Posts Tagged Plainfield Fire Department

Plainfield Fire Protection District news

From the Plainfield Fire Protection District:

Michael Ludemann

Michael Ludemann. Plainfield FPD photo

It is with profound sadness and deep regret that the Plainfield Fire Protection District announces the passing of our Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) Michael L. Ludemann, Sr., who passed away suddenly on Sunday, February 21, 2016. He was 54 years old.

EVT Michael Ludemann, an 11-year veteran of the Plainfield Fire Protection District, was hired on June 21, 2004. Mike will be remembered by his friends and co-workers as a genuine person that was always willing to help anyone in need. Mike’s sudden passing is profound and will be felt by all the members of his fire family and the community in which he served. Our hearts and deepest condolences go out to his wife Mary and Mike’s family and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 25, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Overman-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, located at the corner of Routes 30 & 59 in Plainfield. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26 at St. John Lutheran Church, located at 2650 Plainfield Rd. in Joliet. Interment will follow at Plainfield Township Cemetery.

thanks Dan

From the Herald-News.com:

The Plainfield Fire Protection District lost a treasured friend when emergency vehicle technician Michael L. Ludemann died suddenly Sunday. Fire Chief David Riddle said Ludemann’s wife, fire district inspector and spokeswoman, Mary Kay Ludemann, told him Michael  wasn’t feeling well Sunday. He was taken to Edward Hospital in Naperville, where he died Sunday afternoon.

“The mood has been very somber here,” Riddle said. “He had no previous history we were aware of that indicated something like this.”

Michael Ludemann fixed and maintained the fire district’s vehicles, but he also made close friendships with those from other Plainfield agencies. Before working for the Plainfield fire district, Ludemann did repair work for the Lockport Township and Downers Grove fire districts.

Riddle said Michael Ludemann touched the lives of everybody who worked with him since he came to the district in 2004. He was well-liked and known as the go-to guy around the fire district.

Riddle said the fire district will honor Michael Ludemann by holding a solemn walk-through at his wake.

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Plainfield Fire District news

Excerpts from the HeraldNews.com:

Plainfield Fire Protection District Chief David Riddle said recently that he has told staff to stop buying certain items after he acknowledged the district may have misused public funds on purchases last year.

The action comes after the Edgar County Watchdogs, revealed that the fire district had, between August 2014 and November 2015, used more than $11,900 on what it deemed questionable purchases made on fire district credit cards. Those items included Christmas gifts, edible arrangements, flowers, massages, food, and parties.

“The changes are immediate,” Riddle said. “I’ve told staff that we’re not buying flowers or edible arrangements for immediate family members of those that passed away [among other purchases].”

Riddle also said he will be more involved with oversight of the district’s Foreign Fire Tax Board, which also was targeted by the watchdog group for spending more than $12,000 on 150 personalized blankets and throw pillows for staff and others in November and December.

Riddle said purchases such as the blankets and pillows, which were paid for by the board, will also stop immediately.

“That’s all we can ask for,” Kraft said about Riddle’s response to the watchdog group’s reports. “Except for maybe reimbursement [to the taxpayers] from whomever was doing the purchasing, we generally ask that they just quit doing it.”

The credit card purchases include more than $1,325 for the annual Turkey Raffle charity auction, $1,300 in Christmas gifts, $1,490 for a retirement party, $724 in edible arrangements, $165 in flowers, $714 for a hog roast, $67.99 for corncob pipes, $75 for massages, and $6,045 for food and parties.

Riddle said he agreed with some of the watchdog group’s assessment, noting that flowers and other gifts have often been sent to the loved ones of people who recently died. “I can make a case that some of these purchases support the fire department,” Riddle said. “But on the other hand, it may not be a good use of taxpayer money.”

Riddle became chief about a year ago, but he said he thinks the purchases were part of traditions started decades ago when the district was a volunteer agency.

thanks Dan

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Area fire departments want to “Keep the Wreath Red”

Excerpts from theHeraldNews.com:

Residents can check to see if there has been a holiday decorations-related fire in their area just by passing the local fire station. If a wreath is lit up completely red, there have been no fires associated with decorations. But if there is a white light on the wreath, it means a fire has occurred during the current holiday season.

