Tim Olk visited the large mulch fire which has been burning since Saturday (12-28-13) at 5300 Lawndale in McCook. Tim reports that companies were there again today and that a private contractor has been hired to mitigate the fire.
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
This from Josh Boyajian:
Here are some of my pictures of the new 6-7-6 flowing water in McCook at their mulch fire.
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Josh Boyajian photo
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Josh Boyajian photoCFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Josh Boyajian photo
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Josh Boyajian photo
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Josh Boyajian photo
McCook engine at the scene. Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
The McCook Fire Department has been working a large mulch fire since 8AM at 5300 Lawndale. For much of the day they used a tanker shuttle to provide water. The fire is burning on the back side of a huge mulch pile where there is no access.
Late this afternoon, they released the tankers and requested a hose wagon (6-1-2) and turret wagon (6-7-6) from Chicago. The new 6-7-6 is on the scene at what is believed to be the first deployment of the new unit.
Several contributors are or have been at the scene. Several cell phone images have been submitted from Josh Boyajian and Tim Olk, and we look forward to more images later tonight. This will be an extended operation.
Josh Boyajian photo
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Tim Olk photo
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Tim Olk photo
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Tim Olk photo
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Tim Olk photo
CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-6 works at a large mulch pile fire in McCook. Tim Olk photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Apr 28
This from Erik Haak:
At 1950hrs on Saturday, April 27th, the McCook Fire Department was paged out to the report of an explosion occurring at a metal grinding company at 4828 S. Lawndale. First arriving companies confirmed smoke showing from the A and D sides at 1954hrs and elevated the response to a full still. The fire was contained in the 125 x 325 1-story rear section of the complex which included several additions that were not involved. At 2012hrs, command pulled MABAS Division 10 Box #14-01 after companies reported heavy smoke conditions in the interior. Several aerials were used to combat the slow burning fire that had melted through fiberglass portions of the roof. Riverside Truck 1629 operated from the northeast corner of the building and within the complex’s fenced-in lot. It’s aerial can be seen raised in several of the photos. Brookfield Truck 419 operated an aerial from the southeast corner and was set up on Lawndale. Bedford Park Truck 705 operated a stream from inside the complex on the south side of the building. Pleasantview Truck 1519 operated a master stream from the northwest corner of the complex and was set up on Clyde Terrace. Tri-State Truck 529 was set up off of the Joliet Road side of the building but never raised their aerial. Lyons Squad 1316 lit up the east side of the building where most of the fireground activity occurred. McCook Engine 1416 can also be seen supplying water to Riverside’s Truck as well as several handlines. Images pictured were taken approximately one hour into the incident.
Bedford Park FD Snorkel. Erik Haak photo
Brookfield FD Truck 419. Erik Haak photo
Lyons Squad 1316. Erik Haak photo
McCook Engine 1416. Erik Haak photo
Pleasantview Truc 1519. Erik Haak photo
This from Josh Boyajian:
McCook had a full still tonight at 9550 w Sergo. Companies were initially dispatched for an AFA and arrived to find a fire inside a 200×50 non-combustable building. McCook upgraded to a Full Still Alarm which brought in more surrounding auto aid. Later in the incident, command requested a Mabas 10 investigators box along with their MVU stationed in Lyons. Here are some pictures.
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Aug 31
Steve Redick joined several other photographers recently taking pictures of south side CFD houses and several suburban departments. He has submitted images illustrating the McCook Fire Department.
McCook 1480. Steve Redick photo
McCook Ambulance 1414. Steve Redick photo
McCook Engine 1416. Steve Redick photo
McCook Engine 1411. Steve Redick photo
McCook Squad 1418. Steve Redick photo
Departments in MABAS Division 10 are featured in this next installment of The Color of Fire Trucks series.
Clarendon Hills ran this 1986 50′ TeleSqurt built by Pierce on a Mack CF chassis. Engine 349 had a 1,500-GPM pump and carried 500 gallons of water. Larry Shapiro photo
The Clarendon Hills Fire Department runs with apparatus that is painted white over a bright yellow. They currently have a fleet of four units with these colors.
One of several E-ONE units purchased by the Darien-Woodridge FPD was this 1990 top-mount Hurricane engine with 1,000 gallons of water and a 1,500-GPM pump. It ran as Engine 371. Larry Shapiro photo
The Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District currently runs with red and white apparatus. Their newest unit is solid red, and with this purchase they will retire one of the last of their lime-green apparatus which dominated their fleet for many years.
