From the Pierce Flickr site:
Pierce, McCook, IL, 37434-1
Pierce composite
thanks Martin
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
Personnel photos
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
#1 by Tom Foley on December 3, 2022 - 3:10 PM
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With respect to calling mutual aide to McCook instead, this isn’t necessarily viable as many neighboring trucks are jump companies and not manned. I think the nearest manned (in MABAS10) is Pleasantview. Bedford, too, just not MABAS10. Western Springs, Brookfield, LGPK each have aerials, but I don’t believe they are staffed. So, the engine and ambo are out on a medical call, those aerials are just sitting in bays. I think Hinsdale was manned for a time… maybe still is… hear mixed stories about their current aerial’s state.
I would be curious if McCook runs this truck first due for all calls? Even medical. On the one hand, lots of potential wear on an expensive unit. On the other, having a nice aerial does no good sitting in a bay with no staff if the engine/squad crew are on a call.
Indeed, staffing an apparatus availability in MABAS10 is interesting. At present, there have been quite a few acquisitions of apparatus… manpower for them is another story.
#2 by Mike hellmuth on November 30, 2022 - 4:43 PM
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In reference to the Palos Heights, Palos park,.and Orland fire districts
merging it would make sense especially the two Palos Districts since Palos Heights hasn’t had a truck company in many years and Palos park is probably always the first due truck company….
.
#3 by Rj on November 30, 2022 - 11:19 AM
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For the amount of times a tower is TRULY needed in a year in Mccook, you could probably count those instances on one hand, they would be much better off using auto aid, they are surrounded by trucks. Buy a solid pumper squad and run that all day. Mini pumper is a waste too. How many rigs can three guys staff?
#4 by Localguy on November 30, 2022 - 10:20 AM
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I bet this tower was closer to 1.8 million.
#5 by Chicagoland fire photos on November 30, 2022 - 8:09 AM
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Dan,
I believe the tower was purchased due to the heavy industrial area that McCook has Lots of warehouses, Shops, and other commercial buildings.
#6 by Tim on November 30, 2022 - 6:37 AM
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Danny you’re correct regarding the Willow Springs tower.
#7 by Craig Mack on November 29, 2022 - 10:30 PM
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I understand that it was bought with private money Harry. But maybe whoever is in charge of that donated money should request proper staffing before they buy toys. Alas, that is the problem with the small suburbs. More toys in the firehouses then there are men on shift. Time after time.
If my house was on fire I would rather have 5 union firemen pulling up in an old junk box then 2 guys pulling up in a shiny toy.
#8 by Dan on November 29, 2022 - 9:52 PM
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Ok, so, according to the McCook fire department web site, they have 250 residents in the district.
So, unless there are some skyscrapers in the town, why would you buy about a million dollar truck?
#9 by Danny on November 29, 2022 - 9:16 PM
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Someone can correct me on this if I’m wrong but I was always under the impression that the reason that Willow Springs had one tower ladder that was black and didn’t resemble anything else in the Fleet was because the developer who paid for it ended up getting to pick the color.
#10 by Josh on November 29, 2022 - 2:23 PM
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I know it went to a vote years ago and got voted down, but Pleasantview would be the best solution for consolidation. Where all these suburbs sooner or if not now, are hurting tremendously for manpower. There just isn’t enough people (certified firemen, emts, and medics) to go around now a days. It’ll be very interesting to see what happens in the near future to these small western suburbs. Stickney, Forest View, Central Stickney, Summit, McCook, Lyons, Riverside, LaGrange Park, etc, are fighting for better manning and trying their best to maintain a good roster but there just isn’t a lot of people coming up the chain into our profession.
#11 by Tom on November 29, 2022 - 12:12 PM
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http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/2021/04/new-mini-pumper-for-mccook-fd/
#12 by Ed on November 29, 2022 - 8:32 AM
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McCook is a prime example of consolidation. Just like Palos and Palos Heights. Orland should just absorb them and have a bigger unified district. It would be way more beneficial to the residents.
#13 by Rich on November 29, 2022 - 4:48 AM
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Pleasantville should take or absorb McCook
#14 by FD 912 on November 28, 2022 - 10:49 PM
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I believe the fact that it is black is very relevant and I just hope that it never creates more issues with people seeing it, versus red apparatus. The color is definitely a big deal from a safety standpoint. I am not a firefighter but I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, or worse; especially people that I know from McCook and other departments in the area. Why make things even worse than they already are, compared to red rigs? The only black rigs I have seen that look good are the ones from the Jack Daniel’s distillery, and I very strongly dislike them too, from a safety standpoint. If anything they should have been for display only, not working fire apparatus. (And yes I’ve done research and I know that they have only about 100 calls per year, more or less, but in my opinion that creates 100 potentials for a safety issue due to even further reduced visibility with black rigs.) It’s just a totally unnecessary and very avoidable risk.
#15 by Tom Foley on November 28, 2022 - 10:49 PM
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It will be interesting to see if staffing will be updated. There is a lot of new development on the EMD location. Perhaps some of that tax revenue…?
I personally contend a fire district for Bedford, Stickney, and McCook could make sense. Or, Pleasantview absorbs McCook.
#16 by Harry on November 28, 2022 - 8:35 PM
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Craig I don’t think the village has bought a new engine in years so I would say this is likely a good buy
#17 by Martin on November 28, 2022 - 7:32 PM
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McCook has a F550 Demers on order.
#18 by Martin on November 28, 2022 - 7:28 PM
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McCook also has an ambulance coming.
#19 by Rob on November 28, 2022 - 11:47 AM
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I believe the staffing consists of 9 full time contract through Metro plus the chief not sure if he is village or contract employee. So manning is 3 per shift which makes this a jump company between the ambo, squad and now the tower.
#20 by Craig Mack on November 28, 2022 - 10:26 AM
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If “people that don’t know what they’re doing, but enjoy spending other people’s money” was a fire truck…here it is lol
#21 by Austin on November 28, 2022 - 9:15 AM
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I don’t think there will be any issues with people seeing it. People crash into all red fire engines, so the color is not that big of a deal from a safety standpoint. This truck just isn’t very good looking, I have seen black apparatus that looks really good.
#22 by crabbymilton on November 28, 2022 - 6:17 AM
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Always a nice surprise to see a black apparatus.
#23 by Rusty on November 27, 2022 - 6:42 PM
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Not only is the black hideous. Wait till they use wash brushes on the black. That thing will look like its 10 years old after 1 Chicago Winter. Oh yeah and the Aluminum Wheels on the Steer Axle and Stainless Covers on the rear steel wheels looks horrible.
#24 by Tim on November 27, 2022 - 6:31 PM
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The color at night is irrelevant. It has it’s NFPA stripping and it’s NFPA zone lighting requirements.
#25 by Martin on November 27, 2022 - 6:20 PM
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Update to my comment about the mayor and Trustees. They are father and son.
#26 by Mike hellmuth on November 27, 2022 - 4:43 PM
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I agree with the visibility problem at night they need to light it up like a Christmas tree!!!!
#27 by Chicagoland fire photos on November 27, 2022 - 4:10 PM
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Can someone explain their staffing again it doesn’t make much sense.
#28 by FD 912 on November 27, 2022 - 3:45 PM
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This is the complete and total opposite of being visible on the scene of an incident. It is ridiculously ugly. It figures that it’s this color, all things considered (see other comment). ?????????
#29 by Martin on November 27, 2022 - 3:31 PM
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I don’t want to start any political stuff but this mayor for McCook can also be found on the Willow Springs Trustees. Interesting how they have got a truck in this color.