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Posts Tagged Peoria FIre Department

Peoria Fire Department news

Jul 26

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from centralillinoisproud.com:

Peoria’s second annual Fill the Fire Truck drive will be supplying students with more than 800 backpacks filled with school supplies this year.

The initiative is a partnership between the Peoria Fire Department and the Afro-American Firefighters of Peoria. Last year they hoped to fill 50 backpacks and ended up exceeding their expectations by giving out more than 300.

This year, they more than doubled that amount of supplies, which would fill between three and four fire trucks.

Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said he hopes to see the drive grow even larger in years to come.

The backpacks will be distributed out at Trewyn Park Thursday during the Peoria Park District’s “The Streets Belong to Me” event. The fire trucks will be there at 6 p.m.

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Peoria Heights Fire Department news (more)

Jul 23

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Excerpts from 25newsnow.com:

Fire services in Peoria Heights will now be taken care of by two municipalities.

Village trustees approved a contract with the city of Peoria at its regular meeting Tuesday evening.  The village will spend more than $300,000 to have Peoria supplement and help out on fire calls Peoria Heights receives.

With the assistance of the Peoria Fire Department, 90% of Peoria Heights will have a response time of under four minutes for fire calls.

The contract is needed because volunteers within the Peoria Heights Fire Department have decreased, to the point where disbanding the 106-year-old department was considered.

Peoria Heights is also seeking a new fire chief, who will be tasked with trying to increase numbers in the department. Previous chiefs have tried cadet programs at Peoria Heights High School to help increase numbers., but it’s still a struggle to find volunteers.

Applications for a fire chief have come in, and interviews should be happening in the near future.

 

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Peoria Heights Fire Department news (more)

Jun 29

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Excerpts from 25newsnow.com:

The room was packed Tuesday afternoon in the Peoria Heights Village Hall for a historic public safety decision.

During the special meeting, the village went back and forth on whether to outsource the 106-year-old volunteer fire department to the City of Peoria.

The concerns and frustrations were visible on the faces of the firefighters, EMTs, and residents in attendance. The board of trustees weighed all options, with representatives of both Peoria Heights and Peoria fire departments on hand to answer questions.

Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger made it clear that the Peoria Heights administration approached City Manager Patrick Urich on if a change would help. He added Peoria fire could get to 93% of calls in Peoria Heights within four minutes.

Two trustees said the most surprising comment came from fellow trustee Matt Wigginton.

He said there is an Illinois law saying local governments serving more than 500 people cannot abolish a fire department without passing a voter referendum.

“In all of our discussions, we’ve heard it’s either this or that,” said Trustee Wigginton. “It’s either you do this and can’t do that. Well, I think we can do both. And frankly, I don’t see another way legally to do it.”

Wigginton said it’s possible to use a model that would use both fire departments.

No action was taken on the proposed idea.

The Peoria Heights Village Board is expected to meet on the matter again next month. No date has been set.

thanks Dennis

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Peoria Heights Fire Department news

Jun 27

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 4 Comments

Excerpts from 25newsnow.com:

The Peoria Heights Village Board of Trustees has wrestled with whether or not to outsource its volunteer fire department, but there were talks of transferring the services to the City of Peoria during last week’s board meeting.

The Village of Peoria Heights has discussed this potential move since 20-19. The village administrator believes it could better protect residents, but Peoria fire’s projected costs for fire calls and EMS services would exceed the budgeted amount for 2022 in Peoria Heights. The budget for all fire and EMS last year was $407,000. The projected cost for fire calls alone, if the board of trustees outsources the service, is $1,600 per call.

It’s unclear whether any agreement would be per call or a flat annual rate.

Terms of the contract have not been negotiated yet. The mayor of Peoria Heights said they can’t afford to pay a professional department, and the citizens of the village deserve to have more than one firefighter on duty at a time.

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Peoria Fire Department news

Jun 24

Posted by Admin in Fire Scene video | Comments off

Excerpts from nbc5chicago.com:

A harrowing rescue involving a five-year-old jumping to safety during an apartment fire in Peoria was caught on body-camera footage earlier this week.

According to officials, Peoria County deputies at 10:25 p.m. Tuesday responded to an apartment fire at the Edgewood Apartment complex in the 2700 block of Radan Court. Upon arrival, deputies reported flames coming out of the building, and family of four trapped on the third floor.

In a press release, the Peoria County Sherriff’s Office says deputies attempted to make entry into the building, but that flames had overtaken the hallway. Video and photos from the scene posted to the Sherriff’s office Facebook page show officers attempting to enter a stairwell engulfed in flames.

According to the release, deputies worked with citizens and used a blanket to catch a five-year-old, who had been trapped on the third floor by the blaze.

Body-camera video from the scene shows neighbors and fire officials urgently directing the child to jump out of a window, shouting “Now! Now!” The video goes on to show the group eventually catching the child safely in the blanket.

According to officials the three other family members in the apartment were also rescued from the fire. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

thanks Rob

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As seen around … Peoria

Jun 13

Posted by Admin in FIre Stations, Fire Truck photos | 4 Comments

This from Michael Maida:

There have been several postings on the website recently regarding the Peoria FD. I had an opportunity to go to there recently and was able to see some of what has been talked about.  I stopped by Peoria Fire stations 3, 11, and 15.  Station 3 is home to Engine 3 and Truck 3.  Station 11 is home to Engine 11 and Rescue 1.  Engine 11 and Rescue 1 are jump companies as are Engine 3 and Truck 3.   They have a mixed fleet of KME, Pierce, and E-One.  Engine 11 is back in service in that neighborhood after 20 years.
Mike Maida
#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #PeoriaFD; #MicaelMaida; #FireTruck;

Michael Maida photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #PeoriaFD; #MicaelMaida; #FireTruck; #EONE;

Michael Maida photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #PeoriaFD; #MicaelMaida; #FireTruck; #pierce;

Michael Maida photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #FireTruck; #PeoriaFD; #MicaelMaida; #FireTruck;

Michael Maida photo

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Peoria Fire Department news

Jun 12

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Excerpts from centralillinoisproud.com:

The Peoria Fire Department has launched their first apprenticeship program. It is a three-year program designed to train and educate those between the ages of 18-21 about the firefighter profession.

