Posts Tagged Shapiro

Lake Bluff is added to the site

Oct 15

Posted by bgshap in New Listing, Site News | Comments off

Another Division 4 department has been added to the site. The Lake Bluff Fire Department is another volunteer department covering the roughly 4 square miles of Lake Bluff along Lake Michigan between Lake Forest and North Chicago. This is mostly a Pierce department with four Pierce units plus a brush rig built by Danko.

There are several interesting points with regard to the apparatus here. First of all, each of the suppression rigs bears a unique name on the front of the cab. Lake Bluff has always gone to the local third grade class for help with a name when a new piece of equipment is ordered. The current names are ‘The Volunteer’, ‘The Defender’, ‘Guardian’, and ‘Centennial Pride’.

Built-in, color-coded, cross-lays are located amidship. Larry Shapiro photo

Lake Bluff Fire Department Pierce Saber pumper squad

Rescue 520 has a rear pump along with rescue squad type storage and a full complement of hydraulic tools. Larry Shapiro photo

Lake Bluff has an interesting rescue/pumper. Rescue 520 is a Pierce Saber with a squad body that features a rear 1500-GPM pump, built-in cross-lays, and has a roof-mounted, Will-Burt Night Scan, light tower. As a matter of fact, all three of Lake Bluff’s engines also have a Night Scan.

Lake Bluff Fire Department Ford C-8000 Pierce engine

At one time, all of the Lake Bluff engines were built by Pierce on Ford C-Series chassis. When they purchased their last Ford unit in 1990, they were informed by Pierce that this unit would be the last Ford-C-8000 that Pierce would build on.

Tags: Division 4, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, North Chicago, patch, Shapiro, volunteer

Knollwood is on the site

Oct 14

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Listing, Patch | Comments off

The Knollwood Fire Department covers the 1.5 square mile Rockland Fire Protection District in Division 4. They have one station at 14 Skokie Highway along Route 41 at Route 176. Knollwood is a volunteer department with two engines, a 75′ E-ONE quint, a rescue unit, utility, and a boat which they house that is jointly owned with Lake Bluff and Lake Forest. Knollwood does not have an ambulance and contracts with Lake Forest. Lake Bluff has the same arrangement. Both Knollwood and Lake Bluff have EMTs who respond on EMS runs to arrive prior to one of the ambulances from Lake Forest.

Knollwood Fire Department EONE Typhoon 75' Sidestacker quint

Tags: Division 4, E-ONE, Knollwood, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, patch, Rockland FIre Protection District, Shapiro

Buffalo Grove updates

Oct 13

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Delivery, updated listing | Comments off

Buffalo Grove put their new Ferrara engine in service early this summer and the tower ladder went into service several weeks ago. This required some shuffling of apparatus among the stations and the site now reflects the moves.

Station 25 houses both the new Ferrara tower ladder 25 (235) and the reserve E-ONE tower ladder (236) along with an ambulance and Utility 26. The utility goes into service if daily manning is sufficient to staff the unit with two firefighters. The utility responds on ambulance calls to save wear and tear on the tower ladder and also responds on MVAs and fire calls as well.

Buffalo Grove Fire Department Ferrara Inferno tower ladder

Officer's side view of Buffalo Grove Tower Ladder 25 (235) as photographed by Bob Altwasser

Station 26 is where the new Ferrara engine (217) is located plus the reserve E-ONE engine (213). There is an in-service ambulance and a reserve ambulance, the squad, the battalion, the dive trailer, the new Polaris ATV, and several staff vehicles.

Buffalo Grove Fire Department Ferrara Igniter pumper

At Station 27 is the KME quint, the KME reserve engine (218), an ambulance, and a boat.

There is speculation that in the months to come, the tower ladder may move to Station 26 in the center of town. If this happens, then the KME quint would move to Station 25 and the new Ferrara engine would go to Station 27.

Thanks to Bob Altwasser for submitting a shot of the Ferrara tower ladder.

Tags: Altwasser, Buffalo Grove, E-ONE, Ferrara, KME, Polaris, quint, Shapiro

Lake Forest is on the site

Oct 13

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Listing, Patch | Comments off

In Division 4, the Lake Forest Fire Department‘s two stations have been added to the site. The main station at 255 W. Deerpath Road is packed full of equipment including a buggy, two engines, three ambulances, a tower ladder, squad, utility, boat, and ATV. All but one ambulance has been posted.

Lake Forest Fire Department headquarters station 1

The headquarters station at 255 W. Deerpath also houses the police department and dispatch center. Photo by Larry Shapiro

The Lake Forest apparatus was painted all red until 1991 when they purchased four Pierce units which were painted with a white roof. As recently as 2007 they were still using the white over red color scheme when they received Engine 422, a Pierce Dash rescue pumper. In 2008, they took delivery of an IHC/Horton ambulance that was painted black over red. In addition to the new ambulance, the 1994 Pierce Saber was recently sent to Renewed Performance, Inc. (RPI) in Tipton, Indiana to have body work done and it is now black over red as well.

