Jul 23
This from Josh Boyajian:
Here are pictures of River Forest’s new 2013 Smeal 105′ quint they just purchased. It will be marked in the coming weeks before it will be on display in the Smeal booth at FRI at McCormick Place next month.Thanks Josh Boyajian
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Kevin G. reminds us that the pages for the Downers Grove Fire Department have not been updated to include their new tower ladder. In the meantime, he forwarded this link to the dealer listing of the delivery with photos, specs, and drawings.
Downers Grove Tower 2 is a 2011 Smeal Sirius Medium 4 door with a Waterous 2,000-GPM pump, with 300 gallons of water, 20 gallons of foam, and a heavy duty Smeal 100? rear mount platform. Bill Friedrich photo
thanks Kevin, we’ll get the site updated
Park Ridge Engine 35 and Tower 36 were in front of the building. The tower was used as a stand-pip for the attack line. Larry Shapiro photo
Shortly before 11AM this morning, the Park Ridge Fire Department received an automatic fire alarm in a four-story apartment building at 500 Thames Parkway. While in route, they received a phone call reporting a fire on the top floor. The alarm was immediately upgraded to a working fire, and upon arrival to a MABAS Box Alarm when Battalion 35 saw the fire blowing out of the top floor unit in the rear. The building has three floors with 10 units per floor. A 2nd Alarm was requested within minutes of the Box Alarm and an EMS Box Alarm was struck as a precaution due to the number of occupants.
The fire unit was in the rear of the building on the top floor. Steve Redick photo
The building is without a stand-pipe system, and Park Ridge companies took a 2 1/2-inch high-rise pack in to the building which was fed to the basket of Tower 36 through a top floor window. They made entry into the fire unit with this line and darkened the bulk of the fire.
The deck gun on DesPlaines Engine 62 was used to knock down the exterior mansard roof that was on fire prior to establishing a positive water supply. Steve Redick photo
DesPlaines Engine 62 was in the rear and was instructed to put their deck-gun to work to knock down exterior fire on the mansard roof.
Morton Grove Engine (Quint) 4 was used as the first aerial device in the rear.
Morton Grove was due on the Box Alarm with Squad 4. The squad is out-of-service and they responded with the quint instead and were put right to work. Steve Redick photo
The fire was contained to the unit of origin with minor damage to the neighboring apartments.
After the fire had been extinguished, hot spots lingered in several areas of the mansard roof before companies had a chance to tear it apart and get at everything inside. Larry Shapiro photo
A line was stretched up the ladder of Engine 4 to provide water to companies on the roof that were addressing the remaining fire in the mansard roof. Larry Shapiro photo
Tim Olk, Steve Redick, and Larry Shapiro took in the fire and have submitted images from the scene.
A firefighter on the roof work to gain access to the mansard parapet to get at the fire within. Tim Olk photo
A Morton Grove firefighter works on the mansard as the crew from Niles Truck 2 works on an adjoining wall. Tim Olk photo
A Park Ridge firefighter disconnects the attack line from the tower ladder. Tim Olk photo
Niles Truck 2 went to the roof on the 'B' side of the building. Larry Shapiro photo
Norwood Park, Skokie, and Schiller Park were some of the mutual aid companies that responded to Park Ridge. Larry Shapiro photo
The MABAS Division 3 'Comm 3' responded to the scene along with four chiefs as part of an IMAT. Larry Shapiro photo
A firefighter works on overhaul in the fire unit. Tim Olk photo
Tim’s gallery is HERE, Steve’s gallery is HERE, and Larry’s gallery is HERE.
Additionally, Steve created a video from the scene.
The Winnetka Fire Department in MABAS Division 3 has placed their new quint into service which ushers in a new look for the department. The 2010 Smeal was delivered with a black roof and the department designed a new door seal. The design is a maltese cross in gold and black which incorporates both the Winnetka and Kenilworth names. Engine 28, the 2000 Pierce Saber received a black top, the new decal, and new striping. Ambulance 28 also has the new decal and striping. As of now, Engine 28R and Ambulance 28R both have the original look and the previous door decal.
Winnetka recently disposed of this 1990 Pierce Arrow 75' quint. Larry Shapiro photo
This is how Truck 28 looked when it was retired. It had their most recent door seal and two-tone striping.
Winnetka Truck 28 had a 1,250-GPM pump and carried 300 gallons of water. Larry Shapiro photo
When Winnetka received Truck 28 in 1990, the original graphics were much simpler and the door seal featured the sun rising on at the lake.
Winnetka ran this American LaFrance 900-Series mid-mount aerial prior to receiving the Pierce in 1990. Larry Shapiro photo
Before Winnetka changed their numbering to Station 28 as part of MABAS Division 3, their rigs carried unit numbers in the ’70s’. Truck 70, shown here, preceded Truck 28 as one of Winnetka’s two aerial devices. They also had a 55-foot Snorkel in the house.
Winnetka Engine 28 now sports a black roof plus a triple stripe with the new door seal.
Engine 28 formerly had a white roof and blue door seal. Larry Shapiro photo
The previous design for Engine 28 had lettering on the rear door listing both Winnetka and Kenilworth. These names were included in the new door seal leaving more room for a nice graphic showing the unit number.
Engine 28 as it was delivered from Pierce in 2000. Larry Shapiro photo
When Engine 28 was purchased, it had the rising sun door decal matching the truck shown above.
Sep 29
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 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.
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