The department has been working on the creation of this program since last year. It’s meant to create opportunities for young Peoria residents while also diversifying the workforce. Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said that while they only have 3 apprentices this year, it is a long-term process.

“We have this gap between 18 to 21 that we’re trying to fill, and we know that some people may look at this and be like ‘you’re only talking about 3 people,’ well that’s just the start, if we can show a level of success with this program, we’re hoping to be able to expand that from 3 firefighters to 4, 5, 6, wherever this leads us,” Sollberger said.

Even though they’re only a few days into the program, apprentices say they feel like a part of the group already.

Chief Sollberger also said that the goal of the program is that by the end of the 3 years, apprentices will be trained and certified in all aspects of firefighting.

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Of interest … Dr. Elsburgh Clarke

Mar 31

Posted by Admin in Fire Service News | Comments off

Excerpts from wcbu.org:

While some doctors play golf or tennis on their days off, one local emergency room physician spends his free time riding along with the Peoria Fire Department with his camera.

Dr. Elsburgh Clarke is an ER doctor at Hopedale Medical Complex. He’s been working in emergency medicine for more than 40 years and previously trained at LA County Hospital, where he began taking photographs.

“I started to do pictures in the ER. I have multiple pictures from back in the day, back in 1977, ‘78 when ‘ER’ was just coming about,” said Clarke, referring to the TV show.

Growing up, Clarke said he always knew he would be an FBI agent, a fireman, or a doctor. While he ended up as the latter, he always took an interest in fire departments, frequently following fire engines around whenever he could.

Once Clarke moved to Peoria in 2004 to continue his profession in emergency medicine, he met with then-Peoria Fire Department Chief Tony Ardis to ask if he could ride along with the department and take photographs. Ardis agreed, and the rest is history, literally.

“From 2004 to 2023, I’ve documented the Peoria Fire Department for 20 some-odd years, and it’s never been done before,” said Clarke.

Clarke’s portfolio, entitled “Eyes of Fire,” recently culminated in a Peoria Fire 2022 Yearbook.

“I want the world to see the eyes of a fireman…when they look at one photograph or one scene, it shows their dedication, their eyes, their intensity, their commitment…their loyalty,” said Clarke.

Clarke noted he’s not interested in taking the standard, grip and grin type photographs. Instead, he wants people to see what this line of work really entails. And according to Clarke, the response from the Peoria Fire Department has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I’m honored and humbled,” said Clarke, noting that none of his work is produced with the expectation of any accolades. According to Clarke, the family he has made within the Peoria Fire Department is much more important.

“I get chills. They are my extended family. Seriously, I have never been so blessed and so happy to have them,” Clarke said. “They’re like my brothers and sisters and they have welcomed me into their departments in full.”

Notably, Clarke said when he put this project into motion back in 2004, he always expected it to continue for this long. In fact, he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

Clarke also occasionally rides along with the police department and the SWAT team. He said he’s really just a kid at heart who loves seeking adrenaline and highlighting the important work that emergency personnel do on a daily basis.

For those interested in purchasing “Peoria Fire 2022 Yearbook,” or any of Dr. Elsburgh Clarke’s other work, email him at elsburgh@gmail.com.

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Peoria Fire Department news

Feb 15

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from centralilliinoisproud.com:

The only fire station in Peoria to bear someone’s name is named for the city’s first Black firefighter, who paved the way for future generations.

Edward B. Gaines Jr. served as Peoria’s first Black firefighter from 1957 to 1978. In October 2022, Fire Station 4 in South Peoria opened with his name on it.

James McCoy, retired Peoria firefighter and past president of the Afro-American Firefighters’ Association, said Gaines was a “guiding light” who overcame many obstacles and broke barriers.

“You got to keep in mind the time that we were dealing with. Jim Crow laws at that time, African Americans were viewed as second-class citizens, so there were a lot of different adversities that Mr. Gaines had to go through when he came onto the job,” he said.

Gaines’ nephew said his uncle had to deal with a lot of racism from his coworkers, who believed he was not their equal, but Gaines had tough skin and persevered, showing up every day for more than 20 years.

McCoy said Gaines taught others to stay professional, no matter what.

“He would actually teach you that you got to persevere and be willing to go through things you know are not right. Because if you act up, or respond the way most people want to respond, you’re going to hurt the opportunity for somebody coming along behind you later,” he said.

Through the fire station and trucks bearing his name, Gaines will continue to inspire generations of young Black men to become firefighters,

Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said the visibility of Gaines’ name will continue to keep his legacy alive.

Fire Station 4 is located on Western Avenue in South Peoria.

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Peoria Fire Department news

Aug 24

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from hoiabc.com:

The Peoria Fire Department was called about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday to a three-vehicle collision on NE Randolph and Hamilton Boulevard in which one of the cars rolled on its side. An engine on its way to the crash scene was hit by another vehicle at Columbia Terrace and North Street.

Four of the seven people injured in the initial collision were taken to a local hospital. They were expected to be treated and released. Three others declined hospital treatment.

No one was hurt in the second crash, including the three firefighters. Police ticketed the other driver. The engine had damage to the rear axle and bumper, and will be repaired.

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