Lake Forest Fire Department Pierce Saber Engine 421

Station 2 on the west end of town was for many years in the old converted Everett School House on Everett Road near Waukegan Road (Rt 43). As the town grew and the area was rebuilt, the school house gave way in 1993 to a new, large firehouse with three drive-though bays, offices for the Fire Prevention Bureau, and classroom space. The new station was built within a block of the old station.

Lake Forest Fire Department Fire Station 2

Station 2 is at 1111 S. Telegraph Road, less than a block from the old Everett Road house. The second floor dormers on this large station are cosmetic only. There is no second floor. Photo by Larry Shapiro

Tags: Division 4, Horton, Inc, Lake Forest, patch, Pierce, Renewed Performance, RPI, Shapiro

Romeoville is on the site

Oct 12

Posted by bgshap in New Listing, Patch, Site News | 2 Comments

The three stations representing the Romeoville Fire Department in Will County (MABAS Division 10) have been added to the site. Hank, Karl & Larry submitted the images.

This is a Pierce department with four engines, a tower ladder and a heavy rescue. In addition they run Medtec and Horton Type I medic units. Also, like many departments, they now have a Polaris ATV in their inventory. Romeoville Fire Department Station 3

Romeoville Station 3 is at 1698 N. Birch Lane. photo by Hank Sajovic

Romeoville Fire Department Pierce Enforcer engine

In addition to the fire department, the Village of Romeoville has an Emergency Management Agency (REMA) with an impressive fleet of 16 pieces of equipment which includes three light rescue squads, two of which have Command Light towers. They have a mobile command unit, a rehab unit, off-road units and seven marked sedans to transport their staff.

Romeoville Emergency Management Agency fleet

The REMA units housed in their station at 195 Budler. Photo by Larry Shapiro

Romeoville Emergency Management Agency rescue

One of the REMA squad units with a Command Light on the roof and storage of supplies for use at emergency scenes. The REMA personnel modified this unit which has a standard utility body by Stahl. Photo by Larry Shapiro

Romeoville Emergency Management Agency command center

The REMA operations center with radio consoles and computers. The village warning sirens are controlled from within this area. Photo by Larry Shapiro

Tags: Division 10, Emergency Management Agency, Enforcer, HDR, Horton, Klotz, MedTec, Pierce, Polaris, REMA, Romeoville, Sajovic, Shapiro, Stahl, Will County

Naperville reassignments …. requires a scorecard

Oct 3

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | Comments off

Several months ago we posted the Naperville Fire Department to the site. Several photographers visited the department on separate occasions to document the new equipment and the placement of companies in each station. Several of the rigs had been moved and reassigned since they were photographed a year or so ago but everything was brought up-to-date for the posting with the help of Naperville Lt. Andy Hilk.

Well, we had received information that the Naperville FD was not yet done moving companies and that changes were coming. Bill Friedrich submitted the following information regarding reassignments throughout the stations.

Medic 9 is out of service
Medic 1 is now using the 2007 IHC/Medtec that was previously Medic 9
Squad 1 (1997 E-ONE) has moved back to Station 8 and is now Squad 8 … again
Engine 8’s 2008 Crimson rig is back at Station 1 as Engine 1
The 2009 Crimson quint from Truck 10 is now running as Truck 5
The 2005 E-ONE tower ladder which was Truck 5 is now a spare
The 1994 E-ONE tower ladder without a pump that was in reserve has now been decommissioned and will likely be sold
Engine 10 is now using a 2005 E-ONE Typhoon
The TRT trailer is moving to Station 10

Squad 8 when it was moved to Station 1 ... prior to being renumbered.

Engine 1 photographed when it was assigned to Station 1 ... before we had a photograph of it labeled as Engine 8

Tags: Crimson, E-ONE, EONE, Friedrich, MedTec, Naperville, Shapiro, Typhoon

Winnetka’s new quint

Sep 29

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Delivery | Comments off

The new Quint 28 in Winnetka is expected to go into service in two weeks. This 2010 unit has a Smeal Sirius cab and chassis (Spartan cab and chassis branded specifically for Smeal) with a 2000-GPM pump and a 350-gallon water tank. It has a Smeal, 75′ steel ladder. Ground ladders are nested inside the body and are accessed from the rear of the unit as is Smeal’s EHL (Ergonomic Hose Load) system. The hose bed slides out for easy loading of the LDH while firefighters stand on the ground. This is the first unit in Winnetka that has air conditioning.

Winnetka Fire Department 2010 Smeal quint

Winnetka Quint 28 shown with the new black over red color scheme. The equipment mounting is not yet complete and the cab is missing decals and numbering. This unit will sport a brand new decal for Winnetka when it goes into service. Larry Shapiro photo

Truck 28, the 1990 Pierce Arrow 75′ rear mount has been sold and will leave as soon as the new quint is in service.

** When this post was originally published, it said that the water tank was 600 gallons. Karl Klotz sent in corrected information that the tank actually holds 350 gallons.