Riverside Engine 306 ran with this 1978 Ford C-8000/Seagrave. It had a 1,250-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water. Bill Friedrich photo
Forest View ran with one of the popular small DOT spec rescue squads like many other area departments. Squad 816 was built by E-ONE in 1980 on a GMC chassis. Bill Friedrich photo
One of many units that has been purchased over the years for service in Hinsdale was this 1982 E-ONE Protector IV engine. Running as Engine 343, it was built on a Hendrickson chassis with an 1871-W cab, and carried 500 gallons of water with a 1,250-GPM pump. Larry Shapiro photo
The Westmont Fire Department purchased this white and lime engine from FTI in 1978. It featured a 1,250-GPM pump with 500 gallons of water. It was built on a Pemfab chassis with their ‘wedge’ (Model 932-T) cab. Bill Friedrich photo
Willow Springs purchased this unusual 95′ tower ladder from E-ONE in 2001. Painted black, tower 600 had a 1,500-GPM pump with 300 gallons of water on a Cyclone chassis. Bill Friedrich photo
The Argonne Labs Fire Department put together this brush rig with a 1975 IHC pickup. Brush 75 had a 70-GPM pump and a 250-gallon water tank. Bill Friedrich photo
One of the many units that saw service in Western Springs when their apparatus was painted white was this 1981 Pierce Arrow engine. It was one of the early Pierce Arrow models with a chassis that was made by Oshkosh. Engine 437 had a 1,500-GPM pump with 750 gallons of water. The top-mount control station featured a hand-rail due to the large and spacious area.At this point in time, Pierce was building the cab and body. It wasn’t until later that they began to assemble the entire chassis. Larry Shapiro photo
The only unit that the Romeoville Fire Department has run with that was not red was this 1979 E-ONE (DOT) light-duty rescue on a Ford F-350 chassis. Perhaps what is most unusual about this is that these were normally delivered lime green. Bill Friedrich photo
Romeoville had a white light-duty rescue by E-ONE. Most of these units were delivered lime green as per the DOT spec.
This was one of two Seagrave engines that was purchased by the McCook Fire Department and was painted yellow. Engine 379, built in 1979, had 500 gallons of water with a 1,250-GPM pump. Bill Friedrich photo
Many years ago, the McCook Fire Department had red apparatus, then they switched to bright yellow for several years before the fleet was changed again to red and white.
The McCook Fire Department responded to an industrial fire this afternoon (Monday) at 9550 Joliet Road. They encountered fire inside a tool manufacturing facility and upgraded the alarm to a Full Still bringing aid from the Pleasantview and Tristate Fire Protection District, Brookfield and Lyons Fire Departments. Evidently while an employee was welding, sparks or embers traveling into a vent ignited the filter. Flames then spread to nearby pallets.
The fire was contained to a relatively small area and produced a significant amount of smoke throughout the plant. McCook called for the new MABAS Division 10 Mobile Ventilation Unit housed in Lyons to help clear the facility.
Tim Olk was … on the scene shortly after the fire came out and submitted several images.
McCook Engine 1411, a 2001 Spartan/Luverne is on the standpipe outside the building. Tim Olk photo
The MABAS Division 10 MVU out of Lyons was put to work at the fire in McCook. Tim Olk photo
Pleasantview Quint 1539 was also on Joliet Road, Tim Olk photo
Lyons Squad 1312 was prepared to supply the Pleasantview quint. Tim Olk photo
Pleasantview Quint 1539 was on a hydrant. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters exit the roof via the main of the Brookfield truck. Tim Olk photo
The Tristate battalion chief was at the scene. Tim Olk photo
The MABAS MVU was working from an overhead door in the rear of the facility. Tim Olk photo
The Lake Forest Fire Department and the Lake Forest Police Department held a special remembrance ceremony on Sunday to remember the deaths of 2977 people including the 343 uniformed members of the FDNY, 23 members of the NYPD, and the 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department.
The event was held at the Market Square in downtown Lake Forest. Aerials from Lake Forest and Knollwood were crossed over the square and supported an American flag. The ceremony featured several speakers and a bell ringing ceremony.
Tim Olk was at the ceremony and submitted several images.
Knollwood and Lake Forest aerials were extended and crossed over the Market Square in Lake Forest where a ceremony took place to mark the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Tim Olk photo
An honor guard made up of Lake Forest police officers and firefighters march the colors into the ceremony. Tim Olk photo
The honor guard prepares to post the colors as uniformed members of the police and fire departments stand on either side of the fountain. Tim Olk photo
Uniformed members from Lake Forest and Knollwood stand in formation during the ceremony. Tim Olk photo
Lake Forest Fire Chief Jeffrey Howell addressed the assembled firefighters and guests. Tim Olk photo
Local residents attended the ceremony and this young man took the opportunity to show his patriotism. Tim Olk photo
The ceremony was attended by several retired Lake Forest firefighters. Tim Olk photo
A traditional bell ringing ceremony was part of the program. Tim Olk photo
The Lake Forest mayor is the owner of this refurbished 1977 Seagrave P-series engine that formerly saw service in McCook. The engine was on display at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Tim Olk photo
The engine owned by the Lake Forest mayor used to be painted yellow as seen here when it belonged to McCook. Bill Friedrich photo
A gallery with many images can be viewed HERE.
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
