid in September until December at the earliest. I am optimistic that the officer position will be filled by the end of November and that our injured members will get well and return too. And, hopefully more people will realize what a great profession the fire service is and join the ranks not only with the PHFD but elsewhere.
#2 by Mike on August 28, 2022 - 8:26 AM
I just read P Heights battalion testing and it said station 9 and 39 are both staffed with 3 people each shift and act as jump companies. So the shift is 7 per day.
#3 by Pat on August 28, 2022 - 6:52 AM
Is Engine 39 still manned on Wolf Rd?