The red wreath is one of Illinois fire agencies’ longstanding holiday traditions. It’s part of a campaign to spread safety awareness when putting up lights and other decorations around the home. The “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign was adopted 35 years ago by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. Now several area fire agencies are a part of the campaign.

Plainfield Fire Protection District Inspector Mary Kay Ludemann said the campaign has been working. The last time the district had to change a bulb in its wreath to white was five years ago, when a candle started a residential fire, Ludemann said. She said cooking is the biggest culprit of fires during the holidays, partly because of the amount of family gatherings.

Several other factors are leading to greater fire safety, such as flameless candles that give off a traditional candle scent and more use of artificial Christmas trees.

Romeoville Assistant Fire Chief Jon Ibrahim said technology has played a large part in reducing decoration-related fires. “It’s a way during the time of the year to remind residents to be a little extra safe,” Ibrahim said. “Accidental fires are caused by Christmas decorations, but also by using candles and disposing of the Christmas tree.”

HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY TIPS

• Water real Christmas trees daily and keep them at least 3 feet away from any heat source.

• After Christmas, get rid of the tree in a safe place, not in a garage, home or against the home. They are potent fire hazards when dried out.

• Use lights rated for outdoor use outdoors.• Don’t overload outlets. Have surge protectors.

• Make sure the chimney is clean before starting fires.

• Keep an eye on candles. December is peak season for candle fires.

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New are ambulance deliveries

Ron Wolkoff found these ambulance deliveries on the Foster Coach FaceBook page:

Crystal Lake F450/Horton
Elwood E450/Horton
Norwood ParkE450/Horton
Plainfield F550/Horton
Thornton F450/Horton
Troy F550/Horton
new ambulance photo

Brand new Ford F450 chassis on a custom Horton conversion for Crystal Lake. Foster Coach Sales photo

new ambulance photo

Brand new Ford F550 chassis on a custom Horton conversion for the Troy FPD. Foster Coach Sales photo

new ambulance photo

Brand new Ford F450 chassis on a custom Horton conversion for Thornton. Foster Coach Sales photo

new ambulance photo

Brand new Ford F550 chassis on a custom Horton conversion. for Plainfield. Foster Coach Sales photo

new ambulance photo

Brand new Ford E450 chassis on a custom Horton conversion for the Norwood Park FPD. Foster Coach Sales photo

new ambulance photo

Brand new International 4300 chassis on a custom Horton conversion for Elwood. Foster Coach Sales photo

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Box alarm in Plainfield, 6/12/15

This from Andy Hilk:

I got a couple shots at the fire in Plainfield this afternoon. Fire was on Lincoln Highway (Route 30) south of Renwick Road.  M/A I saw was Lockport, Elwood tower ladder was operating along with Plainfield truck.  Napervile engine 6 also on scene and a few others I could not make out.
Andy Hilk
fire engine hooked to hydrant

Andy Hilk photo

firemen use tower ladder master stream at fire

Andy Hilk photo

Plainfield fire engine at fire scene

Andy Hilk photo

firemen use tower ladder master stream at fire

Andy Hilk photo

Plainfield fire engine at fire scene

Andy Hilk photo

firemen use tower ladder master stream at fire

Andy Hilk photo

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New area apparatus

Martin Nowak spotted the following images on the Pierce Flickr site:

Plainfield FD fire engine

New engine for Plainfield – Pierce so# 26372. Pierce composite

Skokie FD Engine 17 Pierce Dash CF PUC

New Pierce unit for Skokie Engine 17 with Pierce so# 25399. Pierce composite

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Plainfield Box Alarm 6-27-12

This from Jim Skrabel:

Thought you may want a few photos of the fire in Plainfield on Rolf road. The address was 23648 Rolf Road. One house totally destroyed and there was heavy damage to another.
Plainfield Fire Department house fire on Rolf Road 6-27-12

