This from Steve Redick:
This occurred after midnight on the morning of May 31, on EB 190 at the 294 interchange. A tanker truck overturned and was really rolling, sounds like due to construction. No one could get near it. I think they tried to hit it from a school in the gated area of Rosemont at 6101 Ruby. I listened to this but did not really get the impression this was a big deal. Even if I went I don’t imagine I could have gotten anywhere near this. Anyway here is the radio traffic.Steve
Jun 30
This from Dan McInerney:
I took this in on the way home from work the other day. It was on the ramp that connects the westbound Kennedy to the northbound Tri-State tollway, just south of the toll plaza. Its always nice to see Rosemont’s rigs on the move with their Roto-Rays operating.
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
The Daily Herald has an article about changes in the Rosemont Public Safety Department.
Rosemont’s public safety department is being restructured following the recent retirement of its longtime top cop.
Former Superintendent of Public Safety Donald E. Stephens II, who stepped down in February, oversaw a department that is responsible for providing both police and fire services throughout town. While there’s only some 4,200 residents in Rosemont, the village is home to a bustling entertainment district, convention center, theater and arena.
Now his son, Donald E. Stephens III, takes over as head of the department, though he will retain his old title — chief of public safety.
Under the reorganization approved by the village board Wednesday, three deputy chiefs will report to Stephens III. Deputy Chief John Aichinger heads the Bureau of Administration; Deputy Chief Kevin Kukulka heads the Bureau of Patrol; and Deputy Chief William Schuster heads the Bureau of Fire Suppression.
The organizational structure follows with commanders, lieutenants, sergeants, public safety officers, civilian staff such as dispatchers, and auxiliary officers.
The department includes 80 full-time sworn officers and another 120 security specialists, often retired Rosemont officers who provide security at the Allstate Arena and Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
Stephens III said sworn personnel are cross-trained in police, fire and emergency medical services, though officers receive their assignments to either police or fire/EMS.
thanks Dan
This from Steve Redick:
I was able to attend an unusual incident last night. There is a small area that belongs to Chicago, that lies along Foster ave west of River rd, adjacent to O’Hare Field. This is much closer to Rosemont and Schiller Park, yet it belongs to CFD. It isn’t really a good run for either the airport companies nor engine 11. Sort of a no-man’s land. Rosemont responded to smoke in the area, as well as Schiller Park , Desplaines, and Park Ridge. CFD was notified as well. Arriving units found a well-involved tour/party type bus inside an industrial building. Park Ridge, due on auto-aide, used a deck gun to hit the bulk of the fire. Chicago companies arrived and worked in concert with all the suburban units. Another interesting aspect to this was that MVU (924) was used. This rig lives at O’Hare Field and most of us fire fan types have never actually had a chance to see the unit in operation. I also took a photo or two of the various municipality street signs at each end of the block. They used suburban style hydrants, but I think I heard the sprinkler connections on the fire building were Chicago threads. All in all a “once in a billion years” kinda deal.Steve
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
This from Kevin Griffin:
Rosemont FD has repainted their station 1 and switched units around. At Station 1 is Tower 158, Engines 156 and 154, Ambulance 168, Battalion 13, plus the swat unit. At Station 2 is Engine 155 and 3 other ambulances but i don’t know which one they got rid off. Truck 157 and the squad i am pretty sure are gone as well
Kevin Griffin photo
Severe storms passed through the city and suburbs late in the afternoon on Saturday keeping many fire departments busy. Park Ridge and North Maine units were picking up from a storm related call shortly after 5PM when a call was received reporting smoke from a house next door to another home with a gas leak. North Maine Engine 1 was first on the scene at 110 N. Home Avenue and reported smoke showing from two sides of a large two-story modern home. The alarm was upgraded to a Code 4 for the working fire shortly after the first units arrived.
Firefighters from Morton Grove Squad 4 work on the roof providing vertical ventilation. Larry Shapiro photo
Park Ridge Tower Ladder 36 with ladder to the roof as light smoke vents from the attic. Larry Shapiro photo
Units on the still alarm were Park Ridge with an engine, tower, two ambulances and the battalion chief, Niles Ambulance 3, plus North Maine Engine 1 and Battalion 1. The Code 4 brought Niles Truck 2, DesPlaines Engine 62, Glenview Engine 7, Lincolnwood Ambulance 15, tower 158 from Rosemont, plus Squad 4 from Morton Grove.
Fire burns briefly through a hole in the roof as firefighters in the bucket stand by. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters on the roof finish cutting several vent holes. Larry Shapiro photo
Companies entered the house and found clear conditions on the second floor until they opened the scuttle to the attic. They encountered high heat, heavy smoke, and active fire. Portions of the attic were finished with a plywood floor which hampered efforts to gain access to parts of the attic from some of the second floor rooms.
