This from Matt Schumann:
Spotted at the Champaign 150th AnniversaryIFSI S-1 – 1984 Spartan Gladiator/Frontline heavy rescue xNorth Palos FPDRegards,Matt
Former North Palos FPD Spartan Gladiator/Frontline heavy rescue squad at the Illinois Fire Service Institute. Matt Schumann photo
During a collaborative research project underway now at the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), researchers are not only testing contaminates on the gear, but on skin as well. They’re also monitoring gases created as furniture and carpeting burn. But, that’s just part of the multi-faceted study involving researchers from IFSI, UL, NIOSH, University of Illinois, Chicago, and Skidmore College.
… 12 Illinois firefighters and researchers got underway [with] Each firefighter [having] blood drawn, vitals and temperatures checked. Urine samples were tested for certain markers as well as hydration. They were equipped with a device that will monitor the heart for the next 12 hours.
Dr. Denise Smith explained that part of the research is determining the impact of firefighting on the cardio-vascular system. “We talk about putting the rig back in service. How long does it take to get a firefighter back in service? We’re looking to see if there are changes hours after the firefighter does their work.”
Each year, dozens of firefighters die not on the fireground, but hours after the incident.
Firefighters participating in the study wore new gear to make sure samples were not skewed. They carried three chemical collection units, smaller than portable radios, in their coat pockets. When they completed their tasks, these was removed and tested.
UL and NIOSH engineers set up sensitive equipment to monitor gases and heat inside the rooms that would burn or exposed to smoke and heat.
UL Research Engineer Robin Zevotek set up thermal sensors from the floor to ceiling two feet apart in rooms that would burn. In other areas, they were placed a foot apart. During the scenario, he would be able to watch the temperatures on a nearby monitor.
In a hallway, devices would capture the data at one, three and five foot levels. The lowest would be where a victim would likely be, while others would be firefighters either crawling or walking.
Bill Friedrich submitted a link to the Illinois Fire Service Institute Firefighter Record, which outlines the events and reporting of an incident that resulted in the death of three Naperville firefighters on December 7, 1970 as the result of a collision between the engine that they were riding in and a semi-trailer while en-route to a house fire.
INCIDENT SUMMARY:
On December 7, 1970, the Naperville Fire Department received an alarm at 7:55AM for a house fire west of the city. Firefighters immediately responded, but a fire truck carrying five firefighters collided with a semi-trailer truck at the intersection of Illinois Routes 59 and 65. Several fatal car accidents had occurred at the intersection during the preceding years and traffic lights had been installed at the intersection only two weeks prior to the accident.
Lieutenant Richard Rechenmacher, Engineer Jerry Herring, and Firefighter Bernard Petrowski, who were riding in the cab of the fire truck, were all thrown from the vehicle by the collision and killed instantly. Firefighter Mike Hill, who was also riding in the truck’s cab, was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but Firefighter James Heinke, who was riding on the tailboard of the fire truck, escaped injury. Mutual aid responders from the Moecherville Fire Department responded to the house fire, and the Downers Grove Fire Department sent firefighters and fire apparatus to Naperville to assist with fire calls.
The report includes radio logs, the original accident report and photographs from the scene.
A photo from the accident scene showing the crushed cab of the Naperville Mack-C engine and the overturned semi in the rear. Photo ©Naperville Fire Department
Delivery photo supplied by Bill Friedrich of the 1967 Mack C95F engine.
Another photo history gallery has been added to the site. Stone Park, in MABAS Division 20 has a gallery HERE showing apparatus dating back to 1954. Their history is rich with Darley and E-ONE rigs, and a classic custom Pirsch.
One of their current engines was an emergency purchase to replace a 2002 HME/Darley engine that was damaged beyond repair in a traffic collision on April 27, 2004. The accident involved the Stone Park engine and a Northlake engine, both of which were responding to an alarm. The collision resulted in the death of Jeffrey Bergstrom, a part-time firefighter for the Stone Park Fire Department. The Illinois Fire Service Institute Firefighter Record has a summary of the accident with scene photos. The article includes the following:
In addition to serving as a part-time firefighter and paramedic for the Stone Park Fire Department, Bergstrom was also a paramedic for Ambulance Company 44 of the Chicago Fire Department. Firefighters and paramedics from both departments joined firefighters from around the country in paying tribute to Bergstrom during a funeral procession through several Chicago suburbs and at a memorial service in Hillside, Illinois.
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
