From Sentineles on Facebook:
The Northwest Homer Fire Protection District in Lockport, Illinois just ordered this Rosenbauer Group Mini Pumper! Northwest Homer FPD is located approximately 40 minutes southwest of Chicago! Thank you to Chief Fonfara and the firefighters of Northwest Homer FPD. This mini pumper will be the third Rosenbauer for the department! THANK YOU Northwest Homer FPD for your continued business!!!Features include:
- FX 1/8″ Aluminum Body
- Ford F550 (4 Door) Chassis
- 1250 GPM Pump
- Leaf Spring Suspension
- Chassis: Ford F550 (4 Door)
- Engine: Ford 6.7L 330 HP
- Emergency Lighting: HiViz
- Pump: Waterous 1250 GPM
- Tank: Pro Poly 300 Gallons
For more info click HERE
#1 by MABAS 21 on March 2, 2025 - 10:22 AM
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Craig Mack,
Do some research into the failed experiment of the utilization of mini pumpers by the Tri-State Fire District in Darien. Granted that they are substantially larger geographically and call volume wise, this had numerous drawbacks. I’m not saying that this may not work for NWHO, however all facets should be researched and considered.
#2 by Craig Mack on March 1, 2025 - 7:57 PM
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Mike, that sounds like a ridiculous comment. It’s nice to have a little pump with 4×4 that can go wherever just in case. Also, if they are running it on ambo calls, it makes way more sense to run a $200k apparatus than beat up a $1 mil or more piece of apparatus. Today’s mini pumpers can probably hold more than double of what a “traditional” pumper from the 80s could. So in the extremely rare instance that they hook an actual fire while coming back from an ambo call, they can do all the basic first in operations while waiting for additional apparatus and manpower anyways. Is the water that comes from the mini pumpers pump not as effective as the big rigs??? Or is it just not “cool” enough??
#3 by Rich on February 28, 2025 - 8:49 PM
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NWH. Should be part of lemont or lockport!
#4 by Mike on February 28, 2025 - 6:15 PM
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Why would they buy a quint or ladder when they’re surrounded by them. When they bought the tanker they should have tried to budget for a crew cab so it can act as an engine also, although I think they only run with 2 on the engine anyways. Getting this is a waste of money that could be used to pay for maintenance and repairs on the engine. It’s just the cost of doing business and running just a pick up truck to chase the ambulance is stupid and absurd. You have no equipment whereas even on this mini pumper you have equipment to handle lost most calls should another come in while you’re out. BTW, it’s just as bad to let the rigs sit turn it is to drive them. Set up a good maintenance program and move on.
#5 by Ryan on February 28, 2025 - 5:32 PM
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Martin, Palos Truck got moved from station 10 on 123rd st to station 9 on 104th Ave. So it’s a little be closer. Orland, Lemont, Palos, and Lockport all have trucks if they need it.
#6 by Martin on February 28, 2025 - 10:41 AM
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Not that long ago I came across data from two calls collected over the last few years (it was posted into a local group.) A resident timed the arrival of apparatus from the department and mutual aid. What they found was the arrival of a ladder truck was about 7-10 minutes depending on where it came from. I haven’t lived in district for a few years, so I can’t verify how accurate the response times were. But seeing that got me thinking more and more about it. What I did check was using google maps and putting Jewels as the destination. I checked against where the area trucks are located. What I did see in regular traffic that Lemont, Orland, Palos were about 12/13 minutes out (regular traffic non responding. Lockport was a little further out about 2 more minutes.
I’ve said it before when they ordered the tanker and I’ll say it again. I believe that the best piece of apparatus the department could have purchased was a quint. Now this mini pumper most likely will become an ambulance chaser to keep miles down on the engines. They could have used one of their pickup trucks to chase the ambulance.
Over all I think they are a great group of firefighters but whoever is making decisions on apparatus isn’t prioritizing the appropriate equipment.