Fire was in the attic of this large two-story house at 110 N. Home Avenue in Park Ridge. Larry Shapiro photo
Two lines were used in the house and multiple holes were cut in the roof. The high humidity and extensive interior work necessitated an upgrade to a Box Alarm for relief companies. This brought engines from River Grove, Norwood Park, and Wheeling, a tower from Mt. Prospect, a squad from Skokie, an ambulance from Buffalo Grove, and Des Plaines Battalion 9. The fire was struck out around 6:30PM.
North Maine Engine 1 was the first unit on the scene and had two lines off. Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro went to the scene and submitted several images.
Park Ridge Engine 35 was the second engine to arrive. Larry Shapiro photo
Norwood Park’s new Engine 101 was parked on Touhy. Larry Shapiro photo
Mount Prospect Tower 13 came in on the Box Alarm. Larry Shapiro photo
Glenview Engine 7 was due on the Code 4 and Wheeling Engine 23 came in on the Box Alarm. Larry Shapiro photo
Niles Truck 2 was staged behind the Park Ridge tower ladder. Larry Shapiro photo
A gallery with more images can be found HERE.
Shortly before 2AM on Thursday a motorist made a cellular 9-1-1 call and reported a fire at 3010 Mannheim Road in Franklin Park. First arriving units were met by heavy fire in the front lobby and on the third floor of a large, three-story, vacant motel property that is setup in the shape of an ‘H’ with a banquet hall in the rear. The building has been vacant for several years, and Franklin Park firefighters knew that the structural integrity of the building was suspect and they preplanned to take a defensive stance upon arrival if the building caught fire.
The banquet hall on the right is surrounded by guest rooms. Heavy fire burns in the back of the main building which faces Mannheim Road and has spread to the adjoining wing on the left. Steve Redick photo
When the first companies found heavy fire, they immediately requested a MABAS Box Alarm from MABAS Division 20. A 2nd alarm was requested roughly 20 minutes later. Six elevated master streams were eventually put to work around the building with the Melrose Park Bronto (working it’s second 3-11 alarm fire in a 12 hour span) setup on the south (‘B’), Leyden Township to the west (‘C’) with an E-ONE HP75, Rosemont to the north (‘D’) with their Pierce tower ladder, and the other three were working on Mannheim Road in front of the building (‘A’). This included another Bronto from Elmwood Park, a Seagrave rear mount from Franklin Park, and another Pierce tower from Schiller Park.
Schiller Park Tower 454 is working in front of the fire building on Mannheim road. Steve Redick photo
Engines that were due up to the 2nd alarm were two from Franklin Park, and one each from Stone Park, Elmhurst, River Grove, Norwood Park, Northlake, and Bensenville. Chicago Squad 7 from O’Hare was also due on the 2nd alarm.
The Melrose Park Bronto Skylift was positioned on the south side of the complex using the master stream to combat the fire. Larry Shapiro photo
Firefighters from Elmwood Park are above the roof on the southeast corner of the structure on Mannheim Road. Larry Shapiro photo
An EMS Box Alarm was also struck which brought ambulances from Schiller Park, Leyden Township, River Grove, and Bensenville in addition to an ambulance from Northlake. This allowed for multiple ambulances to be on standby for the multiple Rapid Intervention Teams that were part of the preplanning to accommodate the size of the property and the potential for unsafe conditions.
Schiller Park Tower 454 was on Mannheim at Center Avenue, the northeast corner of the building. Franklin Park Truck 2 and the Elmwood Park Bronto are further down the street. Larry Shapiro photo
A 3rd alarm fire box was initiated roughly an hour into the fire to provide relief companies for the crews that were working. This brought Maywood Truck 502 along with engines from River Forest, Berkely, and Hillside.
Franklin Park's engine tagged a hydrant at the corner of Mannheim and Schiller Boulevard to supply water to Truck 2. Larry Shapiro photo
The fire proved to have a hold throughout the main building and required several instances where all lines were shut down to allow the fire to burn through the roof so that firefighters could have access to extinguish the flames. Several hand lines and multi-versals were put to use supplementing the elevated master streams.
Several hours into the fire all of the lines were shut down so the fire could burn freely to allow firefighters better access to it. Larry Shapiro photo
The fire grows in intensity without water being applied. This in turn gave firefighters more access to fight the fire that was burning beneath the intact roof. Larry Shapiro photo
The alarms were finally struck out near 8AM as it appeared that companies finally had gotten the upper hand and were able to reach all of the deep seated fire which proved to be quite stubborn.
Several area photographers, Steve Redick, Tim Olk, Larry Shapiro, and Gordon J. Nord Jr., were at the scene overnight and will have images to post at different times during the day. As the images become available, the posting will be updated. Larry has a gallery HERE, and Steve has a gallery HERE.
The Rosemont Fire/Public Safety Department, in MABAS Division 20, has two updated photos.
Some time ago, Rosemont switched their fire commander who used to be designated as 1-5-1 to Battalion 13. They also removed the red, 2001, Ford Expedition and replaced it with a 2010, Ford Expedition in the traditional police black and white colors.
One other addition to the page is a photo of ‘The Duke’. That’s the 1994 armored bank-car that was converted for use by the Rosemont SWAT.
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
