This from Dan McInerney:
Chicago Fire Department – 2-11 Alarm of fire at 8625 W. Foster 12/5/25Fire started in a third floor apartment and spread to the cockloft. Companies were faced with water issues (lack of hydrants nearby), access issues, long leadouts, and ice.
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Excerpts from wgld.org:
The senior member of the Normal Town Council says there’s something missing in the debate over closing the College Avenue fire station when a new east side station opens in a couple months.
Firefighters have said increases in call volume in central Normal will create a gap in service when the closure happens. But Mayor Pro Tempore Kevin McCarthy said that ignores the idea that responses come from more than just ambulance and fire trucks.
He said there are several ways for the system to meet the standard of a 4–6-minute response 90% of the time, including mutual aid responses from Bloomington, which are being talked about as a failure of the system which he claims they are not; they are a designed piece of the system. And Computer Aided Dispatch, which went into service in July, will speed up responses because the system knows where all vehicles are all the time.
The town has said Bloomington units respond to Normal and Normal units to Bloomington in roughly equal measure, even though Bloomington is larger.
McCarthy said records show most fire department units still spend most of the time available at stations and that the union study is not the only data out there. He says a lot of town research has gone into selecting sites for fire stations including the new one at Shepard and Hershey roads that will open when the College Avenue station closes.
The town will eventually relocate the third fire station, currently on Raab Road, possibly further west on Raab in an effort to offer better service on the west side of town, but the precise location will depend on property availability and on a future data study by the town.
Kris Newcomb, the system coordinator of the McLean County Area EMS System – Office of the Medical Director, sent a letter to council members urging them to embrace the union study.
“The tenuous state of EMS coverage in our community mirrors the broader EMS workforce challenges seen across the nation. However, local inaction amplifies the problem,” wrote Newcomb.
The system was established in 1999 as a collaboration between Carle BroMenn Medical Center and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, according to the organization website. It represents 48 EMS agencies and over 900 providers from a mix of public, private, fire-based, third-service, industrial, university, and dispatch agencies. The system also partners with Heartland Community College on a paramedic training program.
Newcomb cited rising demand for service and said the refusal of the town council to acknowledge that increase “coupled with stagnant staffing will lead to delayed response times, diminished quality of care, and increased provider burnout and turnover.”
McCarthy rejected Newcomb’s description of EMS service as “tenuous.”
“My understanding of that situation is that was that individual’s personal political viewpoint. That was not the viewpoint of the agency … The agency sponsors and funders were made aware of that letter … and apologized and reiterated that does not reflect the official position of that agency and that service,” said McCarthy.
thanks Martin
This from 312firephotos:
Chief 2900 was en route to another call when he found an abandoned building at 3248 W 135th St with smoke showing. He called for a working fire response for a one-story, frame house approximately 20 X 30 fully-involved. Crews encountered water supply issues and ended up shuttling water using engines.More photos can be seen here:
312firephotos
312firephotos
312firephotos
312firephotos
Found at palatine.il.us:
Apply to Become a Firefighter
Click Here- Application (IO Solutions)
Application Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Minimum Requirements:
- Eligible to work in the United States
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver’s license at the time of application; Valid Illinois driver’s license due at time of hire
- Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, but not older than thirty-five (35) years of age by the date of the written exam except as otherwise provided by statute.
- Attend and pass the written exam, orientation, and all phases of testing, which can include polygraph test, background investigation, psychological assessment, and functional physical evaluation
- Must hold EMT-B, EMT-I or EMT-P license (nationally or IDPH licensed) at the time of application. Must also be valid at the time of hire
- Must have successfully completed the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) and Ladder Climb Exercise with one year period to the date of the written exam.
- Completion of at least 60 semester hours of college credit and/or evidence of OSFM equivalent training or experience, acceptable to the Village of Palatine Fire and Police Commission
- Must have primary residence in Illinois prior to appointment as a probationary firefighter
- Applicant must have 20-40 vision
How To become a FireFighter – Preparing for a career in the Fire Service
Found at iosolutions.com:
Palatine Fire Department
Firefighter/Paramedic Job ApplicationApplication deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Salary range for Firefighter/Paramedic in 2026: $77,503.00 – $127,728.00
Minimum Requirements:
- $35.00 non-refundable application fee
- Eligible to work in the United States
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver’s license at time of application; Valid Illinois driver’s license due at time of hire
- Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, but not older than thirty-five (35) years of age by the date of the written exam except as otherwise provided by statute
- Attend and pass the written exam, orientation, and all phases of testing which can include polygraph test, background investigation, psychological assessment, and a medical evaluation
- Must hold EMT-B, EMT-I or EMT-P license (IDPH licensed or National Registry) at time of application. Must also be valid at time of hire
- Must have successfully completed the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) and Ladder Climb Exercise within one year period prior to the date of the written exam
- Applicants not currently in possession of these certifications can obtain them through the below organizations or any licensed agency. Please click on the below for more information.
- Completion of at least 60 semester hours of college credit and/or evidence of OSFM equivalent training or experience, acceptable to the Village of Palatine Fire and Police Commission
- Must have primary residence in Illinois upon appointment as a probationary firefighter
- Applicant must have at least 20-40 vision in both eyes with or without corrective lenses
Required documentation due 01/09/2026 at 2:00 p.m.:
- Confirmed online application – available after purchase
- Consent and release form (2 pages) – available after purchase
- Copy of diploma (high school, GED, or college)
- Copy of valid driver’s license
- Proof of completion of at least 60 semester hours of college credit (copy of official transcripts required) or equivalent OSFM Certifications (copy of certifications required)
- Transcripts and/or OSFM certifications must add up to a total of at least 60 semester hours
- Copy of valid IDPH or National EMT-B, EMT-I or EMT-P license
- Copy of valid CPAT and ladder climb certification. Must be dated no earlier than February 7, 2025 (due at time of exam)
Testing Information:
Candidates must attend the mandatory examination on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Testing will be held at Harper College with sign-in to begin at 7:30 a.m. Additional details will be supplied to eligible candidates approximately one week before the exam.Application Process Information:
When you have completed the online application, you will receive a confirmation number. You will also need to print and sign the required release form(s) and gather the required documentation listed above for submission to IOS Recruitment by the application deadline. Failure to complete any portion of the application process will eliminate you from further consideration. Please be sure to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements before purchasing the application. Refunds will not be issued for any reason.
From the Long Grove FPD Facebook page:
Our recent ambulance donation to Endeavor Health Care (formally Northwest Community Hospital) was a great success.We are proud to support our partners and honored to serve our community.
More on the 2-11 Alarm church fire on Thanksgiving Day in Chicago, 11-27-25 from Eric Haak:
The fourth fire to strike Chicago during Thanksgiving Day came in at 1345. A massive 80×80, 3-story, frame historic building built in the 1890s as a Swedish Baptist Church. There was also a connected 20×35, 2-story brick that used to be the Sunday School. First-due companies did make a brief interior push. This fire belonged to the 20th Battalion with chiefs being spread thin at two other fires. He requested the Box at 1357 to go defensive. The 2-11 was pulled by 2-2-5 at 1418. At one point, most of the structure collapsed in on itself. Companies were on the scene for nearly six hours.
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