Tags: Arrow, EHL, Pierce, quint, Shapiro, Smeal Sirius, Winnetka

International RIT Training in Bensenville

Sep 21

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | 2 Comments

The training opportunities continue at the O’Hare Modernization Property in Bensenville. This past week, firefighters from throughout the US were joined by firefighters from several other countries to learn techniques for Rapid Intervention Team deployment. The 40-hour course was run by RICOFIRERESCUE, Inc. founded by Lt. Mike Mason from the Downers Grove Fire Department. They used three separate structures with varying scenarios. Photos showing some of the training and setup on the final day can be seen on John Tulipano’s web page HERE and another gallery including a smoky video of a rescue can be seen on Larry Shapiro’s site HERE. The scenario for the video is a firefighter trapped from a floor collapse (the setup is shown in John’s gallery) with weak floor conditions prompting the RITs to breach a wall to reach the firefighter ‘Captain Black’. Of interest is that RIT 1 is a group of firefighters from France and RIT 2 is US (english speaking) firefighters. A bi-lingual instructor translates communications into French during the exercise so that everyone is able to communicate clearly.

A firefighter from Germany enters one of the buildings as part of a RIT to rescue a trapped firefighter. Larry Shapiro Photo

Smoky conditions provided for very limited visibility during the rescue operation. Larry Shapiro Photo

The RITs carry the victim from the building. Larry Shapiro Photo

This shot shows the wall breach after the exercise was completed. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: Bensenville, O'Hare Modernization, RICOFIRERESCUE, RIT, Shapiro, training, Tulipano

Pink Fire Trucks Come to Buffalo Grove

Sep 1

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | Comments off

From today’s Daily Herald:

Charity event, pink fire trucks a prelude to Buffalo Grove days

Buffalo Grove Days traditionally kicks off with a charity softball game involving village officials and local volunteers on the Wednesday before Labor Day.

This year, the game, which is sponsored by the Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place, as it usually does, at 6:30 p.m. today at Emmerich Park, at Lake-Cook Road and Raupp Boulevard.

What’s new is that four pink fire trucks will be parked near the field.

The four trucks are part of the Pink Heals Tour, during which firefighters from across the country drive a fleet of pink fire engines across the United States to raise cancer awareness, particularly cancer affecting women. The trucks began traveling in mid-August and will continue their journey until the end of October. One of the drivers will be Buffalo Grove Firefighter Steve Rusin, who, driving on his own time, will pilot one of the trucks from Florida through Texas.

Buffalo Grove Trustee and cancer survivor DeAnn Glover, liaison to the committee in charge of Buffalo Grove Days, said, “Kids can climb on them, and everybody can sign and leave a message of hope and honor for those who are fighting the battle or those who have lost the fight.”

Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Terry Vavra said he has been in contact with Dave Graybill, the Arizona firefighter who spearheaded the effort. “The reason why he started this is that as men we need to respond to the people that mean the most to us, our families and particularly our mothers, because if you ever watched a sports player, he doesn’t say, ‘Hi, Dad.’ He says, ‘Hi, Mom.'”

Vavra said Graybill is also starting a blue fire truck program to raise awareness of cancer in men.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department sold just less than 600 Pink Heals shirts this year, up from a little less than 300 last year.

Steve Rusin at the show wearing the pink turnout gear which is associated with the Pink Heals Tour. Larry Shapiro photo

Last week, one of the pink trucks was at the IAFC trade show at McCormick Place. Buffalo Grove Firefighter Steve Rusin was on hand at the booth along with Dave Graybill.

One of the trucks was at the trade show last week in CHicago. Larry SHapiro photo

Betty Ganschow, Dave Graybill, and Steve Rusin at the trade show. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: BGFD, Buffalo Grove, cancer, Graybill, Pink Heals Tour, Rusin, Shapiro, Vavra

MABAS Response Drill Photos

Aug 31

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | 1 Comment

Another photo gallery has been posted detailing the MABAS 90-90 Response Drill from last Friday. The gallery by Larry Shapiro can be viewed by scrolling down on the page found HERE. Yesterday, Hank Sajovic posted a gallery of images which can be seen HERE.

This is the pad at NIPSTA in preparation for the arrival of 11 task forces, each consisting of nine units. Larry Shapiro photo

This is the view from the same location after all of the task forces were in place. Larry Shapiro photo

Each task force brought three ambulances to the staging area. Larry Shapiro photo

The task force from Lake County (IL) Division 4 is shown arriving at north staging. Larry Shapiro photo

Staff personnel at two computer stations checked in all personnel via bar-coded MABAS issued ID cards. Larry Shapiro photo

Although media coverage for the response drill was extensive, evidently it was all centered at the north staging site at NIPSTA in Glenview. Reportedly the sites in Hoffman Estates and Tinley Park received much less media attention. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: ambulance, Division 4, drill, Glenview, helicopter, Hoffman Estates, Huey, ID card, MABAS, media, NIPSTA, Sajovic, Shapiro, Tinley Park, training