Jim Skrabel photo

Plainfield Fire Department house fire on Rolf Road 6-27-12

Jim Skrabel photo

Plainfield Fire Department house fire on Rolf Road 6-27-12

Jim Skrabel photo

Plainfield Fire Department house fire on Rolf Road 6-27-12

Tanker operations. Jim Skrabel photo

Plainfield Fire Department house fire on Rolf Road 6-27-12

Tanker operations. Jim Skrabel photo

The Herald News Sun has an article that states:

 Fire destroyed one house and damaged another Wednesday night in the 23600 block of Rolf Road.

No one was injured in the fire, which Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton said was reported at 5:41 p.m.

“Crews arrived to find the front of the two-story house on fire, the car on the driveway had started on fire and there were flames on the wall of the house next door from the heavy winds,” Stratton said.

The entire article can be found HERE.

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Homewood Acres FPD update

Dennis McGuire, Jr. stopped by the Homewood Acres Fire Department on Tuesday and submitted several images along with some information about the department.

Notes: The department is NOT up and running yet but they are working towards it. Training is under way and currently they have 15 volunteers.

The old Engine 1932 (1972 Ford-John Bean) has been sold to a gentleman in Grant Park, Illinois who owns a pawn shop in Flossmoor. It’s leaving tomorrow morning (5-30) and will be kept in Grant Park and driven to the pawn shop for use as advertising.(As a note, the Ford has a gas motor). This rig had quite a history; X-East Joliet FPD, X-Holbrook FPD, and X-Glenwood, Illinois, in that order.

Homewood Acres Fire Protection District

Engine 1932 is a 1972 Ford-C/John Bean with a 1,000-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water. (the pump # is D3-105-972). This is X-East Joliet FPD, X-Holbrook FPD, X-Glenwood FD. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

The new Engine 1932 is the 1985 Ford/Pierce from Plainfield, Illinois. They haven’t decided if it will be painted or left white.

Homewood Acres Fire Protection District

The new Engine 1932 is a 1985 Ford C-8000/Pierce top-mount with a 1,250-GPM pump and 1,000 gallons of water, (Pierce so #E-2635). This is X-Plainfield FPD. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

The other Ford from Country Club Hills was scrapped a few months ago, and was replaced by a 1986 Mack/Ward 79 pumper from Burbank, Illinois (X-Engine 208).

Homewood Acres Fire Protection District

Engine 1934 is a 1986 Mack CF-600/Ward '79 with a 1,250-GPM pump and 750 gallons of water. (Mack sn CF685FC-2242). This is X-Burbank FD Engine 208. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

One of the pictures I sent is all three rigs lined up, makes for an interesting shot.

Homewood Acres Fire Protection District

The Homewood Acres FPD fleet as of May 29, 2012. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

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Homewood Acres receives engine

This from Keith Grzadziel:

I just passed the Homewood Acres station and spotted another “new” engine parked alongside the X-Burbank Mack. It is the X-Plainfield Engine 1912, a Ford C8000/Pierce. Not sure of the year or GPM but I know it has a 1000 gal capacity. Sorry about the crude pics I attached, but its a sneak peek. Have a safe holiday weekend!

 

Homewood Acres FPD

X-Plainfield Ford C-8000/Pierce engine at the Homewood Acres FPD. Keith Grzadziel photo

Homewood Acres Fire Protection District

X-Plainfield Ford C-8000/Pierce engine at the Homewood Acres FPD. Keith Grzadziel photo

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Dog saves family from fire

The Chicago Tribune has an article describing the efforts of a dog in alerting the family to a fire in their home:

A mother and her two kids escaped their burning home in Plainfield after the family dog– Payton – alerted them to the fire about 11:45 p.m. Thursday.

Fire crews were dispatched to the home in the 16000 block of South River Road and found heavy fire coming out of the walk-out basement in the back, Stratton said.

“The whole back of the house, heavy wind blowing into it, blew it right into the structure.”

thanks Chris

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